Surat Split

Surat Split: The Congress split at Surat came in December 1907, around the time when revolutionary activity had gained momentum. Congress split into moderates and extremists in the Surat Session in 1907. The split was caused by ideological differences between them. The Moderates advocated for moderate methods of constitutional agitation. Extremists promoted aggressive tactics like swadeshi and boycotts.

In this article, we will delve into the Surat Split of Congress, its history, causes, impact, key points, and failures, along with the difference between moderates and extremists.

What was Surat Split?

The Surat Split refers to a significant event in the history of the Indian National Congress that took place during its session in Surat in 1907. The split marked a major ideological and political divide within the Congress party between two factions: the extremists (also known as the Garam Dal or the radicals and the moderates also known as the Naram Dal or the moderates.

Historical Background of Surat Split

In the Benaras session of 1905 presided over by G K Gokhle, a resolution for Swadeshi and Boycott movement for Bengal was passed.

• The extremist faction led by Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghosh, and Bipin Chandra Pal however wanted to take the movement outside Bengal. They also wanted to extend the boycott of foreign goods to every form of association and cooperation with the government.
• The moderates on the other hand were not interested in taking the movement outside Bengal and were opposed to the idea of extending the boycott to the government.
• In the 1906 session of the Indian National Congress held at Calcutta, matters came to a head on the issue of presidentship as extremists insisted on someone from their camp to be the president.
• The split was avoided for the time being by appointing the grand old man of the Indian freedom struggle Dada Bhai Naoroji as the president. Naoroji was a widely respected man across the board.
• To pacify the extremists four resolutions were passed on Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education, and Self-Government.
• The four resolutions were interpreted by the two camps in their ways. In the entire 1907, both camps fought with each other.
• In the entire year of 1907, the extremists and the moderates considered each other as enemies.

Causes of the Surat Split

The causes of Surat Split are discussed below:

• Different mindsets of the Moderates and the Extremists
• The partition of Bengal in 1905 provided the 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.

Consequences of the Surat Split

The following are the major consequences of the Surat Split:

• Congress was divided into Moderates and Extremists and there emerged a political vacuum for 8 long years.
• Moderates were discredited because the Morley-Minto reforms did not have the desired goals for moderates. Moderates had no mass base, and therefore government could easily neglect their demands.
• The Swadeshi movement was easily suppressed because moderates were not there who shield the extremists from govt. reprrssion.

Impact of Surat Split

The impact of Surat Split are showing

• The national movement after 1908 finally declined and the only victorious party was the British.
• The youth who were rendered leaderless with the disappearance of the extremist leaders whom they revered, took to revolutionary terrorism.
• The Indian National Congress became dormant for a considerable time.
• The Surat Split created divisions among the masses as they aligned with either the moderates or extremists.
• The Split contributed to the rise of revolutionary movements, engaging the masses in armed resistance.
• The Surat Split was the impetus for the 1909 Minto-Morley Reform.
• The split ultimately benefited the British government, as it weakened the Indian nationalist movement and allowed them to maintain control and divide the opposition.

Ideological Difference Between Moderates and Extremists

The ideological difference between Moderates and Extremists is mentioned below:

Moderates	Extremists
Their social base consisted of zamindars and upper middle classes in towns.	They essentially belonged to educated middle and lower middle classes in towns.
They drew inspiration from Western liberal thought and European History.	Indian history, cultural heritage traditional symbols, etc. inspired the extremists.
Believed that it was in India’s interest to have political connections with Britain.	Believed that such connections shall perpetuate misery and exploitation of Indians.
Demanded Constitutional reforms.	Demanded Swaraj.
Insisted on constitutional methods only involving petitions, prayers, and propaganda.	Insisted on methods like boycott, non-cooperation, and passive resistance.

Key Points on Surat Split

• The Surat Split was a result of the British strategy to divide and rule.
• Split took place in the Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in 1907.
• Congress was divided into two branches i.e. Moderates and Extremists, according to the ideology.
• The British government saw this as an opportunity and started repressive measures against the nationalist leaders.
• The exit of the Extremist left Congress paralyzed for more than a decade as the Moderates could achieve very little.
• It was only in 1916 after the re-entry of the Extremists that the Congress was reactivated.

Failures of Surat Split

There are some Failures of the Surat Split. These are:

• The most evident failure was the split itself, leading to a formal division within the Indian National Congress. This division occurred along ideological lines, primarily between the extremists and the moderates within the party.
• The internal strife within the Congress was advantageous for the British colonial rulers. The division weakened the unified opposition that the Congress could have presented against British colonial policies.
• The split damaged the credibility of the Indian National Congress as a reliable and united political force. The public image of the Congress as the representative of Indian aspirations suffered due to internal conflicts.
• The split led to a significant shift in the leadership of the Congress. The moderates, who were more accommodating in their approach, retained control, while the more assertive extremists found themselves marginalized within the party.

Surat Split and the Lucknow Session 1916

The Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress presided over by a Moderate, Ambika Charan Majumdar, finally readmitted the Extremists led by Tilak to the Congress fold. Various factors facilitated this reunion:

• Old controversies of Moderate-Extremist had become meaningless now.
• Both the Moderates and Extremists realized that the split had led to political inactivity.
• Annie Besant and Tilak had made vigorous efforts for the reunion. Tilak had declared that he supported a reform of the administration and not an overthrow of the government. He also denounced acts of violence.
• The death of two Moderates, Gokhale and Pherozshah Mehta, who had led the Moderate opposition to the Extremists, facilitated the reunion.

Summary – Surat Split

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 split has left both groups significantly less strong. However, after the advent of Mahatma Gandhi after the famous Lucknow reunion INC regained its lost effectiveness.

FAQs on Surat Split

1. Who was the Chairman of the Surat session of the Indian National Congress?

RasBehari Ghosh was the Chairman of Surat session of Indian National Congress.

2. When did the Surat Split take place?

Surat split took place in 1907.

3. Who was the Governor General during the Surat Split?

Lord Minto was the Governor General at the time of the Surat Split.

4. What is the reason for the Surat Split?

1. Ideological differences between moderates and extremists.
2. The British used the strategy of carrot and stick to engineer a split which was ultimately successful.

5. What was the effect of the Surat Split?

The main effect of the Surat Split 1907 was that the Congress entered into a phase of passivity.