Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?
Contents14
- ASwadeshi Movement
- BQuit India Movement
- CNon-Cooperation Movement
- DCivil Disobedience Movement
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Answer: (A) Swadeshi Movement
As per Spectrum (pg 89):
The famous Surat Split of 1907 resulted from growing tensions between two factions within the Indian National Congress — the Moderates (Naram Dal, led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee) and the Extremists (Garam Dal, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal — known as Lal-Bal-Pal).
The immediate context was the Swadeshi Movement launched after the Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon.
The two groups disagreed fundamentally on how to respond:
- Moderates wanted to limit agitation to Bengal and use constitutional methods (petitions, prayers, delegations).
- Extremists wanted to extend Swadeshi and boycott across India and use more aggressive methods (passive resistance, national education, swadeshi industries).
At the 1907 Surat session, the Congress split over the election of the president — the Extremists wanted Lala Lajpat Rai while the Moderates pushed Rash Behari Ghosh.
The session ended in chaos with shoe-throwing and adjournment.
Why are the other options wrong?
(b) Quit India Movement (1942),
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), and
(d) Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) — all came decades AFTER the Surat Split and did not cause the moderate-extremist division.
By 1916, the two factions had reunited at the Lucknow Pact.
Answer: Swadeshi Movement.
The Surat Split of 1907 permanently changed how Indian National Congress operated, creating the first major ideological division in the independence movement.
The split happened during the Swadeshi Movement after Bengal's partition in 1905, when Moderates wanted constitutional methods while Extremists demanded aggressive resistance including boycotts and passive resistance.
This tests chronology knowledge since the other three movements (Quit India, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience) all occurred decades after the 1907 split had already happened.
Surat Split of 1907
Modern Indian History Surat Split moderates extremists
Surat Split of 1907: Moderates vs Extremists Division
Surat Split (1907) divided Congress into Moderates and Extremists over Swadeshi Movement strategy
Moderates: Gokhale, Mehta, Banerjee - wanted constitutional methods only
Extremists: Lal-Bal-Pal (Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal) - wanted aggressive resistance
Split triggered by presidential election dispute - Extremists wanted Lajpat Rai, Moderates chose Rash Behari Ghosh
Reunification happened at Lucknow Session (1916)
Context & Immediate Trigger
The Swadeshi Movement (1905) launched after Partition of Bengal created the first major ideological rift within Congress. While both factions opposed the partition, they disagreed fundamentally on strategy and scope of resistance.
Moderates vs Extremists Comparison
Aspect | Moderates (Naram Dal) | Extremists (Garam Dal) |
|---|---|---|
Key Leaders | Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee | Lal-Bal-Pal (Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal) |
Methods | Constitutional methods - petitions, prayers, delegations | Aggressive resistance - passive resistance, boycott |
Scope of Swadeshi | Limited to Bengal only | Extended across entire India |
Approach to British | Cooperation within system | Complete opposition and self-reliance |
Education Policy | Western education acceptable | National education as alternative |
The Split at Surat
At the 1907 Surat session, tensions exploded over presidential election. Extremists wanted Lala Lajpat Rai as president, while Moderates pushed Rash Behari Ghosh. The session ended in chaos with shoe-throwing and adjournment, formally splitting the Congress.
Trap: Other movements like Quit India (1942), Non-Cooperation (1920), Civil Disobedience (1930) came decades after the split
Memory trick: Surat Split = Swadeshi Split (both start with S)
Common confusion: Students mix up the Lucknow Pact (1916 reunion) with the original split
Date trap: Split was 1907, not 1905 (partition year) or 1906 (Swadeshi peak)
Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908)
Modern Indian History Swadeshi Movement
Swadeshi Movement: Catalyst for Congress Division
Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) launched against Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon
Combined boycott of British goods with promotion of Indian products and industries
Created ideological split between constitutional vs aggressive resistance methods
Introduced national education as alternative to government schools
Trigger & Objectives
Launched in response to Lord Curzon's Partition of Bengal (1905), the movement aimed to unite Hindus and Muslims against divide-and-rule policy while promoting economic self-reliance through indigenous production.
