Maia Ramnath - Decolonizing Anarchism.pdf - Libcom

Echoes and Intersections , 153
time, they made a move toward internal democratization by
introducing elections and collective leadership, and seeking
consensus for decisions.62 These modifications in form
and outlook reflected the conclusion-for which Singh was
probably the most articulate spokesperson-"that it is not
enough to simply 'free mother India from the chains oHoreign
slavery; it was important to understand, and fight, the
larger system that produces slavery in the first place."63
Singh took charge of ideological work while
Chandrashekhar Azad was elected commander in chief of
militant activities. Designed fo r political education and activist
recruitment, the revamped group would also provide
a gateway through which promising members might join
the more clandestine inner circle. While not calling immediately
fo r armed resistance, Josh said, "We ... despised
everything that created hurdles in the way of achieving
freedom," including "communalism, liberalism, Gandhian
non-violence, etc. Our first priority was freedom of the
country, everything else was subordinate. 'Freedom by all
possible means' was our motto."64 The HSRA located its
central office in Delhi, but set up an explosives workshop
in Agra, fo r training in the manufacture and proper use
of bombs and firearms, after which the association would
disperse to reproduce operations elsewhere.65 (Kanungo's
famous manual lived on.)
The Sabha launched a tract society to put out political
pamphlets. One of its first pieces "urged the youth of
the country to follow the example set by the young men
ofIreland, Turkey, Japan and China in their struggle fo r
independence;' and encouraged them to study Communist