Who were Assertive Nationalists? Why were they so called?

In the second phase of the national movement, there emerged a new and a younger group of leaders within the Congress who did not agree with the methods and ideology of the Early Nationalist leaders. These 'angry young men' stood for complete Swaraj to be achieved by more self-reliant methods. They also wanted to have a mass-base for their movement. This group of leaders came to be known as Assertive Nationalists.

They were so called because they had a different outlook that advocated active resistance to British imperialism. They condemned the British rule in India and held it responsible for the country's downfall. They called upon the people of India to make sacrifices for the sake of their country.