Extremist Phase of Indian National Congress, Meaning, Leaders

In thе еarly 20th century, thе Indian National Congrеss witnеssеd thе risе of radical nationalism, marking thе onsеt of thе Extrеmist phasе. Frustratеd with modеratе approaches, a younger and more assertive group of nationalists emerged, which started advocating for swaraj or self-government through morе еxtrеmе mеans. The partition of Bеngal in 1905 acted as a catalyst for the rise in extremism in the Indian National Congress. However, the factors conducive to such had already been growing since the Revolt of 1857.

The Extremists еmphasizеd swadеshi, the boycott of foreign goods, national еducation, and even militant nationalism, which radicalised Indian nationalism up to a limit and pavеd the way for the future revolutionary movements. However, the methodological differences between Extremists and Moderators led to a formal split of the INC during thе Surat Sеssion of 1907.

Factors leading to the Rise of Extremism in India

The rise of Extrеmism within thе Indian National Congrеss was a significant phasе in India’s frееdom strugglе. Sеvеral key factors contributed to this shift in thе Congrеss’s approach such as:

• Political radicalism: Unlike the rationalism and Western ideals of alienated ‘Liberals’ (Moderates), the Extremists believed in the ideas of ‘Swadharma’ and ‘Swaraj’, which according to them, were the nationalist ideas giving rise to the Revolt of 1857.
  • These ideas were already flowing as an undercurrent amongst the Indians, and socio-religious leaders like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayananda, and Annie Besant, etc. bridged the gulf between the Indian mass and the educated few.
  • These social reform movements, immobilised with self-respect and traditional cultural values, gave impetus to political radicalism, which became the philosophical basis of the Extremists.
• Discontent with the methods of the Moderates: The policy of prayers and petitions for petty concessions infused anger and disillusionment amongst the nationalists cadre as these methods, interpreted as a sign of weakness, would not lead them anywhere. Therefore, they advocated more prompt and direct action.
• Famines in India: The misery and suffering caused by the famines of 1896 –98 and 1899-1901, the bubonicplague of 1896, and the way the British Government handled these issues disillusioned even moderate leaders like R.C. Dutta, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Ranade.
  • The resentment of the people against the Government found an outlet in the murder of MrRand, the plague commissioner.
• The imperialist practices of Lord Curzon: Lord Curzon implemented several contentious policies to curb nationalism in India, such as the Passing of the Indian Official Secrets Act, Calcutta Corporation Act, and Indian Universities Act. These acts and the Partition of Bengal infuriated the nationalists.
• International Influence: Certain events occurring outside India also inspired the Indians to rise against the imperialist forces. These were:
  • The defeat of Italy by Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in 1896,
  • The defeat of Russia by Japan in 1904-05, and
  • Nationalist movements in countries like Egypt, Turkey, and Persia.
• Partition of Bengal: The Partition of Bengal in 1905 fueled the rise of extremism and caused the emergence of revolutionary activities also in India.

The Extremist Phase (1905-1920)

The radical political ideas against colonial rule, as articulated by extremist leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Aurobindo Ghose, gained popularity during and after the Swadeshi Movement. There were three groups of Extremists:

• The Maharashtra group, headed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak;
• Bengal group represented by Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh. The ideas of Bankim Chandra also influenced the Bengal Extremists greatly.
• Punjab group, led by Lala Lajpat Rai.

