Bring out the ideological basis of the moderate extremist divide in the
Indian National Congress.
There was a marked difference between the ideology of the moderates and
extremists.
- Moderates believed that time
had not come yet for a direct struggle for political emancipation of the
country. Extremists believed that the national consciousness had been
awoken and it was time to wrest independence from the British by an all
out struggle.
- The moderates tended to
limit the agenda to the arousal and consolidation of the national feeling,
bringing a large number of Indians in the vortex of nationalist politics
and their training in political agitation. The moderates did not have
faith on the masses and considered them as politically illiterate.
- The moderates
believed popular demands had to be formulated on a country wide
basis, so that the emerging public opinion might have an all Indian focus.
They believed that national unity had to be created in the first instance
among the politically conscious Indians and political workers and leaders.
On the other hand Extremists were of the opinion that the Swadeshi
movement which was launched to protest against the partition of Bengal
should be extended throughout India.
- They demanded mild
constitutional reforms, economic relief and administrative organisation.
The extremists on the other hand derived their inspiration from the
traditional cultural values and favoured establishing relations with other
countries in terms of equality and self-respect.
- For the extremists,
emancipation meant something much deeper and wider than politics.
- The extremists even
justified violent means for the attainment of 'Swaraj'. The ideological
differences affected their mode of working and demands.
- The moderates used
constitutional methods to demand share for Indians in the services, while
the extremists demanded Swaraj for which they did not hesitate to use the
extra-constitutional methods like boycott and the passive resistance.
All these
differences finally culminated in the Surat Split in 1907 which was highly
detrimental to the Indian freedom struggle.