Q. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
(a) Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto.
(b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
(c) Foundation of Muslim League
(d) Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the President of the Indian national Congress
Ans: (b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government.
The split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907 was primarily due to the lack of faith of the Extremist faction in the capacity of the Moderate faction to effectively negotiate with the British Government.
During this period, the Indian National Congress had two dominant factions: the Moderates, led by leaders such as Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and the Extremists, led by leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai. The Moderates favored a gradual and constitutional approach to political reforms, while the Extremists advocated for more radical methods and were inclined towards direct confrontation with the British government.
The Extremist faction, dissatisfied with the Moderate leadership and their approach, believed that the Moderates were compromising too much and not doing enough to challenge British rule. They lacked confidence in the Moderates’ ability to assertively negotiate with the British government to achieve independence.
During the Surat session of the Indian National Congress in 1907, these differences between the Moderates and Extremists reached a breaking point. The session witnessed intense debates and disagreements, leading to a split in the organization.
The split resulted in the Extremists forming a separate group called the All India Muslim League. It took several years for the factions to reunite and for the Indian National Congress to regain its unity.
Therefore, option (b) correctly identifies the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907, which was the Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the Moderates to negotiate with the British Government.
