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Q86 (IAS/2014) History & Culture › National Movement (1857–1947) › Revolutionary movement Official Key

The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The Ghadar Party was an Indian revolutionary organization formed in 1913 in San Francisco, United States, by migrant Indians[2]. It was a revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco[4]. The organization was launched formally in San Francisco in 1913 and was later smashed, with its members brutally exterminated and hanged between[6] 1914-1916. The Ghadar movement played a significant role in India's freedom struggle by mobilizing Indian immigrants, particularly in North America, against British colonial rule. The party published a revolutionary newspaper called "Ghadar" (meaning "mutiny" or "rebellion") to spread their message among Indians worldwide. Therefore, option A correctly identifies the Ghadar as a revolutionary association headquartered in San Francisco, not Singapore, Berlin, or Tashkent as suggested by the other options.

Sources
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Q. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a [A] revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco [B] nationalist organization opera…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10

This is a classic 'Sitter' from standard static history books (Spectrum/NCERT), not current affairs. It tests the basic geography of the Indian freedom struggle abroad. If you missed this, your static revision of the 'Revolutionary Phase' is weak.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a revolutionary association of Indians headquartered in San Francisco?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Ans: (a) revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco."
Why this source?
  • Directly answers the quiz-style question affirming the Ghadar was a revolutionary association of Indians.
  • Specifically states the headquarters were at San Francisco.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Answer: (a) Option (a) is correct: Ghadar Party was an Indian revolutionary organization, which was formed in 1913 in San Francisco, the United States, by migrant Indians"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies the Ghadar Party as an Indian revolutionary organization.
  • States it was formed in 1913 in San Francisco by migrant Indians, tying origin and headquarters to San Francisco.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The original headquarters of the Ghadar Party are in San Francisco where a new building ... preserves the Ghadar legacy."
Why this source?
  • Describes the Ghadar Party as born in San Francisco and notes the original headquarters are in San Francisco.
  • Provides historical context linking local San Francisco community and a preserved Ghadar headquarters building.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > Morley > p. 35
Strength: 5/5
“Lala Hardayal, who settled in San Francisco, founded Pacific Coast Hindustan Association in 1913, with Sohan Singh Bhakna as its president. This Lala Hardayal The organization was popularly called Ghadar Party. ('Ghadar' means rebellion in Urdu.) The members of this party were largely immigrant Sikhs from the US and Canada. The party published a journal called Ghadar. It began publication from San Francisco on November 1, 1913. Later it was published in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and other languages. The Ghadar Movement was an important episode in India's freedom struggle. A ship named Komagata Maru, filled with Indian immigrants, was turned back from Canada.”
Why relevant

States Lala Hardayal settled in San Francisco and founded the Pacific Coast Hindustan Association (popularly called Ghadar) and that the party published the journal Ghadar beginning publication from San Francisco.

How to extend

A student could combine this with basic geography (San Francisco on the US west coast) and the fact that a movement publishing its journal from a city suggests an organizational base there, to judge plausibility of a San Francisco headquarters.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > The Ghadr > p. 288
Strength: 4/5
“The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organised around a weekly newspaper The Ghadr with its headquarters at San”
Why relevant

Explicitly says the Ghadr Party was organised around a weekly newspaper with its headquarters at San (fragment continues to San Francisco in related snippet).

How to extend

Use the pattern that revolutionary diasporic movements often center where their press is located to infer that a newspaper-centred group likely had its headquarters where the paper was produced.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 289
Strength: 4/5
“Francisco and branches along the US coast and in the Far East. These revolutionaries included mainly ex-soldiers and peasants who had migrated from the Punjab to the USA and Canada in search of better employment opportunities. They were based in the US and Canadian cities along the western (Pacific) coast. Pre-Ghadr revolutionary activity had been carried on by Ramdas Puri, G.D. Kumar, Taraknath Das, Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal who reached there in 1911. To carry out revolutionary activities, the earlier activists had set up a 'Swadesh Sevak Home' at Vancouver and 'United India House' at Seattle. Finally in 1913, the Ghadr was established.”
Why relevant

Notes branches along the US coast and Far East and that activists reached there by 1911, culminating in establishment of the Ghadr in 1913 (context implies US/West Coast base).

How to extend

A student could map the mentioned coastal branches and infer a Pacific-coast hub (San Francisco) consistent with a headquarters there.

Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > The Home Rule Leagues > p. 258
Strength: 3/5
“United States of America and Canada had established the Ghadar (Rebellion) Party in 1913. While most of the members of the party were Sikh peasants and soldiers, their leaders were mostly educated Hindus or Muslims. The party had active members in other countries such as Mexico, Japan, China, Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, Indo-China, and East and South Africa. The Ghadar Party was pledged to wage revolutionary war against the British in India. As soon as the First World War broke out in 1914, the Ghadarites decided to send arms and men to India to start an uprising with the help of soldiers and local revolutionaries.”
Why relevant

Says the United States of America and Canada had established the Ghadar Party in 1913 and describes its international membership and revolutionary aims.

How to extend

Combine this rule/example (Ghadar formed in North America in 1913) with city-level evidence to assess whether San Francisco is a plausible headquarter location for a North American-based revolutionary association.

Statement 2
Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a nationalist organization operating from Singapore?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a revolutionary association of Indians with its headquarters located in San Francisco, California, during the early 20th century."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies the Ghadar movement as headquartered in San Francisco, not Singapore.
  • States the correct classification as a revolutionary association of Indians based in San Francisco.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Ghadar Party was an Indian revolutionary organization, which was formed in 1913 in San Francisco, the United States, by migrant Indians"
Why this source?
  • States the Ghadar Party was formed in 1913 in San Francisco, United States.
  • Positions the organization as an Indian revolutionary organization formed in North America, not Singapore.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Launched formally in San Francisco in 1913, the organisation was smashed and its members brutally exterminated and hanged between 1914-1916"
Why this source?
  • Directly states the organisation was launched formally in San Francisco in 1913.
  • Confirms the group's origin and center of activity as San Francisco, contradicting an origin in Singapore.

Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > The Home Rule Leagues > p. 258
Strength: 4/5
“United States of America and Canada had established the Ghadar (Rebellion) Party in 1913. While most of the members of the party were Sikh peasants and soldiers, their leaders were mostly educated Hindus or Muslims. The party had active members in other countries such as Mexico, Japan, China, Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, Indo-China, and East and South Africa. The Ghadar Party was pledged to wage revolutionary war against the British in India. As soon as the First World War broke out in 1914, the Ghadarites decided to send arms and men to India to start an uprising with the help of soldiers and local revolutionaries.”
Why relevant

Lists Singapore among countries where the Ghadar Party had active members, implying Ghadar activity existed there.

How to extend

A student could check basic maps or diaspora routes to judge whether 'having active members in Singapore' could be conflated with 'operating from Singapore' or simply being present there.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > The Ghadr > p. 288
Strength: 5/5
“The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organised around a weekly newspaper The Ghadr with its headquarters at San”
Why relevant

Says the Ghadr Party had its headquarters and was organised around a newspaper with headquarters at San (San Francisco implied elsewhere), indicating a primary base outside Singapore.

How to extend

Combine this with the knowledge that an organisation's HQ usually denotes its operating base to assess whether Singapore was the movement's main operating centre.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 1: Sources for the History of Modern India > Newspapers and Journals > p. 9
Strength: 5/5
“Indian nationalists and revolutionaries living abroad published newspapers and journals—Indian Sociologist (London, Shyamji Krishnavarma), Bande Matram (Paris, Madam Cama), Talwar (Berlin, Virendranath Chattopadhyay), and Ghadar (San Francisco, Lala Hardayal) to infuse a feeling of nationalism among Indians living abroad. Newspapers depict almost all aspects of life in colonial India from around the 1870s onwards. From the 1920s onwards, newspapers tracked the major events during the freedom struggle. However, newspaper accounts cannot be seen as unprejudiced or completely objective. The accounts that were published in a newspaper in London by the pro-British Raj people were bound to be different from the report in an Indian nationalist paper.”
Why relevant

Specifies Ghadar (Ghadar) was published from San Francisco, showing central organisational and publishing activity centred in North America rather than Singapore.

How to extend

A student could use this to argue that primary operations were likely from San Francisco and not Singapore, unless evidence shows a separate Singapore HQ.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > Morley > p. 35
Strength: 4/5
“Lala Hardayal, who settled in San Francisco, founded Pacific Coast Hindustan Association in 1913, with Sohan Singh Bhakna as its president. This Lala Hardayal The organization was popularly called Ghadar Party. ('Ghadar' means rebellion in Urdu.) The members of this party were largely immigrant Sikhs from the US and Canada. The party published a journal called Ghadar. It began publication from San Francisco on November 1, 1913. Later it was published in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and other languages. The Ghadar Movement was an important episode in India's freedom struggle. A ship named Komagata Maru, filled with Indian immigrants, was turned back from Canada.”
Why relevant

Describes the Pacific Coast Hindustan Association/Ghadar Party being founded in San Francisco with immigrant Sikh members, reinforcing a North American origin.