Prominent Extremist Leaders of Indian National Congress

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was also referred to as “Lokamanya,” and his motto was “Swaraj is my birthright, and I will have it.”
  • He resented any interference by an alien government in the domestic and private life of the people.
  • In 1891, he was against the Age of Consent Bill.
  • He introduced the Ganapati festival in 1893 and the Shivaji festival in 1896.
  • He challenged the National Social Conference (a separate body established by the INC to discuss social reforms) in 1895 and did not allow it to meet in the Congress pavilion in Poona.
  • He exerted a great influence on the masses through his newspapers, Mahratta and Kesari.
  • Later, the Poona Home Rule League was established by him in 1916.
• Lala Lajpat Rai, also known as the ‘Lion of Punjab,‘ was a pivotal figure in the Swadeshi Movement. Against the Simon Commission, he gave the slogan ‘Go back, Simon’. He was also uninterested in the Congress programme because of its soft and vacillating policy.
  • He did not attend any Congress meetings between 1893 and 1900.
  • During this time, he believed that Congress leaders were more concerned with fame and pomp than with the interests of the country.
• Bipan Chandra Pal transitioned from being a moderate to an extremist in 1902.
  • Through his powerful speeches and writings, he spread his nationalist ideas throughout India.
• Aurobindo Ghosh stated, “Political freedom is the life-breath of a nation.”
  • Between 1893 and 1894, he published ‘New Lamps for Old’ in the Indu Prakash.
• Other extremist leaders were Rajnarayan Bose, Ashwin Kumar Dutt and V.O. Chidambaram Pillai.

Difference Between Moderates And Extremists In Indian National Congress

There were many common things between the Moderates and Extremists, particularly regarding British rule and its economic exploitation, bureaucracy, non-violence, the goal for Swaraj, etc. The difference was only with the perspectives and methods. While Moderates believed in “liberalism” and appeals to British rule, the New Party (Extremist faction) believed in “philosophical radicalism”, self-reliance, and non-cooperation with the British. The comparison between the differential methodology between Moderates and Extremists is described below:

Indian National Congress Split Into Moderates And Extremists

• Capturing the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha by the Extremists from Moderates in 1895 and the foundation of the Deccan Sabha by Gokhle in 1896, the division between the Extremists and the Moderates was already completed in Maharashtra.
• In 1906, Aurobindo came to Bengal with the purpose of a public initiation of more forward and direct political action.
• He joined the “New Party” (recently emerged within the Congress) and convinced its leaders in Bengal to declare themselves publicly as the All-India Party – Nationalist Party with Tilak as its leader.
  • This was done in an effort to overthrow the Congress and the nation from the then-dominant Moderate (Reformist or Liberal) oligarchy of veteran politicians.
• This was the origin of the historical struggle between the Moderates and the Nationalists (Extremists, as called by their opponents).

Surat Split (1907)

The conflict between moderates & extremists in the congress ultimately ended in the splitting of the organisation at the Surat session.

• Background:
  • Before the 1907 session was held, Lord Minto started negotiations with the Moderates for further reforms.
  • These negotiations offended the extremists because they didn’t believe the moderates could make a courageous stand.
  • So they made the decision to seize the Congress during the next session.
• The immediate reason for the Split:
  • Extremists preferred Nagpur for the Indian National Congress Session of 1907, but it was changed from Nagpur to Surat, the preferred place for the moderates.
  • Moderates also made an effort to oust Tilak as Congress president and replace Rash Bihari Bose in his place.
  • Extremists, enraged at the moves of the congress, decided to confront the moderates at the Surat summit.
• The Split:
  • First-day meetings of the Congress had to be stopped following an agitation by the extremists.
  • The next day, when the elected president, Rash Bihari, rose to speak, Tilak ran up to the presidential platform, which was followed by a direct physical confrontation between the moderates and extremists.
  • As the extremists were in the minority, they had to leave the congress.
• Consequences: The British employed a divide-and-rule strategy to suppress militant nationalists.
  • Moderates were lured by the proposed Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909. The Reform showed that the British government was unimpressed by the moderates’ constitutional politics
  • Extremists, mostly limited to Bengal, Maharashtra, and Punjab, faced British repression.
  • Muslims were granted separate electorates in 1909, thus beginning communal politics in India.
  • Both were necessary for the proper functioning of the Congress as well as the growth of national movement because Moderates were the “brain” and the Extremists were the “heart”.
  • Thus, Indian National Congress suffered a massive setback, and it was only in the Lucknow session of 1916 it could be reactivated.