The conflict between the various nationalist strands culminated in the Surat Split in December 1907. Rash Behari Ghosh presided over the Surat Congress session in 1907, despite opposition from Tilak and others. At the Surat session, Congress leaders were divided into two factions: Moderates and Extremists. This schism was also visible at the Banaras Session of Congress (1905), when some leaders, such as Tilak, criticized the moderates' methods and suggested passive resistance. They also believed that boycotting British goods and government institutions was a good idea. In this article, we will discuss the Surat Split (1907) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Surat Split - Background

• Congress leaders split into two groups at the Surat Session in 1907: moderates and extremists.
• The schism between these two groups became clear at the Banaras Session (1905).
• Lokmanya Tilak and his supporters held a separate conference at the end of this session and announced the formation of the Extremist Party. They did, however, decide to work as part of the Indian National Congress.
• The schism between Moderators and Extremists widened further in 1906 at the Calcutta Session.
• Both parties nominated candidates for the presidency, but Dadabhai Naoroji was accepted as a compromise candidate by both parties.
• The Extremists were also successful in obtaining a resolution emphasizing the principles of swadeshi, boycott, and national education.
• However, the Moderators refused to accept what had occurred at the Calcutta session in 1906 and were determined to undo it at the Surat Session in 1907.
• Extremists were equally determined to ensure that the Moderates did not get their way.
• In Surat, extremists attempted to push Lala Lajpat Rai's candidacy for Congress President, while moderates supported Dr. Rash Behari Ghosh.
• Lala Lajpat Rai saved the situation by stepping down, and Dr. Rash Behari Ghosh took over as President.

Surat Split - Causes

• The partition of Bengal in 1905 provided impetus for the Extremists to openly criticize the Moderates' methods. As a result, the Partition promoted extremist ideology.
• The moderate method of constitutional agitation, which included petitioning, praying, and protesting, had exhausted the Indian masses, giving rise to extremist tendencies that emphasized direct action against the British.
• The Extremists set two main goals for the Surat Session of Congress.
  • The extremists demanded that Lala Lajpat Rai be appointed President of the INC.
  • The second demand was for Swaraj's resolution.
• Both demands were rejected by the Moderates.

Surat Split - Consequences

• Rabindranath Tagore's efforts to reconcile the Moderates and Extremists following the Surat Split were futile.
• Furthermore, the adoption of resolutions for permanently disqualifying the Congress's Extremist section at the 1908 Allahabad convention aggravated the situation.
• Following the Surat Split in 1907, the Moderates demanded colonial self-government in contrast to the Extremists' demand for total independence.
• The moderates' constitutional politics did not impress the British government, as evidenced by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909.
• The Moderates had lost touch with the nationalism's younger generation. The younger generation desired results, which fueled the rise of revolutionaries.
• To suppress militant nationalists, the British used a divide and rule strategy.
• Extremism was mostly confined to Bengal, Maharashtra, and Punjab, where the rise in terrorist activity allowed the government to unleash repression.
• Following the incarceration of leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the moderate-dominated Congress went dormant.
• Separate electorates were granted to Muslims in 1909. This was a setback for Congress because the most critical and vocal elements were not included in the INC.

Ideological Differences between Moderates and Extremist

• Even when they were working together to oppose Bengal's partition, there was a great deal of public debate and disagreement between Moderates and Extremists in 1905-1907.
• The extremists wished to expand the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement beyond Bengal into the rest of the country.
• They also intended to gradually broaden the boycott of foreign goods to include any form of association or cooperation with the colonial government.
• The Moderates wished to limit the boycott portion of the movement to Bengal and were vehemently opposed to its extension to the Government.
• The question of the Presidentship of the Calcutta Congress nearly came to a head in 1906. By selecting Dadabhai Naoroji, a schism was avoided.
• Four compromise resolutions were passed on the Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education, and Self-Government demands.
• Throughout the year 1907, the two sides fought over differing interpretations of the four resolutions.
• By the end of 1907, the Extremists were convinced that the fight for liberty had begun, as the people had been roused.
• The majority of them believed that the time had come to part ways with the Moderates.
• The majority of the Moderates, led by Pherozeshah Mehta, were equally adamant about a split. They were afraid that the Congress organization, which had been carefully built over the previous twenty years, would be shattered.