How to extend

Use basic historical/geographical context (San Francisco as a diaspora hub) to infer that the movement's core organisation operated from there rather than from Singapore.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 293
Strength: 4/5
“1909—Madan Lal Dhingra murdered Curzon-Wyllie; Madame Bhikaji Cama operated from Paris and Geneva and brought out journal Bande Mataram. Ajit Singh also active. Berlin Committee for Indian Independence established by Virendranath Chattopadhyay and others. Missions sent to Baghdad, Persia, Turkey, Kabul. * In North America, the Ghadr was organised by Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhawan Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah, Bhai Parmanand.”
Why relevant

States the Ghadr was organised in North America by named leaders, again indicating organisational roots in North America rather than Singapore.

How to extend

A student could contrast the named North American organising centres with the merely listed presence in Singapore to judge whether 'operating from Singapore' is supported.

Statement 3
Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a militant organization headquartered in Berlin?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Ans: (a) revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies the Ghadar (Ghadar) as a revolutionary association with its headquarters in San Francisco, contradicting a Berlin headquarters claim.
  • States the correct headquarters and organization type rather than labeling it a Berlin-based militant group.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Launched formally in San Francisco in 1913, the organisation was smashed and its members brutally exterminated..."
Why this source?
  • States the Ghadar Party was launched formally in San Francisco in 1913, supporting that its origins and base were in North America, not Berlin.
  • Describes the organization and its suppression, reinforcing that its center was San Francisco rather than a Berlin headquarters.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > The Ghadr > p. 288
Strength: 5/5
“The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organised around a weekly newspaper The Ghadr with its headquarters at San”
Why relevant

Specifically names the Ghadr Party's headquarters as 'San...' (implying San Francisco), suggesting its base was in North America rather than Berlin.

How to extend

A student could check a world map or recall major immigrant hubs to confirm San Francisco as a North American headquarters and contrast that with Berlin.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > Morley > p. 35
Strength: 5/5
“Lala Hardayal, who settled in San Francisco, founded Pacific Coast Hindustan Association in 1913, with Sohan Singh Bhakna as its president. This Lala Hardayal The organization was popularly called Ghadar Party. ('Ghadar' means rebellion in Urdu.) The members of this party were largely immigrant Sikhs from the US and Canada. The party published a journal called Ghadar. It began publication from San Francisco on November 1, 1913. Later it was published in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and other languages. The Ghadar Movement was an important episode in India's freedom struggle. A ship named Komagata Maru, filled with Indian immigrants, was turned back from Canada.”
Why relevant

States Lala Hardayal settled in San Francisco and founded the organization popularly called the Ghadar Party, tying Ghadar's origin and HQ to San Francisco.

How to extend

Use the explicit San Francisco location to judge whether Berlin could plausibly be Ghadar's headquarters (compare cities).

Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > The Home Rule Leagues > p. 258
Strength: 4/5
“United States of America and Canada had established the Ghadar (Rebellion) Party in 1913. While most of the members of the party were Sikh peasants and soldiers, their leaders were mostly educated Hindus or Muslims. The party had active members in other countries such as Mexico, Japan, China, Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, Indo-China, and East and South Africa. The Ghadar Party was pledged to wage revolutionary war against the British in India. As soon as the First World War broke out in 1914, the Ghadarites decided to send arms and men to India to start an uprising with the help of soldiers and local revolutionaries.”
Why relevant

Says the United States and Canada had established the Ghadar Party in 1913 and lists its global branches, indicating its core base was in North America, not Europe.

How to extend

A student could infer that an organization founded/established in the US/Canada is unlikely to have had its main headquarters in Berlin without further specific evidence.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 289
Strength: 5/5
“The Ghadr programme was to organise assassinations of officials, publish revolutionary and anti-imperialist literature, work among Indian troops stationed abroad, procure arms and bring about a simultaneous revolt in all British colonies. The moving spirits behind the Ghadr Party were Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah, and Bhai Parmanand. The Ghadrites intended to bring about a revolt in India. Their plans were encouraged by two events in 1914—the Komagata Maru incident and the outbreak of the First World War. Komagata Maru Incident and the Ghadr The importance of this event lies in the fact that it created an explosive situation in the Punjab.”
Why relevant

Describes the Ghadr programme as militant (assassinations, arms procurement, revolts), supporting that the movement was militant in nature.

