Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resu

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Question

Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: A — Swadeshi MovementStep-by-step Solution:The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908), triggered by Lord Curzon's partition of Bengal (1905), created the conditions for the famous Surat Split of 1907 — the division of the Indian National Congress into Moderates and Extremists (or Militants).The Moderates (led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee) believed in constitutional methods — petitions, prayers, resolutions, and cooperation with the British to achieve self-governance gradually. The Extremists (led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai — the Lal-Bal-Pal trio) advocated more assertive methods including Swaraj (self-rule), Swadeshi (indigenous goods), Boycott (of British goods and institutions), and National Education.The disagreement came to a head at the Surat Congress Session (December 1907): Moderates wanted Rash Behari Ghosh as President; Extremists wanted Tilak. The session ended in chaos when Extremists disrupted proceedings. The Congress formally split — Extremists were excluded, and Moderates took control. The split weakened the national movement until the two factions reunited at Lucknow in 1916 (Lucknow Pact).Why other options are incorrect:Option B (Quit India Movement, 1942): The Quit India Movement was a unified Congress effort — Gandhi called for the British to leave India immediately. There was no split over this movement; Congress leadership was unified (and subsequently arrested en masse).Option C (Non-Cooperation Movement, 1920-22): The NCM created tensions between Gandhi's supporters and those who preferred parliamentary engagement (C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru's 'Pro-Changers'). However, this did not create the Moderates-Extremists split — that had already happened in 1907. The 1923 Swaraj Party formation was a different kind of division.Option D (Civil Disobedience Movement, 1930): The CDM was broadly unified under Gandhi's leadership. While there were ideological differences, it did not produce the historical Moderates-Extremists split.Key Concept: Surat Split (1907): culmination of growing tensions from Swadeshi Movement; Moderates vs Extremists on strategy for achieving self-governance; Moderate methods — constitutional agitation, prayers, petitions; Extremist methods — Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education; Extremists excluded from Congress post-1907; Tilak arrested (1908) — sedition charge over Kesari articles; reunification at Lucknow Congress (1916) — Lucknow Pact (Congress-ML cooperation); key assessment — Swadeshi Movement caused polarisation, partition of Bengal provided the trigger.

Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?

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Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?

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