why did the early nationalists persuade dadabhai naoroji to preside over the kolkata session of the congress in 1906?
Answers
The moderates were moderates. They did not like these new techniques of struggle. They even thought of using the Boycott in only special circumstances.
The extremists were far more popular than the moderates. Before this session, the extremists would have taken over congress had they elected a leader among them. But it was not done. The moderates were politically intelligent. In 1906, the session at Calcutta was presided by Dada Bhai Naoroji. The moderates chose Dada Bhai Naoroji to preside the Congress. Dada Bhai Naoroji, the Grand Oldman of India was respected by the moderates and extremists alike. But, in this session, the congress was compelled by the extremists to adopt following resolutions which were accepted by the moderates with half heart. These were as follows:
1)Resolution on Partition of Bengal
2)Resolution of Self Government (Swaraj)
3)Resolution on Swadeshi
4)Resolution on Boycott.
Thus in Calcutta session of 1906, under the leadership of Dadabhai Naoroji, Congress adopted Swaraj as the Goal of Indian people. But here a bit of politics was played by the Moderates. They, by no means wanted to be tagged as radical. The toned down the resolution in a compromised state and made it “self government means that obtaining the self governing British Colonies“. Thus the whole meaning of Swaraj of the extremists was changed. The extremists were defeated in this politics and the difference became apparent. Congress was now bound to split.
The Partition of Bengal in 1905 had very sadly dillusioned the early nationalist. The power and prestige were on the decline . Therefore they persuade Dadabhai Naoroji to preside over the Kolkata's session of the congress in 1906 .