 Nationalist writings and publications by Aurobindo and Barin, including "Bande Mataram" and "Jugantar", had a widespread influence on Bengal youth and helped Anushilan Samiti to gain popularity in Bengal.The 1905 partition of Bengal stimulated radical nationalist sentiments in Bengal's Bhadralok community, helping the Samiti to acquire the support of educated, politically-conscious and disaffected members of local youth societies.The Samiti's program emphasized physical training, training its recruits with daggers and lathis (bamboo staffs used as weapons).