The First Russian Revolution and India

Abstract

The Russian Revolution of 1905 was the first revolution of the epoch of imperialism and the first also of the 20th century. It gave a mighty impetus to mankind’s revolutionary development and became a new milestone in its history. Despite the heroism and self-sacrifice of the revolutionary masses, the first attempt to overthrow tsarist autocracy was unsuccessful: reaction proved to be stronger. But, despite the failure, the first Russian revolution greatly influenced international working-class movement. The Russian revolution helped draw into the national-liberation struggle new social forces in Asian countries and called on them to play a prominent part in history. Thus, in India the working class, which appeared on the political scene for first time, borrowed from its Russian brothers the weapon of strike, which had been so effectively used in the first Russian revolution, and introduced it in Indian practice. Indian revolutionary groups were formed in London and then in Paris. They established close contacts with Russian Social-Democrats.