How to extend

Combine this definition of militant tactics with the location clues to separately evaluate the two parts of the statement (militant vs. Berlin HQ).

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 293
Strength: 4/5
“1909—Madan Lal Dhingra murdered Curzon-Wyllie; Madame Bhikaji Cama operated from Paris and Geneva and brought out journal Bande Mataram. Ajit Singh also active. Berlin Committee for Indian Independence established by Virendranath Chattopadhyay and others. Missions sent to Baghdad, Persia, Turkey, Kabul. * In North America, the Ghadr was organised by Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhawan Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah, Bhai Parmanand.”
Why relevant

Mentions a separate 'Berlin Committee for Indian Independence' and lists Ghadar organisation activity in North America, implying distinct entities and locations for Ghadar and the Berlin group.

How to extend

A student could use the distinction to suspect that Berlin hosted a separate committee, not the Ghadar Party's headquarters, and then verify by checking which group was based where.

Statement 4
Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a communist movement for India's freedom headquartered in Tashkent?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Answer: (a) Option (a) is correct: Ghadar Party was an Indian revolutionary organization, which was formed in 1913 in San Francisco, the United States, by migrant Indians"
Why this source?
  • Directly states the correct identification and headquarters of the Ghadar Party, contradicting the claim of a Tashkent headquarters.
  • Identifies Ghadar as a revolutionary association formed in San Francisco (not a communist movement based in Tashkent).
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states the Ghadar was a revolutionary association with its headquarters at San Francisco.
  • This directly refutes the part of the statement claiming the movement was headquartered in Tashkent or primarily a communist movement.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Launched formally in San Francisco in 1913, the organisation was smashed and its members brutally exterminated and hanged between 1914-1916"
Why this source?
  • States the organization was launched formally in San Francisco in 1913, supporting the San Francisco headquarters fact.
  • Notes the movement's revolutionary character and its suppression, rather than describing it as a communist movement headquartered in Tashkent.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > Morley > p. 35
Strength: 5/5
“Lala Hardayal, who settled in San Francisco, founded Pacific Coast Hindustan Association in 1913, with Sohan Singh Bhakna as its president. This Lala Hardayal The organization was popularly called Ghadar Party. ('Ghadar' means rebellion in Urdu.) The members of this party were largely immigrant Sikhs from the US and Canada. The party published a journal called Ghadar. It began publication from San Francisco on November 1, 1913. Later it was published in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and other languages. The Ghadar Movement was an important episode in India's freedom struggle. A ship named Komagata Maru, filled with Indian immigrants, was turned back from Canada.”
Why relevant

States Lala Hardayal founded the Pacific Coast Hindustan Association (popularly called Ghadar Party) and that the party and its journal began publication from San Francisco in 1913.

How to extend

A student could combine this with a world map and timelines to note that the Ghadar Party’s base was in North America (San Francisco), not Tashkent, suggesting a different headquarters location.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > The Ghadr > p. 288
Strength: 5/5
“The Ghadr Party was a revolutionary group organised around a weekly newspaper The Ghadr with its headquarters at San”
Why relevant

Explicitly describes the Ghadr Party as a revolutionary group organised around a weekly newspaper with its headquarters at San... (implying San Francisco).

How to extend

Use this to contrast claimed Tashkent headquarters by checking geographic and archival records of the Ghadar Party’s known base in the United States.

Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > The Home Rule Leagues > p. 258
Strength: 4/5
“United States of America and Canada had established the Ghadar (Rebellion) Party in 1913. While most of the members of the party were Sikh peasants and soldiers, their leaders were mostly educated Hindus or Muslims. The party had active members in other countries such as Mexico, Japan, China, Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, Indo-China, and East and South Africa. The Ghadar Party was pledged to wage revolutionary war against the British in India. As soon as the First World War broke out in 1914, the Ghadarites decided to send arms and men to India to start an uprising with the help of soldiers and local revolutionaries.”
Why relevant

Says the Ghadar Party was established in the United States and Canada in 1913 and pledged revolutionary war against the British—emphasising its diasporic, militant-nationalist character.

