Congress: Benaras, Calcutta, and Surat Session

21. The process of a split in the Congress in the early years of the twentieth century began over – [56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Strategies of the Congress Movement
(b) Objectives of the Congress
(c) Participation of the people in the Congress Movement
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above

Solution:Surat Split is mainly known for the separation of Congress party men into moderates and extremists at the Surat Session of Congress in December, 1907. The process of a split in the congress in the early years of the twentieth century began over strategies of the congress movement, objectives of the congress (moderates & extremists) and participation of the people in the Congress movement.

22. Choose the correct option after reading following statements – [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

Statement-I: In 1907, Congress's Annual Session was presided by Rash Behari Ghosh
Statement-II: In this session, Congress got divided into two groups (Moderates and Extremists)
Statement-III: In Congress's Annual Session of 1916, two groups (Moderates and Extremists) got united. This session was presided by S.P. Sinha

(a) Statement-I, II and III all are true
(b) Statement-II and III all are false
(c) Statement-I, II are true but Statement-III is false
(d) Statement-I, II are false but Statement-III is true

Correct Answer: (c) Statement-I, II are true but Statement-III is false

Solution:In 1907, Annual Session of Congress was presided by Rash Behari Ghosh. In 1907 Congress got divided into two groups (Moderates and Extremist) in Surat Session. In Congress’s Annual Session of 1916, two groups (Moderates and Extremists) got united. This session was presided by Ambikacharan Mazumdar.

23. "Split of Surat" in Indian National Congress was held? [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2003]

(a) In 1905
(b) In 1906
(c) In 1907
(d) In 1908

Correct Answer: (c) In 1907

Solution:The Indian National Congress split into two groups, the extremists and the moderates in the Surat session in 1907. The role of the Indian National Congress (INC) in the manner of opposing the Partition of Bengal was the main cause of the Split. In 1905, the Banaras session of the INC was presided over by G K Gokhale (moderate). Here the INC took up the issue of the Bengal partition, and both the Moderates and the Extremists supported the cause of Swadeshi and Boycott for Bengal. As time passed by, the Extremists wanted the agitation to be a mass struggle all over the country. But the Moderates still had faith in the British administration and wanted to confine the boycott to Bengal and foreign goods only. In 1906, the Calcutta session witnessed four resolutions (Swadeshi, Boycott, Swaraj, and National Education). But the meaning of the four resolutions was not clearly spelt out. The Calcutta session was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji, a moderate leader. In the 1907 annual session of Congress, the Extremists wanted BG Tilak or Lala Lajpat Rai to be the President. On the other hand, the Moderates wanted Ras Bihari Ghosh to be the President and wanted the four resolutions to be dropped. At the same time, the venue of the session was changed from Nagpur to Surat. Surat was the hometown of BG Tilak, and as per the Congress convention, he could not be the President in his home province, leading Ras Bihari Ghosh to be the Congress President.

24. When was the first partition of Indian National Congress was held? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]

(a) 1907
(b) 1906
(c) 1969
(d) 1911

Correct Answer: (a) 1907

Solution:The Indian National Congress split into two groups, the extremists and the moderates in the Surat session in 1907. The role of the Indian National Congress (INC) in the manner of opposing the Partition of Bengal was the main cause of the Split. In 1905, the Banaras session of the INC was presided over by G K Gokhale (moderate). Here the INC took up the issue of the Bengal partition, and both the Moderates and the Extremists supported the cause of Swadeshi and Boycott for Bengal. As time passed by, the Extremists wanted the agitation to be a mass struggle all over the country. But the Moderates still had faith in the British administration and wanted to confine the boycott to Bengal and foreign goods only. In 1906, the Calcutta session witnessed four resolutions (Swadeshi, Boycott, Swaraj, and National Education). But the meaning of the four resolutions was not clearly spelt out. The Calcutta session was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji, a moderate leader. In the 1907 annual session of Congress, the Extremists wanted BG Tilak or Lala Lajpat Rai to be the President. On the other hand, the Moderates wanted Ras Bihari Ghosh to be the President and wanted the four resolutions to be dropped. At the same time, the venue of the session was changed from Nagpur to Surat. Surat was the hometown of BG Tilak, and as per the Congress convention, he could not be the President in his home province, leading Ras Bihari Ghosh to be the Congress President.

25. Surat split was led by – [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

(a) Hume
(b) Dufferin
(c) Tilak
(d) Gandhiji

Correct Answer: (c) Tilak

Solution:The Indian National Congress split into two groups, the extremists and the moderates in the Surat session in 1907. The role of the Indian National Congress (INC) in the manner of opposing the Partition of Bengal was the main cause of the Split. In 1905, the Banaras session of the INC was presided over by G K Gokhale (moderate). Here the INC took up the issue of the Bengal partition, and both the Moderates and the Extremists supported the cause of Swadeshi and Boycott for Bengal. As time passed by, the Extremists wanted the agitation to be a mass struggle all over the country. But the Moderates still had faith in the British administration and wanted to confine the boycott to Bengal and foreign goods only. In 1906, the Calcutta session witnessed four resolutions (Swadeshi, Boycott, Swaraj, and National Education). But the meaning of the four resolutions was not clearly spelt out. The Calcutta session was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji, a moderate leader. In the 1907 annual session of Congress, the Extremists wanted BG Tilak or Lala Lajpat Rai to be the President. On the other hand, the Moderates wanted Ras Bihari Ghosh to be the President and wanted the four resolutions to be dropped. At the same time, the venue of the session was changed from Nagpur to Surat. Surat was the hometown of BG Tilak, and as per the Congress convention, he could not be the President in his home province, leading Ras Bihari Ghosh to be the Congress President.

26. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto
(b) Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
(c) Foundation of Muslim League
(d) Aurobindo Ghosh's inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress

Correct Answer: (b) Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government

Solution:The main reason for Surat split (1907) in the Indian National Congress was Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of moderates to negotiate with the British Government. The extremists wanted to extend the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement, but moderates were not in favour of extending the Movement.