Surat Split

The movement that contributed to the split in the Indian National Congress, resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists', was the Swadeshi Movement. The Swadeshi Movement saw two distinct groups emerge within the Indian National Congress: **1. Moderates:** This group, led by leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjee, believed in constitutional and peaceful methods to achieve independence. They supported the boycott of British goods but opposed the use of violence or extreme measures. **2. Extremists (also known as Radicals or Nationalists):** This group, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal (the Lal-Bal-Pal trio), advocated for more aggressive and revolutionary methods to drive out the British. They supported the use of boycotts, civil disobedience, and even violence if necessary. The ideological differences between the moderates and extremists intensified during the Swadeshi Movement, eventually leading to the Surat Split in 1907, where the two factions clashed openly at the Congress session, resulting in a temporary split in the party.

The Extremist wanted to extend the Boycott and Swadeshi Movement to regions outside Bengal and also include all forms of associations (government services, law courts, councils, etc.) within the boycott programme, thus starting a nationwide mass movement. Unlike Extremists, Moderates were opposed to extending the movement and the idea of passive resistance. They felt that it involved the use of force. After the split, the Congress came to be dominated by the Moderates with Tilak?s followers functioning from outside. The two groups reunited in December 1915. Next year, the Congress and the Muslim League signed the Lucknow Pact and decided to work together for representative government in the country.