Revolutionary nationalism was of one of the several political strands that went into the making of the Indian national movement. Maharashtra, Bengal and the Punjab were the nerve centres of a pan-Indian network of revolutionary societies that, emerging independently in the early 20th century, often collaborated with one another in the cause of Indian independence.

• The most vital factor was the growth of religious revival of the late nineteenth century. Besides this, there were several foreign influences, like the impact of the American War of Independence, the Irish struggle for freedom, the unification of Italy, the lives of Mazzini and Garibaldi, the Japanese victory over Russia and last but not the least, the revolution against the Tsarist regime in Russia.
• The revolutionary movement in Bengal derived its inspiration from the works of Bankim Chandra Chatterji and the exhortations of Swami Vivekanand. The other notable contributor to the revolutionary creed was Aurobindo Ghosh.

Role of revolutionary nationalism

• Participation of Youth: The revolutionary groups had an important role in creating an upsurge and awareness among the youth, which was constructively harnessed by mass movements led by the Mahatma Gandhi.
• Growth of Nationalism: Bipan Chandra writes that even though revolutionary movement gradually petered out due to lack of a mass base, the individual revolutionaries or small secret groups, suppression by the still strong colonial state, they made a valuable contribution to the growth of nationalism in India. As a historian has put it, ‘they gave us back the pride of our manhood.’
• Major political force against British: Shukla Sanyal argues that Revolutionary nationalism emerged as a potent political force in Bengal in the wake of the Swadeshi Movement in the first decade of the 20th century and thereafter it worked alongside mainstream nationalism that was represented by the Congress party, sometimes in cooperation, at other times along parallel tracks.
• The political message that the movement sent across was that if the British government refused to negotiate with their discontented subjects, they would be pressurised into doing so. It is within this context that we have to view the rise of the revolutionary nationalist movement that emerged as the most radical strand within the Swadeshi movement after 1907.
• Introducing new techniques of struggle: The idea of revolutionary violence introduced a new and unsettling element into the political culture of Bengal that was more familiar with boardroom intrigues than with bomb-throwing. The Jugantar writers skilfully deployed a political language, the aim of which was to legitimise the ideology of political violence and make acceptable the use of violence as a technique for the attainment of independence.
• Support to INC: Revolutionary politics had a clandestine nexus with the Congress. It strengthened the latter’s claim to be a barrier against the spread of violence—and also provided auxiliary support should the British try repressive methods.
• Embodiment of National Unity: Revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and their sacrifices provided an incentive to the people. They were regarded martyrs and became the symbol of national unity and aspirations.
• Women Empowerment - the most important aspect of this movement was the participation of a large number of rural women taking their own initiative to liberate their country. Some women in Bengal got involved in violent revolutionary movement, and this time, unlike the Swadeshi period, they were not in supportive roles; they were now actually shooting pistols at magistrates and governors.

Shivaji Ganguly argues that there were obvious contexual constraints which did not permit the Indian revolutionaries to operate effectively in pursuance of their goal of India''s independence. o

1. First, there were numerical limitations; only a small segment of the Indian bourgeoisie actively participated in their endeavor, or morally supported them.
2. Second, the Indian revolutionaries'' bases of operation abroad were quite far off from the Indian borders. British ruling the High Seas and lack of internal support led to only ill-coordinated, half-hearted sympathy and help from limited external sources.
3. Third, even if the revolutionary groups were struggling for a free India, they were at the same time feuding among themselves regarding the proper course of action.