What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?

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Q: 67 (IAS/2016)
What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?

question_subject: 

History

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,305,40,18,305,10,12

keywords: 

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The main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907 was the lack of faith of the Extremists in the capacity of the Moderates to negotiate with the British Government. This is option 2.

The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 as a platform for the Indian people to voice their grievances against British rule and work towards their independence. The party was initially dominated by the Moderates, who believed in using peaceful and constitutional methods to achieve their goals. However, over time, a group of young leaders emerged within the party who believed that more radical methods were necessary to secure independence.

These leaders, known as the Extremists, felt that the Moderates were too cautious and were not doing enough to challenge British rule. They advocated for more aggressive methods, such as boycotts, strikes, and even armed rebellion, if necessary.

The split at Surat in 1907 was a culmination of these ideological differences between the Moderates and the Extremists. The Extremists, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai, wanted to elect their own candidate for the presidency of the party, while the Moderates, led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, wanted to continue with their policy of conciliation with the British.

The election for the presidency of the party at the Surat session became a battleground between the Moderates and the Extremists, and the proceedings became chaotic. The Extremists proposed Tilak as their candidate, while the Moderates supported their candidate, Rash Behari Ghose. However, when it became clear that Tilak would win the election, the Moderates walked out of the session, resulting in a split in the party.

It is important to note that communalism and the foundation of the Muslim League were not the main reasons for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907. While communalism did become a significant issue in Indian politics later on, it was not a major factor in the split at Surat. Similarly, the Muslim League was founded in 1906, a year before the Surat session, and its formation had no direct impact on the split in the Congress.

In conclusion, the lack of faith of the Extremists in the capacity of the Moderates to negotiate with the British Government was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907. This split had significant implications for the future of Indian politics and the struggle for independence.

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