The Surat Split: Key Events in Indian National Congress History

The Surat Split: Run-up to Surat - Moderates vs. Extremists

The Surat Split in 1907 was a pivotal moment in Indian history, marking a division between the Moderates and Extremists within the Indian National Congress. Key events included the contrasting views at the Benaras and Calcutta sessions, the contentious split in Surat, and the subsequent government repression that targeted extremist leaders and led to a decline in the nationalist movement until Tilak’s release in 1914.

• Benaras Session (December 1905): At the Benaras session of the Indian National Congress, the differences between Moderates and Extremists became evident. The Extremists wanted to extend the Boycott and Swadeshi Movement beyond Bengal and to include all forms of associations in the boycott programme. The Moderates preferred constitutional methods and only supported a mild resolution condemning the partition of Bengal.
• Calcutta Session (December 1906): The Extremists' popularity had grown, leading to a conflict over the president's position. Dadabhai Naoroji was elected, and a resolution supporting *swadeshi*, boycott, and national education was passed. The term 'swaraj' was introduced but left open to interpretation.
• Escalating Tensions: Extremists called for wide passive resistance and boycott of various institutions. The Moderates, on the other hand, decided to tone down their approach. The two sides seemed headed for a confrontation.
• Positions of Extremists and Moderates: Extremists felt it was time for a major push to drive the British out, while Moderates sought to avoid hastiness and hoped to use council reforms to achieve their goals. Both sides were prepared for a split.
• Failure to Realize: The Extremists did not see the potential support from Moderates, and Moderates failed to recognize the need for a broad-based nationalist movement to succeed against a strong imperialist power.

Split Takes Place: Surat, 1907

• Session Locations: The Extremists wanted the 1907 session in Nagpur with Tilak or Lajpat Rai as president and a continuation of the *swadeshi*, boycott, and national education resolutions. The Moderates preferred Surat and sought to exclude Tilak, proposing Rashbehari Ghosh as president and dropping the resolutions.
• Congress Post-Split: The Congress was dominated by Moderates who emphasized constitutional methods and commitment to self-government within the British Empire.

Government Repression: Targeting Extremist Leaders

• New Laws (1907-1911): The government introduced several laws to suppress anti-government activity, including the Seditious Meetings Act, Indian Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act, Criminal Law Amendment Act, and the Indian Press Act.
• Treatments of Extremist Leaders: Tilak was tried for sedition and sentenced to six years’ transportation. Other leaders like Aurobindo and B.C. Pal retired from politics, while Lajpat Rai left for abroad.
• Movement Decline: After 1908, the national movement declined. However, Tilak’s release in 1914 allowed him to continue the movement.

The Government Strategy: Carrot and Stick

• Initial Hostility: The British government in India was hostile towards the Congress from the start. Even after the Moderates began distancing themselves from the militant nationalist trend, government hostility persisted because the Moderates were still seen as an anti-imperialist force.
• Modification of Strategy: With the rise of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements and the emergence of militant nationalism, the government modified its approach to the nationalists, employing a policy of ‘carrot and stick’ or a three-pronged approach of repression-conciliation-suppression.
• Three-Pronged Approach:
  • Repression: The Extremists were to be repressed mildly to intimidate the Moderates.
  • Conciliation: The Moderates were to be placated with concessions and hints of further reforms if they distanced themselves from the Extremists.
  • Suppression: With the Moderates on its side, the government could suppress the Extremists more effectively and then ignore the Moderates.
• Outcome: The Surat split suggested that the British government’s strategy of carrot and stick had achieved its intended results, exploiting the divisions between the Moderates and Extremists.