Surat Split, 1907
Modern History › Era of Militant Nationalism, 1905-1909 · Topic 14.7
The Congress split at Surat in December 1907 over the Extremists' wish to extend swadeshi, boycott and national education and the Moderates' wish to drop them. A dispute over the venue and president (Nagpur and Tilak or Lajpat Rai versus Surat and Rashbehari Ghosh) made compromise impossible, and the Moderates took over the Congress.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Era of Militant Nationalism, 1905-1909
At a Glance
- What it is The split of the Congress into Moderates and Extremists
- When and where December 1907, Surat
- Cause Disagreement on swadeshi, boycott, national education and the presidency
- Result Moderates controlled the Congress
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Era of Militant Nationalism, 1905-1909
Where Does It Fit?
This is the seventh topic of the category on the era of militant nationalism. The previous topic evaluated the Swadeshi Movement. This topic describes the split in the Congress that weakened it. The next topic compares the Moderates and the Extremists. Previous topic: Swadeshi and Boycott Movement Decline Open phase almost over by 1908 Reasons…">Evaluation of the Swadeshi Movement.
What Was the Run-Up to Surat?
The Congress split at Surat came in December 1907, around the time when revolutionary activity had gained momentum. The two events were not unconnected.
At the Benaras session in December 1905, presided over by Gokhale, the Moderate-Extremist differences came to the fore. The Extremists wanted to extend the Boycott and Swadeshi Movement to regions outside Bengal and to include all forms of association, such as government service, law courts and legislative councils, in the boycott, thus starting a nationwide mass movement. The Moderates were not in favour of extending the movement beyond Bengal and were totally opposed to boycott of councils and similar associations. As a compromise a relatively mild resolution was passed, which averted a split for the moment, as told in Swadeshi and Boycott Movement Under Extremist Leadership.
At the Calcutta session in December 1906, Moderate enthusiasm had cooled a bit because of the popularity of the Extremists and the revolutionaries and because of communal riots. The Extremists wanted Tilak or Lajpat Rai as president, while the Moderates proposed Dadabhai Naoroji, widely respected by all nationalists. Naoroji was elected and, as a concession to the militants, the goal of the Congress was defined as swarajya or self-government like the United Kingdom or the colonies of Australia and Canada. A resolution supporting swadeshi, boycott and national education was also passed. The word swaraj was mentioned for the first time, but its meaning was not spelt out, which left room for different interpretations.
Why Were the Two Sides Heading for a Showdown?
The Extremists, encouraged by the Calcutta proceedings, gave a call for wide passive resistance and boycott of schools, colleges, legislative councils, municipalities and law courts. The Moderates, encouraged by the news that council reforms were on the anvil, decided to tone down the Calcutta programme. The two sides seemed to be heading for a showdown.
| Side | View |
|---|---|
| Extremists | The people had been aroused and the battle for freedom had begun; time for the big push to drive the British out; the Moderates were a drag; a split was necessary if needed |
| Moderates | It would be dangerous to associate with the Extremists, whose anti-imperialist agitation would be ruthlessly suppressed; council reforms were a chance to realise Indian participation in administration; hasty action under Extremist pressure would annoy the Liberals then in power in England |
The Moderates failed to realise that the council reforms were meant by the government more to isolate the Extremists than to reward the Moderates. The Extremists did not realise that the Moderates could act as their front line of defence against state repression. And neither side realised that in a vast country ruled by a strong imperialist power, only a broad-based nationalist movement could succeed. The reforms are in Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909, and the Formation of the Muslim League.
How Did the Split Take Place?
The Extremists wanted the 1907 session held at Nagpur in the Central Provinces, with Tilak or Lajpat Rai as president and a reiteration of the swadeshi, boycott and national education resolutions. The Moderates wanted the session at Surat in order to exclude Tilak from the presidency, since a leader from the host province could not be session president, Surat being in Tilak’s home province of Bombay. Instead they wanted Rashbehari Ghosh as president and sought to drop the resolutions on swadeshi, boycott and national education. Both sides adopted rigid positions and left no room for compromise. The split became inevitable, and the Congress was now dominated by the Moderates, who lost no time in reiterating the Congress’s commitment to self-government within the British Empire and to the use of constitutional methods only.
