Previous Year Question
Who among the following leaders founded the revolutionary organization – ‘Abhinav Bharat Society’?
Bhagat Singh
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Barindra Kumar Ghosh
Pulin Bihari
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar founded the secret revolutionary organisation ‘Abhinav Bharat’ in 1904. His elder brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar, also known as Babarao Savarkar, was also closely associated with the establishment and activities of the organisation.
The background of Abhinav Bharat can be traced to the youth revolutionary organisation called Mitra Mela, established by Savarkar at Nashik. In 1904, it was given a wider revolutionary character and renamed Abhinav Bharat.
Savarkar was deeply influenced by the Italian revolutionary nationalist Giuseppe Mazzini and his organisation Young Italy. Similarly, Abhinav Bharat sought to spread revolutionary nationalism among young people and secure complete independence from British rule.
The organisation developed its activities in Maharashtra, particularly around Nashik and Pune, and its network subsequently extended to other places.
It is useful to distinguish the other options—Barindra Kumar Ghosh was associated with the revolutionary movement in Bengal and Jugantar, while Pulin Bihari Das was associated with the Dacca Anushilan Samiti. Bhagat Singh belonged to a later revolutionary phase and was associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.