Extremist Phase of Indian National Congress (1905–1918): Swadeshi, Surat Split, Morley-Minto, Lucknow Pact and Home Rule – Notes for OAS

Extremist Phase of Indian National Congress notes for OPSC OAS and UPSC cover the radical turn in the national movement from 1905 to 1918, when leaders like Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh rejected petitioning for mass action. This page explains the rise of Extremism, the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement, the Surat Split, the Morley-Minto Reforms, the revolutionary underground, the Lucknow Pact, the Home Rule Leagues, and Odisha’s participation.

Rise of Extremism in the Indian National Congress (1905–1918)

By the beginning of the twentieth century, a new wave of leaders emerged who rejected the gradualist, constitutional methods of the Moderates and advocated more radical and assertive action against British rule. They came to be known as Extremists or Militant Nationalists.Edukemy

Factors Behind the Rise of Extremism

• Disappointment with Moderate achievements: The failure to secure substantive reforms despite decades of petitioning created disillusionment.Edukemy
• Economic and social hardships: Famines and plague of 1896–97, exacerbated by British policies, deepened grievances.Edukemy
• Partition of Bengal (1905): Lord Curzon’s decision was seen as a deliberate attempt to divide and weaken the nationalist movement; it became the immediate catalyst.NIOS
• Influence of global events: The Russo-Japanese War (1904–05), the Russian Revolution (1917), and national movements in Persia, Egypt, and Turkey inspired Indian nationalists.Edukemy
• Reaction to British arrogance: The Delhi Durbar of 1877, held during a famine, and the general racial arrogance of officials fuelled anger.Edukemy
• National pride and cultural identity: A growing sense of pride in Indian culture and a resentment of Westernisation motivated radical action.Edukemy

Key Leaders: Lal-Bal-Pal and Aurobindo

Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (1905–1908)

The Swadeshi Movement was the first mass-based political movement of the Indian National Movement. It began as an agitation against the Partition of Bengal (1905) and used Swadeshi (use of indigenous goods) and Boycott (rejection of British goods) as its main weapons.NIOS

Key Features

• The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement was made on 7 August 1905 at a meeting in the Calcutta Town Hall, where a Boycott resolution was passed.NIOSStandard historical narrative
• Economic boycott: British goods—textiles, salt, sugar—were boycotted; khadi and indigenous products were promoted.Standard historical narrative
• National education: Leaders like Rabindranath Tagore, Aurobindo Ghosh, and others set up schools and institutions to promote Indian culture and languages. The National Council of Education was established in 1906.IAS (Pre) 2019
• Mass mobilisation: Students, professionals, and ordinary citizens participated in strikes, protests, and demonstrations.Standard historical narrative
• Cultural revival: The movement promoted Indian arts, crafts, and traditions, and used traditional festivals to reach the masses.NIOS
• Passive resistance: Leaders like Aurobindo and Bipin Chandra Pal advocated passive disobedience and non-cooperation.Edukemy

Surat Split (1907): Moderates vs Extremists

The Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in 1907 (the 23rd session) witnessed an open split between the Moderates and the Extremists.Edukemy

Causes of the Split

• Dispute over the Congress President: The Extremists wanted Bal Gangadhar Tilak or Lala Lajpat Rai as President; the Moderates backed Rash Behari Ghosh. The Moderates shifted the venue from Poona (a Tilak stronghold) to Surat to avoid disturbances.Edukemy
• Ideological differences: The Moderates wanted to distance the Congress from radical resolutions on Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education; the Extremists supported these.Edukemy
• Suppression of voices: The Moderates prevented Tilak from speaking at the session, which angered the Extremists.Edukemy
• Demand for boycott: The Extremists demanded a boycott of the session, leading to a deadlock and violent clashes.Edukemy

Consequences

• The Congress split into two factions: the Moderates (who retained control of the Congress) and the Extremists (who were virtually expelled).Edukemy
• The split weakened the Congress and the national movement until the two factions were reunited at the Lucknow Session in 1916.Standard historical narrative

Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act, 1909)

The Indian Councils Act of 1909, known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, was a significant constitutional measure that introduced separate electorates for Muslims.Standard historical narrative

• Separate electorates: Muslim voters could elect only Muslim representatives, and vice versa. This legalised communalism in Indian politics.Standard historical narrative
• Expansion of councils: The size of the central and provincial legislative councils was increased (central council from 16 to 60 members).Standard historical narrative
• Limited powers: Councils could discuss the budget and ask questions, but real legislative power remained with the government. The official majority was retained.Standard historical narrative
• Other minorities: Seats were also reserved for Sikhs and Europeans in provincial councils.Standard historical narrative

Revolutionary Movement (1905–1918)

Parallel to the Extremist phase, a revolutionary underground emerged, especially in Bengal and Maharashtra, advocating armed struggle.Standard historical narrative

• Muzaffarpur Bomb Case (1908): Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose attempted to kill a British judge; Khudiram was hanged.Standard historical narrative
• Alipore Bomb Case (1908): Aurobindo Ghosh was tried; defended by Chittaranjan Das.WBCS 2008
• Assassination of Curzon-Wyllie (1909): Madanlal Dhingra assassinated a British official in London.Standard historical narrative
• Komagata Maru Incident (1914): A ship carrying Indian immigrants to Canada was turned back; it became a catalyst for the Ghadar movement.Standard historical narrative

Lucknow Pact (1916) and Reunion of Congress

The Lucknow Session of the INC in 1916, presided over by Ambika Charan Majumdar, saw the reunion of the Moderates and Extremists and the signing of the Lucknow Pact with the Muslim League.UPPSC (Mains) 2013, 2010

• Separate electorates accepted: The Congress, for the first time, accepted the principle of separate electorates for Muslims.RAS/RTS (Pre) 1999
• Weightage: Muslims were granted representation in excess of their population share in provinces where they were a minority.Standard historical narrative
• Provincial autonomy: The pact demanded greater autonomy for provinces.Standard historical narrative
• Working Committee: Tilak proposed the formation of a Working Committee to transform the Congress into a body capable of leading a sustained movement; this was accepted.CDS 2007

Home Rule Movement (1915–1918)

The Home Rule Movement, led by Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, demanded self-government for India within the British Empire, modelled on the Irish Home Rule Movement.Standard historical narrative

• Tilak’s League: Founded in April 1916 at Belgaum; operated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Central Provinces, and Berar.UPPSC (Pre) 1993, 1991
• Annie Besant’s League: Founded in September 1916 at Adyar, Madras; used New India to propagate the message.Standard historical narrative
• Objective: To demand Home Rule (self-government) within the British Empire, not complete independence.Standard historical narrative
• Impact: The movement raised political awareness, mobilised the masses, and pressured the British government, leading to the August Declaration (1917) and the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919).Standard historical narrative
• Merger: The two leagues were merged in 1918.UKPSC (Mains) 2002

Odisha Angle: Extremist Phase and Home Rule in Odisha

Odisha was actively involved in the Extremist phase and the Home Rule Movement.Odisha Review, August 2014

• Swadeshi in Odisha: The Swadeshi Movement found resonance in Odisha, with local leaders promoting indigenous goods and boycotting British products.Standard historical narrative
• Home Rule League: The Home Rule League was firmly established in Odisha by the time of the Lucknow Congress in 1916.Odisha Review, August 2014
• Utkal Sammilani: The Utkal Sammilani, a key Odia political organisation, supported the Home Rule Movement and the Lucknow Pact.Odisha Review, August 2014
• Gopabandhu Das: The prominent Odia nationalist was actively associated with the Home Rule Movement and attended the Lucknow session in 1916.Odisha Review, August 2014

Practice Questions on the Extremist Phase for OPSC OAS