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Ideological basis of the moderate extremist divide

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. 


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