The name "Anushilan Samiti" was adopted from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel "Anandamath." The term was inspired by the novel's ideas and the concept of "Anushilan-Tattva" or the "Theory of Discipline," reflecting the association's focus on discipline, physical training, and revolutionary nationalism during the Indian independence struggle. The society was founded in 1902 and named after this influence to promote self-culture and militant activism against British rule.