Surat Split - Aftermath

• The British Divide and Rule policy resulted in the Surat Split.
• After a significant period of time, the British believed they had gained control of the INC's affairs.
• While the Congress' leadership remained in the hands of the Moderates for some time longer, as the Extremists worked separately until 1916.
• Due to the efforts of the leaders of the Home Rule movement, both groups later reunited at the Lucknow session of Congress in 1916.
• The moderates and the extremists were like the brain and heart of the nation-one was the law and the other impulse. Their unified function was a prerequisite for the growth of the national movement.
• The exit of the Extremist left the Congress paralysed for more than a decade as the Moderates could achieve very little.
• It was only in 1916 after re-entry of the Extremists and exit of the Moderates (1918) that the Congress was reactivated.
• But now it was a different story all together. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had entered the political scene and associated himself with the programme of the Extremist.
• He represented a new synthesis of faith and reason, law and impulse and inaugurated a new era in Modern India History.

Conclusion

The Surat Split was a watershed moment in the history of India's Nationalist Movement. It represented a shift in the government's policy and attitude toward nationalist moderates on the government side. The Surat Split was the direct cause of the Minto-Morley Reform of 1909. Both parties have been greatly weakened as a result of the split. Extremists faced official repression, while liberals were abandoned by their own people.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers 

Q1: Explain the ideological differences between the Moderates and the Extremists within the Indian National Congress that led to the Surat Split of 1907.

Answer: The Surat Split of 1907 was primarily caused by the ideological differences between the Moderates and Extremists within the Indian National Congress. The Moderates, led by leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, advocated for a gradual approach to self-rule through constitutional methods, petitions, and dialogues with the British authorities. In contrast, the Extremists, represented by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, demanded immediate independence and believed in direct action, including the Swadeshi and boycott movements, to challenge British rule. The rift deepened over the question of leadership, with the Extremists pushing for more aggressive tactics and the Moderates resisting such radical moves, ultimately leading to the split at the 1907 Congress session in Surat.

Q2: Assess the impact of the Surat Split on the Indian freedom struggle. How did it affect the role of the Indian National Congress?

Answer: The Surat Split had a detrimental impact on the Indian freedom struggle. The division between Moderates and Extremists weakened the Indian National Congress, reducing its ability to effectively challenge British authority. With the party split, the British adopted a divide-and-rule strategy, exploiting the internal rifts to delay the demand for self-rule. The weakening of the Congress also affected mass mobilization efforts, as both factions struggled to garner public support. The split significantly slowed down the momentum of the freedom movement until both factions reunited during the Lucknow Pact of 1916, allowing the Congress to present a united front once again.

Q3: Analyze how the Surat Split of 1907 influenced the future trajectory of the Indian National Congress and its approach to achieving independence.

Answer: The Surat Split of 1907 was a turning point in the history of the Indian National Congress, as it highlighted the deep ideological rifts within the party. While the split weakened the Congress temporarily, it also paved the way for a more diverse and inclusive approach to the independence movement. The Extremists’ aggressive tactics and mass mobilization strategies gradually gained more support, especially after the British policies during and after World War I. The eventual reunion of the Moderates and Extremists in 1916 during the Lucknow Pact demonstrated the Congress’s ability to adapt and reorganize, leading to a more unified and coordinated effort in the later phases of the freedom struggle.

Previous Year Questions on  Surat Split

1. UPSC CSE 2015

Question: The Surat Split of 1907 weakened the Indian National Congress and delayed India’s struggle for independence. Discuss. 

Answer: The Surat Split of 1907 significantly weakened the Indian National Congress by creating a division between the Moderates and Extremists, which the British exploited to maintain their control over India. The split occurred due to disagreements over leadership, ideology, and methods to achieve independence. The Moderates preferred constitutional reforms and negotiations with the British, while the Extremists, led by Tilak, advocated for aggressive measures like Swadeshi and boycotts. The split not only slowed down the momentum of the freedom struggle but also allowed the British to implement their divide-and-rule policy more effectively. It took nearly a decade for both factions to reunite, during the Lucknow Pact of 1916, to continue the fight for self-rule with renewed vigor.

2. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: How did the Surat Split of 1907 reflect the growing divergence in the approach to the Indian freedom movement within the Congress? 

Answer: The Surat Split of 1907 reflected the growing divergence within the Indian National Congress between the Moderates and Extremists. The Moderates, led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, believed in achieving self-rule through peaceful constitutional means and cooperation with the British. On the other hand, the Extremists, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, sought immediate independence through direct action, including the use of Swadeshi and boycotts. This ideological divide culminated in the split at the Surat session, as both factions could not reconcile their differences regarding leadership and strategies. The split marked a critical moment in the freedom struggle, highlighting the need for a more unified approach, which was later realized during the Lucknow Pact of 1916.