How to extend

Combine with knowledge of communist organisational centres (e.g., Tashkent later hosting communist activity) to separate Ghadar’s diasporic militant nationalism from later communist hubs.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 290
Strength: 4/5
“Apart from the Bengal revolutionaries and the Punjab Ghadrites, radical pan-Islamists—Ali brothers, Maulana Azad, Hasrat Mohani—were interned for years. Evaluation of Ghadr The achievement of the Ghadr movement lay in the realm of ideology. It preached militant nationalism with a completely secular approach. But politically and militarily, it failed to achieve much because it lacked an organised and sustained leadership, underestimated the extent of preparation required at every level—organisational, ideological, financial and tactical strategic—and perhaps Lala Hardayal was unsuited for the job of an organiser.”
Why relevant

Evaluates the Ghadr movement as preaching militant nationalism with a completely secular approach and criticises its organisational weaknesses—no mention of communist ideology.

How to extend

A student could extend this by comparing ideological descriptions (militant nationalism vs. explicit communist ideology) to judge whether Ghadar was a communist movement.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 17: Emergence of Swarajists, Socialist Ideas, Revolutionary Activities and Other New Forces > Spread of Marxist and Socialist Ideas > p. 346
Strength: 5/5
“The Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed in 1920 in Tashkent (now, the capital of Uzbekistan) by M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji and others after the second Congress of Commintern. M.N. Roy was also the first to be elected to the leadership of Commintern. In 1924, many communists—S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Shaukat Usmani, Nalini Gupta—were jailed in the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case.”
Why relevant

States the Communist Party of India was formed in Tashkent in 1920 by M.N. Roy and others, linking Tashkent specifically to early Indian communist organisation.

How to extend

A student can use this to infer that Tashkent is associated with the formation of Indian communist organisation (1920), not with the Ghadar Party (1913), helping separate the two claims by timeline and location.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC frequently swaps 'Headquarters' or 'Founders' in options to create traps. The pattern is to mix distinct ideological phases: Ghadar (Nationalist, 1913) vs CPI (Communist, 1920). They test if you can distinguish the 'Pre-WWI Revolutionary' phase from the 'Post-Russian Revolution' phase.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum) Ch. 13 'The Ghadr' or Bipan Chandra (Old NCERT).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Revolutionary Activities Abroad (1905-1917). Specifically, the shift of the center of gravity from London (India House) to the US/Canada Pacific Coast.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map these HQs: India House (London - Shyamji Krishna Varma), Paris Indian Society (Paris - Madam Cama), Berlin Committee (Berlin - Virendranath Chattopadhyay), Swadesh Sevak Home (Vancouver - G.D. Kumar), United India House (Seattle), Provisional Govt (Kabul - Raja Mahendra Pratap).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just memorize names. Create a mental map of the world. Associate 'Communists' with Tashkent (1920s), 'Ghadarites' with San Francisco (1913), and 'Home Rule' with London (1905). Chronology + Geography eliminates confusion.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Ghadar Party origins and headquarters (San Francisco / North America)
💡 The insight

Several references identify the Ghadar movement as founded and headquartered in North America, especially San Francisco, which directly bears on claims about its operating base.

High-yield for UPSC: clarifies where diaspora revolutionary organisations were based (not in India), distinguishes centre of operations from areas of activity. Helps answer questions on transnational anti-colonial networks and correct location-based assertions. Prepare by mapping key organisations to their founding cities and main publications.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > Morley > p. 35
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 1: Sources for the History of Modern India > Newspapers and Journals > p. 9
🔗 Anchor: "Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a nationalist organization operating from Singap..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Diaspora transnational networks of the Ghadar movement
💡 The insight

References show Ghadar had members and activity across many countries (including Singapore) even though its base was in North America.

Important for answering questions about the global reach of Indian revolutionary movements and differentiating 'presence' from 'base of operations'. Useful for essay and short-answer questions on diaspora contributions to the freedom struggle. Study by cataloguing countries of activity and key agents involved.

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > The Home Rule Leagues > p. 258
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 293
🔗 Anchor: "Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a nationalist organization operating from Singap..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Ghadar's aims and mobilisation during World War I
💡 The insight

Sources describe the party's revolutionary objectives (arms, uprisings) and link to events like Komagata Maru and WWI, explaining why the movement mobilised abroad.

Helps tackle questions on how global events (WWI, migration incidents) influenced revolutionary strategies. Connects to topics on revolutionary nationalism, Indian mutinies overseas, and the role of publications. Prepare by linking causes (Komagata Maru, WWI) to actions (plans for revolt, publication).