| Issue | Extremists | Moderates |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Nagpur | Surat |
| President | Tilak or Lajpat Rai | Rashbehari Ghosh |
| Resolutions on swadeshi, boycott, national education | Retain | Drop |
| Aim | Swaraj and a broad mass struggle | Self-government within the Empire by constitutional methods |
As an analytical point, the split came from a clash of two readings of the same word, swaraj, and of the moment. Extremists read the Swadeshi surge as the start of a freedom struggle, while the Moderates read the council reforms as the start of power-sharing. The government used the gap, as shown in Government Repression and Strategy, and the weakened movement partly explains the decline described in Evaluation of the Swadeshi Movement.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Dates and presidents Surat 1907 and the presidents of 1905-07 are standard Prelims facts
- Causes The venue and president dispute is a frequently asked detail
- Consequences The Moderate takeover and the later reunion are Mains themes
What Came Next?
The next topic compares the Moderates and the Extremists. Next topic: Moderates and Extremists: A Comparison.
Key People and Terms
- Surat split The December 1907 division of the Congress
- Rashbehari Ghosh The Moderate presidential candidate and president at Surat
- Host province rule The rule that a leader of the host province could not preside
- Nagpur The venue the Extremists wanted for the 1907 session
- Self-government within the Empire The goal reiterated by the Moderates after Surat
- Front line of defence The role Moderates could play against repression
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Surat split December 1907.
- 1905 Benaras Gokhale; 1906 Calcutta Naoroji.
- Extremists: Nagpur, Tilak or Lajpat Rai; Moderates: Surat, Rashbehari Ghosh.
- The Moderates sought to drop swadeshi, boycott and national education resolutions.
- After the split the Moderates dominated the Congress.
Do Not Confuse With
- Calcutta 1906 and Surat 1907 Calcutta: compromise and swaraj; Surat: split
- Nagpur and Surat Extremists wanted Nagpur; Moderates chose Surat to exclude Tilak
- Naoroji and Rashbehari Ghosh Naoroji presided in 1906; Ghosh at Surat in 1907
Memory Hook
Naoroji held it together in 1906; Surat broke it in 1907.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for the causes and results of the Surat split. These points add depth.
- Two strategies Broad mass struggle versus constitutional reform
- Government pressure Council reforms aimed to isolate the Extremists
- Loss of unity The split weakened the Congress and the movement
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Explain the causes and consequences of the Surat split of 1907.”
How to Answer
- Run-up Benaras 1905 and Calcutta 1906.
- Positions Extremists versus Moderates.
- Split Venue and president dispute.
- Consequences Moderates in control; weakened movement.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Surat split of 1907?
The Surat split was the division of the Congress at its December 1907 session into Moderates and Extremists. After the split the Moderates dominated the Congress and reiterated its goal of self-government within the British Empire by constitutional methods.
What were the causes of the Surat split?
The Extremists wanted to extend swadeshi, boycott and national education into a nationwide mass movement, while the Moderates opposed it. A dispute over the venue and the president, Tilak or Lajpat Rai versus Rashbehari Ghosh, made compromise impossible.
Why did the Moderates choose Surat as the venue?
The Moderates chose Surat to exclude Tilak from the presidency, because a leader of the host province could not be session president, and Surat, in Bombay province, was Tilak's home province. They wanted Rashbehari Ghosh as president instead.
What happened at the 1906 Calcutta session before the split?
Dadabhai Naoroji was elected president as a compromise, the Congress goal was defined as swarajya or self-government like the United Kingdom or colonies, and swadeshi, boycott and national education were supported. The meaning of swaraj was left unclear.
What mistake did the two sides make before the Surat split?
The Moderates failed to see that the council reforms were meant to isolate the Extremists, the Extremists failed to see that the Moderates could act as a front line of defence against repression, and neither saw that only a broad movement could succeed.
What were the consequences of the Surat split?
The Congress came under Moderate control and the Extremists lacked an effective alternative party, so the movement declined. The government used the split in its policy of carrot and stick, repressing the Extremists while placating the Moderates.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Congress split at Surat in December 1907.
The Moderates then dominated the Congress.
2 The Extremists wanted the 1907 session at Surat.
They wanted Nagpur; the Moderates wanted Surat.
3 The Moderates proposed Rashbehari Ghosh as president of the 1907 session.
They wanted to exclude Tilak.
4 The 1906 Calcutta session was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji.
It defined the goal as swarajya.
5 Tilak's home province was Madras.
It was Bombay, where Surat lay.
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