The Surat Split of 1907 partitioned the Indian National Congress into moderates and extremists, marking a significant ideological and political division. It had a lasting impact on the Indian independence movement, shaping strategies, demands, and unity within the Congress. The split reflected disagreements over approaches to achieving independence and leadership disputes, influencing the trajectory of the movement.

Causes Of Surat Split

The Surat Split of 1907 within the Indian National Congress was triggered by various factors:

• Disagreement: The discord emerged over the continuation of four resolutions and the expansion of the movement nationwide.
• Failure of Moderates: When moderates proved unsuccessful in making significant progress, extremists became agitated.
• Impatience of the Extremists: Led by figures like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, extremists grew impatient with the slow progress of moderates against British rule, advocating for more radical methods to achieve independence.
• Bengal Split Agitation Issue: The demand for Swaraj (self-governance) during the Swadeshi Movement clashed with the moderates' desire to confine the movement to Bengal alone, intensifying the rift between the two factions.
• International Influences: Extremists drew inspiration from events outside India, such as the defeat of Russia by Japan and the Italian Army's defeat by Ethiopians, undermining the perceived strength of European powers.
• Inaction of Morley: Despite optimism among extremists regarding the appointment of a new Secretary of State, Morley, he took no action on the partition question, infuriating the extremists.
• Leadership Dispute: The 1907 Congress session was marred by a leadership dispute. Moderates, fearing the election of Tilak as president, shifted the session from Nagpur to Surat. Extremists favored Tilak or Lala Lajpat Rai as president, while moderates supported Rash Behari Ghose.
• Disruption and Adjournment of the Meeting: The initial meeting faced disruption, and when it resumed, Tilak was denied the opportunity to speak. This resulted in a physical altercation and the subsequent adjournment of the meeting sine die. British authorities seized this opportunity to control Congress activities, banning extremists from future meetings.

The Impact Surat Split

The Surat Split of 1907 had numerous consequences for the Indian National Congress (INC) and the broader Indian independence movement:

• Divided into two parties: The Indian National Congress (INC) split in Surat resulted in the party being divided into two factions, the Extremists and the Moderates.
• Failed Reconciliation Attempts: Rabindranath Tagore made unsuccessful efforts to reconcile the moderates and extremists post-split, emphasizing the difficulty in repairing the divide within the INC.
• Disqualification of Extremist Section: Resolutions adopted at the 1908 Allahabad convention sought to permanently disqualify the extremist section of the Congress, further exacerbating the divide.
• Weakened Congress: This schism weakened Congress and impaired its ability to advocate for Indian independence.
• Prominence of extremists: With extremists gaining prominence, Congress gradually shifted towards a more militant and extreme approach to winning independence.
• Shift in Demands: The split led to a divergence in the demands of the moderates and extremists. Extremists called for full independence, while moderates advocated for colonial self-government.
• Limited Impact of Constitutional Politics: The constitutional politics pursued by the moderates, evident in the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909, did not resonate with the British government, diminishing their influence.
• Rise of Revolutionary Movements: Neglect of the younger generation by the moderates and their focus on constitutional methods led to the popularity of revolutionary movements seeking more radical outcomes.
• Divide-and-Rule Strategy: The British government employed a divide-and-rule strategy to suppress militant nationalists and maintain control, capitalizing on the divisions within the Indian independence movement.
• Dormancy of Moderate-Dominated Congress: The moderate-dominated Congress went dormant following the imprisonment of leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, further weakening the party.
• Setback for Congress: The introduction of separate electorates for Muslims in 1909, excluding important sections of the INC, was a setback for Congress and hindered the goal of united national representation.
• Impetus for reforms: The Surat Split served as the impetus for the 1909 Minto-Morley Reform.
• Overall Benefit to British Government: The split ultimately benefited the British government, as it weakened the Indian nationalist movement and allowed them to maintain control and divide the opposition.

Moderates Vs. Extremists

Moderates:

• Social base: Zamindars and upper middle classes in towns.
• Ideological inspiration: Western liberal thought and European history.
• Believed political connections: With Britain to be in India’s social, political, and cultural interests.
• Loyal: Professed loyalty to the British Crown.
• Masses not ready: Believed that the movement should be limited to middle-class intelligentsia; masses not yet ready for participation in political work.
• Constitutional demands: Demanded constitutional reforms and share for Indians in services.
• Constitutional means: Insisted on the use of constitutional methods only.
• Not a comprador: They were patriots and did not play the role of a comprador class.

Extremists:

• Social base: Educated middle and lower-middle classes in towns.
• Ideological inspiration: Indian history, cultural heritage, and Hindu traditional symbols.
• Believed that political connections: With Britain would perpetuate British exploitation of India.
• Unworthy British Crown: Believed that the British Crown was unworthy of claiming Indian loyalty.
• Faith in masses: Had immense faith in the capacity of the masses to participate and make sacrifices.
• Swaraj: Demanded Swaraj as the panacea for Indian ills.
• Extra-constitutional means: Did not hesitate to use extra-constitutional methods like boycotts and passive resistance to achieve their objectives.
• Made sacrifices: They were patriots who made sacrifices for the country.

How did the Surat Split impact the involvement and participation of the masses in the Indian independence movement?

• Division of Support: The Surat Split created divisions among the masses as they aligned with either the moderates or extremists.
• Influence of Extremist Approach: The extremist faction’s radical methods appealed to those seeking assertive action, increasing mass participation.
• Rise of Revolutionary Movements: The Split contributed to the rise of revolutionary movements, engaging the masses in armed resistance.
• Inspiration for Mass Movements: The Surat Split, along with the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements, inspired mass mobilization and civil disobedience.
• Impact on Mass Mobilization: The Split initially hindered unified mass mobilization but allowed local leaders and grassroots organizations to emerge, leading to widespread participation. 

Conclusion

The moderates and extremists symbolized the intellect and passion of the nation. The Surat split is characterized as a national catastrophe. The exit of the extremists from the Congress profoundly affected the moderates, causing a temporary halt in the national movement. The ideology and revolutionary endeavors of the Extremists infused the people with fresh hope and strength to challenge British rule. After an eight-year separation, the Moderates and Extremists reconciled in Lucknow in 1916.