Famous Trials of the Nationalist Period
Modern History › Quick Reference for Revision · Topic 33.4
A series of political trials, from Bahadur Shah Zafar's in 1858 to the INA trials at the Red Fort in 1945, marked the nationalist period. This revision table lists each trial with date, accused, charge and verdict, including Tilak's three trials, the Alipore case, Savarkar, Gandhi's sedition trial of 1922, the Meerut case, Bhagat Singh and the INA officers.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Quick Reference for Revision
At a Glance
- First Bahadur Shah Zafar, 1858
- Tilak Trials of 1897, 1908 and 1916
- Gandhi Sedition trial of 1922; six years, released 1924
- INA Red Fort trials of 1945
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Quick Reference for Revision
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fourth topic of the category on quick reference for revision. The previous topic listed personalities by movement. This topic lists famous trials. The next topic lists caste movements. Previous topic: Personalities Associated With Specific Movements.
Which Trials Belong to the Nineteenth Century and the Swadeshi Years?
| Trial and date | Accused and charge | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Bahadur Shah Zafar, 27 January to 9 March 1858, Red Fort, Delhi | Treason, conspiracy, rebellion and murder in the revolt of 1857 | Convicted and exiled to Rangoon |
| Surendranath Banerjea, 4-5 May 1883, Calcutta High Court | Contempt of court for remarks in The Bengalee | Sent to civil jail; the sentence is usually put at two months |
| Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 1897 | Sedition over provocative articles in Kesari and the Shivaji festival speech | Eighteen months’ imprisonment |
| Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 1908 | Sedition over articles in Kesari after the attempt on a judge of Muzaffarpur | Six years’ transportation to Mandalay |
| Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 1916 | Charged for speeches on Home Rule | No jail sentence was imposed |
| Aurobindo Ghosh and 37 others, Alipore Bomb Case, 1908-09 | Conspiracy and waging war, with procuring and distributing arms | Aurobindo was acquitted; the heaviest sentences, including transportation for life, fell on others such as Barindra Kumar Ghosh |
| V.D. Savarkar, 1910 and January 1911 | Inflammatory speeches and conspiracy to wage war and abetment of murder | Two consecutive life transportations of fifty years; ten years in the Andaman jail from 1911 to 1921 |
The cases are in Vernacular Press Act, 1878 and Later Press Laws and Revolutionary Activities in Bengal and Revolutionary Activities in Maharashtra and Punjab; the nationalist press cases are also linked to Development of the Indian Press: Early Regulations and the Struggle for Freedom.
Which Trials Belong to 1922-1945?
| Trial and date | Accused and charge | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Gandhi and Shankarlal Banker, 1922 | Sedition for four inflammatory articles in Young India; Banker was its publisher | Six years’ imprisonment; Gandhi was released in 1924 |
| The Meerut Conspiracy Case, March 1929 | 31 communist and labour leaders charged with conspiracy against the British | Sentences from three years to transportation for life |
| Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt, April 1929 | Throwing a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly | Transportation for life |
| Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, the Lahore Conspiracy Case, from June 1929 | Killing the police officer Saunders in Lahore | Sentenced to death |
| M.N. Roy, 1931-32 | Conspiracy and sedition | Twelve years’ imprisonment, later reduced to six |
| Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, the INA trials, 1945, Red Fort | Waging war against the King by murder or abetment of murder | Sentences of transportation for life were remitted, but cashiering and forfeiture of arrears of pay were confirmed |
These are covered in Spread of Socialist and Marxist Ideas, Youth Activism and Trade Unionism, Working Class Movement: AITUC, Trade Union Act 1926 and Meerut Conspiracy Case and Post-War Upsurge and the INA Trials.
What Do the Trials Show?