Swadeshi Movement Methods
Method | Implementation | Impact |
|---|---|---|
Boycott (Videshi) | Boycott British goods, especially textiles | Massive decline in British imports |
Swadeshi (Indigenous) | Promote Indian-made products and industries | Growth of textile mills in Bengal, Maharashtra |
National Education | Schools like Bengal Technical Institute | Alternative to government education system |
Political Resistance | Mass meetings, processions, cultural programs | United people across class lines |
Geographic Impact
Source: Brainly.in — On the given physical map of India, mark where the follow ... · brainly.in
Don't confuse: Swadeshi Movement with later Swadeshi during Non-Cooperation (1920-22)
Key distinction: This was anti-partition movement, not anti-British rule movement
Geographic trap: Started in Bengal but spread to Maharashtra, Punjab - this expansion caused Moderate-Extremist rift
Later National Movements
Modern Indian History Quit India Movement Non-Cooperation Movement Civil Disobedience Movement
Major Movements After Congress Reunification
Non-Cooperation (1920-22): Gandhi's first mass movement after Congress reunited in 1916
Civil Disobedience (1930-34): Salt Satyagraha and complete independence demand
Quit India (1942): Final mass movement for immediate independence
All three movements came decades after the 1907 Surat Split
Chronological Comparison of Mass Movements
Movement | Years | Leader | Key Demand | Relation to Congress Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Swadeshi Movement | 1905-1908 | Lal-Bal-Pal | Repeal Partition of Bengal | CAUSED Surat Split (1907) |
Non-Cooperation | 1920-1922 | Mahatma Gandhi | Swaraj within British Empire | Congress already reunited (1916) |
Civil Disobedience | 1930-1934 | Mahatma Gandhi | Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) | United Congress under Gandhi |
Quit India | 1942 | Mahatma Gandhi | Immediate Independence | Congress fighting as single unit |
Why These Movements Are Wrong Answers
By the time Non-Cooperation (1920), Civil Disobedience (1930), and Quit India (1942) were launched, the Congress had already reunited at the Lucknow Session (1916). Gandhi's leadership had created unity, not division, within the party.
Timeline trap: All Gandhi-led movements came after 1916 reunification, not before 1907 split
Causation trap: These movements unified Congress, didn't split it
Leadership trap: Gandhi created consensus, while Lal-Bal-Pal vs Moderates created division
Moderate vs Extremist Ideologies
Modern Indian History moderates extremists
Ideological Foundations of the Congress Split
Moderates believed in gradual reform through constitutional methods and British goodwill
Extremists demanded immediate self-rule through aggressive resistance and complete self-reliance
Split reflected fundamental disagreement on pace and methods of freedom struggle
Both factions reunited in 1916 under external pressures of World War I
Ideological Differences
# Congress Ideological Split
## Moderates (Naram Dal)
- Constitutional methods
- Gradual reform
- British goodwill
- Elite leadership
- Western education
## Extremists (Garam Dal)
- Aggressive resistance
- Immediate swaraj
- Mass mobilization
- Cultural nationalism
- Swadeshi economics
## Common Ground
- Opposition to British policies
- Demand for greater representation
- Criticism of economic drainPhilosophical Approaches
Philosophy | Moderate View | Extremist View |
|---|---|---|
Nature of British Rule | Beneficial but needs reform | Exploitative and evil |
Method of Resistance | Petitions and prayers | Passive resistance and boycott |
Target Audience | British officials and educated Indians | Mass population |
Cultural Approach | Western education and values | Indian culture and traditions |
Economic Strategy | Gradual industrial development | Immediate swadeshi and boycott |
Don't confuse: 'Extremist' here means aggressive methods, not violence or terrorism
Leadership trap: Both factions had educated, elite leadership - difference was in methods, not class
Reunion detail: 1916 Lucknow Pact brought them together, but Moderates gradually lost influence to Gandhi's methods