Question

The conflict between two sections of the Congress came to surface in its Session in 1906 at Calcutta. In this context, explain the following:

The Split in the Congress

Answer 1

The Swadeshi Movement created a rift between early and assertive nationalists. While the assertive nationalists wanted to use the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements as a weapon to unsettle the British in India, the early nationalists did not support the Boycott Movement as it was contrary to their policy of ‘petition and persuasion’. While the assertive nationalists wanted to spread the movement outside Bengal, the early nationalists wanted the movement to remain confined within Bengal. The differences between the two sections of the INC became apparent in the 1907 session of Congress held in Surat. While the assertive nationalists proposed the name of Lala Lajpat Rai as the President of the Surat session, the early nationalists proposed the name of Rashbehari Ghosh for the chair. There were discussions and debates in the Surat session among both factions. However, there was no conciliation between both groups leading to the split in Congress in 1907.