As an analytical point, the trials fall into three kinds. The first kind punished writing and speech, as in the cases of Surendranath Banerjea, Tilak and Gandhi, and led to the press laws and the sedition law. The second kind punished revolutionary action, as in the Alipore, Savarkar, Assembly bomb and Lahore cases, where the accused used the court to publicise their ideas. The third kind tried political groups as a whole, as in Meerut and the INA trials, and these produced the widest public response, especially the INA trials, which united Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs behind the defence. The legal basis of the sedition charge is in Vernacular Press Act, 1878 and Later Press Laws.
Two dates should be checked when the table is copied from older lists: the 1883 sentence on Surendranath Banerjea was two months and not two years, and the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial of Bhagat Singh began in July 1929 after the Assembly bomb case of the previous April. Tilak’s 1916 trial ended with a bond for good behaviour and no jail term.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Matching trials with accused A standard Prelims question
- Verdicts and sentences Often asked as true-false statements
- Role of trials Show how courts became platforms of nationalism
What Came Next?
The next topic lists the caste movements of the nationalist period. Next topic: Caste Movements.
Key People and Terms
- Alipore Bomb Case 1908-09 trial of Aurobindo and others
- Meerut Conspiracy Case 1929 trial of labour leaders
- Lahore Conspiracy Case Trial for the killing of Saunders
- INA trials Red Fort trials of 1945
- Mandalay Burmese jail where Tilak served
- Cashiering Dismissal from the army
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Zafar: 1858, exiled to Rangoon.
- Tilak: 1897 (18 months), 1908 (six years, Mandalay).
- Savarkar: Andamans 1911-21.
- Gandhi: 1922, six years; released 1924.
- INA trials: 1945, Red Fort.
Do Not Confuse With
- Alipore case and Lahore case Aurobindo’s 1908 case versus Bhagat Singh’s 1929 case
- Assembly bomb case and Lahore Conspiracy Case Life sentence versus death sentence
- Meerut and Kanpur 1929 versus 1924 communist cases
Memory Hook
Zafar to Rangoon, Tilak to Mandalay, Savarkar to the Andamans, Gandhi to Yeravda, the INA to the Red Fort.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the significance of trials. These points add depth.
- Press and speech Sedition cases
- Revolutionaries Alipore, Lahore
- Group trials Meerut, INA
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the importance of political trials in the Indian national movement.”
How to Answer
- Early 1858 to 1916.
- Gandhi and Meerut 1922 to 1929.
- Revolutionaries Bhagat Singh.
- Conclude INA trials.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Bahadur Shah Zafar charged with?
He was tried at the Red Fort, Delhi, from 27 January to 9 March 1858 on charges of treason, conspiracy, rebellion and murder in the revolt of 1857, convicted, and exiled to Rangoon, where he later died.
How many times was Tilak tried for sedition?
Tilak faced trials in 1897, 1908 and 1916: eighteen months in jail in 1897 over articles in Kesari, six years' transportation to Mandalay in 1908, and in 1916 no jail sentence was imposed on him.
What was the sentence on Gandhi in 1922?
Gandhi and Shankarlal Banker, publisher of Young India, were tried for four inflammatory articles in 1922, and Gandhi was sentenced to six years in jail but set free in 1924 on health grounds, after about two years.
What was the Meerut Conspiracy Case?
In March 1929, 31 communists and labour leaders were arrested and tried for conspiracy against the British, and the accused received sentences varying from three years to transportation for life, after a trial that lasted several years.
What was the outcome of the INA trials?
Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were tried at the Red Fort in 1945, and their sentences of transportation for life were remitted, though cashiering and forfeiture of arrears of pay were confirmed.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon after his trial.
The trial was held in 1858.
2 Tilak was sentenced to six years in 1908.
He served in Mandalay.
3 Aurobindo Ghosh was convicted in the Alipore Bomb Case.
He was acquitted.
4 The INA trials were held at the Red Fort in 1945.
Three officers were tried.
5 Bhagat Singh was sentenced to transportation for life in the Lahore Conspiracy Case.
He was sentenced to death.
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