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 289
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 14: First World War and Nationalist Response > First World War and Nationalist Response > p. 294
🔗 Anchor: "Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a nationalist organization operating from Singap..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Ghadar Party's base and headquarters
💡 The insight

References identify the Ghadar organisation as originating and publishing from North America (San Francisco/USA & Canada), not Berlin.

High-yield for UPSC history: distinguishing the geographic bases of anti-colonial expatriate movements (where they organised, published, recruited). This helps answer questions on diaspora politics, Komagata Maru links and transnational networks—study primary leaders, publications and base-cities for comparison questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > Morley > p. 35
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > The Home Rule Leagues > p. 258
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > The Ghadr > p. 288
🔗 Anchor: "Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a militant organization headquartered in Berlin?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Militant ideology and methods of the Ghadar movement
💡 The insight

Evidence describes the Ghadar programme as militant: promoting militant nationalism, planning assassinations, procuring arms and organising revolt.

Useful for essays and mains answers on revolutionary nationalism — explains means (assassinations, arms, propaganda) and limitations of such movements. Connects to World War I-era revolutionary activities and aids comparison with constitutional/ non-violent strands. Revise leadership, tactics and assessment of impact.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 289
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 290
🔗 Anchor: "Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a militant organization headquartered in Berlin?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Berlin Committee vs Ghadar Party — separate expatriate revolutionary groups
💡 The insight

References mention a distinct 'Berlin Committee' in Europe and the Ghadar Party operating in North America, indicating they were separate entities.

Prevents conflation of different expatriate revolutionary bodies in answers and prelim fact-recall. Important for source-based questions and chronology of transnational anti-colonial activity—compare objectives, locations and influence. Memorise key groups and their bases for quick elimination in MCQs and structured answers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > p. 293
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 14: First World War and Nationalist Response > First World War and Nationalist Response > p. 294
🔗 Anchor: "Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a militant organization headquartered in Berlin?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S4
👉 Ghadar Party — origins, base and nature
💡 The insight

References identify the Ghadar Party as founded in San Francisco (1913), run by immigrant Sikhs and publishing the Ghadar journal, indicating its diasporic and revolutionary-nationalist character rather than a Tashkent/communist base.

UPSC often asks about revolutionary and diasporic movements in the freedom struggle; mastering Ghadar's origin, leadership, membership and activities helps distinguish it from later leftist organisations. Link this to questions on transnational anti-colonial networks and sources (newspapers, immigrant communities) — learn by comparing origin-location, leadership profile and stated aims across movements.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > Morley > p. 35
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 13: First Phase of Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917) > The Ghadr > p. 288
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > The Home Rule Leagues > p. 258
🔗 Anchor: "Was the Ghadar (Ghadr) movement a communist movement for India's freedom headqua..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Zimmerman Plan'. The Ghadarites collaborated with the Berlin Committee to smuggle arms into India (the Hindu-German Conspiracy). The shadow fact is the 'Berlin Committee for Indian Independence' (founded 1915), which is the correct answer for Option C.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Chronology Hack: Option D mentions 'Communist movement... Tashkent'. The Ghadar movement (1913) predates the Russian Revolution (1917) and the formation of the CPI in Tashkent (1920). Therefore, Ghadar cannot be a communist movement based in Tashkent. Eliminate D immediately.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS2 (Indian Diaspora): The Ghadar movement is a prime historical example of the 'Political Diaspora'. Unlike the modern economic diaspora, early 20th-century migrants were politically active 'ambassadors' of the freedom struggle, leveraging foreign soil to challenge sovereignty at home.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2022 · Q97 Relevance score: 4.26

The headquarters of Ghadar Movement/Party were at

CDS-II · 2025 · Q53 Relevance score: 2.35

Which of the following statements about the Ghadar Movement is/are correct ? 1. The Ghadar Movement began in 1913 in San Francisco. 2. The movement was founded by Sohan Singh Bhakna. 3. The Ghadar Movement took its name from the weekly Ghadar brought out in several Indian languages. Select the answer using the code given below :

IAS · 2005 · Q133 Relevance score: 1.76

Where were the Ghadar revolutionaries, who became active during the outbreak of the World War I based?

CDS-II · 2006 · Q113 Relevance score: 1.14

Who among the following was associated with the foundation of Ghadar Party ?