in what way were the extremists different from the moderates in the Indian national congress
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Surat Split
The differences between the moderates and the extremists became official in the Surat session of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1907.
The meeting was to take place in Nagpur that year. The extremists wanted Lala Lajpat Rai or Bal Gangadhar Tilak to be the President. But the moderates wanted Rash Behari Ghosh as President. There was a rule that the session’s President could not be from the home province. Tilak’s home province was Bombay Presidency in which Surat was also situated. So, the moderates changed the venue to Surat so that Tilak could be excluded from the presidency.
The moderates also wanted to drop the resolutions on swadeshi, boycott movements and national education.
Rash Behari Ghosh became the president in the session which was held at Surat.
Tilak was not even allowed to speak and this angered the extremists, who wanted to cancel the session.
Both sides were firm on their demands and neither was willing to find a common path.
The moderates then held a separate meeting in which they reiterated the Congress goal of self-government within the British Empire and to adopt only constitutional methods to achieve their goals.
Unfortunately, the Surat session was marred by the use of sticks and chappals by the members on one another.
Methods of Extremist Leaders
The extremist goal was ‘swaraj’. This, at that time either meant complete autonomy and freedom from British control, or a total Indian control over the administration but not necessarily a breakaway from Britain’s imperial reign.
This was in contrast to the moderates’ demand of only an increase in the share of Indians in the administration and military upper echelons.
The extremist leaders involved wider sections of people in the movement. They involved lower middle class people also.
They did not stick to constitutional methods to protest and demand. They resorted to boycotts, strikes, etc. They also burned foreign-made goods.
They believed in confrontation rather than persuasion.
The Swadeshi movement gathered momentum in India because of the extremists’ support. This led to the establishment of Indian banks, mills, factories, etc.
They were strongly against British imperialistic policies in India.
They took pride in Indian culture and history. They looked at the ancient scriptures for inspiration and courage.
They believed in sacrificing everything including life for the cause of the motherland.
They opposed westernisation of Indian society by the British.
Tilak famously said, “Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it.”
They were very vocal in their opposition to the British rule unlike the moderates who had faith in British justice.
They tried to instill self-respect and patriotism in the people by invoking past heroes like Ashoka, Shivaji, Maharana Pratap and Rani Laxmibai.
They did not believe in loyalty to the British Crown.
Extremist leaders
Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal (the first three called Lal-Bal-Pal leading the extremist cause in Punjab, Bombay and Bengal respectively.)
Other leaders included Aurobindo Ghosh, Rajnarayan Bose, A K Dutt, V O C Pillai.
Government reaction to extremists
The government attacked the extremist leaders vigorously.
Laws were passed to check their activities and influence. The following laws were passed between 1907 and 1911: Seditious Meetings Act, 1907; Indian Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1908; Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908; and the Indian Press Act, 1910.
Tilak was sentenced and served in prison in Mandalay (Burma) for writing in support of revolutionaries who were involved in the killing of two British women (their original target was a British magistrate).
Impact of the Extremist Period
Bal Gangadhar Tilak organized Ganpati and Shivaji festival to spread the message of boycotting westernization in India. This was a major social reform and had a larger impact on society.
The slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” by Tilak was the talk of society.
British goods and national education was boycotted which brought a major change in the economy of the country and gave way to employment and various other opportunities for the Indians.
There was a major reform in education across the country as the extremists worked on establishing National universities free from government control.