Extremist Phase (1905-1917)

Reasons of Extremist Phase :-

1. Realization that the true nature of British rule was exploitative.
2. Dissatisfaction with the achievement of the Moderates.
3. Reactionary policies of Curzon such as Culcutta Coorporation Act, Indian universities Act and Patition of Bengal.
4. Existence of a militant school of thought and emergence of a trained leadership.

Prominent Extremist Leaders :-

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak : He was the leader of extremists. He launched two newspapers the Kesari (in marathi), the Maratha (in english). He organized Ganpati Festival, Sivaji Festival. He was deported to Mandlay Jail (Burma) for writing seditious articles. He started “Home Rule League” in 1916. He wrote Gita Rahasya. Tilak asserted : “Swaraj is my Birth Right and i will have it.”
• Lala Lajpat Rai : Extremist from Panjab. Under the influence of Arya Samaj he founded National School of Lahore.
• Bipin Chandra Pal : Discarded orthodox Hinduism and entered Brahmo Samaj. He founded weekly New India. He lead the swadeshi movement. he founded Vande Matram.
• Sri Aurobindo Ghosh : He passed ICS exam with record marks in Greek and Latin. He worked for secret societies in Bengal and Maharashtra. He started Bengali daily Jugantar. He was put to trial for Maniktalla (culcutta) bomb Conspiracy case. He finally retired to the life of Yoga in Pondicherry.

Important events during Extremist Phase

Partition of Bengal (1905) and Swadeshi Movement (1905-08)

The Partition of Bengal came on 16th,oct 1905 which reduced the size by creating the new province of East Bengal, which later become East Pakistan and present day Bangladesh. The government explained it to simulate growth of under developed Eastern region of Bengal, but actual objective was to ‘Divide and Rule’.

The boycott and Swadeshi movement has its genesis in the anti-partition movement to oppose the British decision of Bengal divide. The INC took up the Swadeshi call in Banaraspresided over by G.K. Gokhle and supported the Swadeshi and Boycott movement.

Bonfire of foreign goods was launched on a large scale in all major cities. Tilak took the movement to different parts of India specially in Pune and Mumbai. Ajit singh , Lala Lajpat Rai spread the swadeshi movement in Punjab and other parts of Northern India. Syed Haidar Raza set up the agenda in Delhi. Chidambaram Pillai took the movement to Madras Presidency which was galvanised by Bipin Chandra Pal.

Muslim League (1906)

In 1906 All India Muslim League was set up by Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka. The league supported the Partition of Bengal, opposed the swadeshi movement and demanded special safeguards for its community and a separate electorate of Muslims. This creates communal difference between Hindus and Muslims.

Culcutta session of INC (1906) -Swaraj

In 1906 of INC session under the leadership of Dada Bhai Naoroji adopted ‘Swaraj’ as the goal of Indianpeople.

Surat Split (1907)

The INC split into two groups – The Extremists and The Moderates, during the surat session held in 1907. The Extremist were led by Lal, Bal, Pal and the moderates were led by Gopal Krishna Gokhle. As an opportunity government launched attack on extremists. and arrested the main leader Tilak and sent him to burma jail. All other extremist leaders left politics temporarily and national movement declined after 1908.

Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)

Morley-Minto Reforms introduced when Morley Minto was the Viceroy of India (1909). The government created a rift within congress by winning the support of the moderates on one hand and favors of Muslims against Hindus on the other hand. This is done by separate electorates under which muslims could only vote for MUslim candidate. This is done to encourage the notion that the political, economic and cultural interests of Hindus and Muslims were separate and not common.

Home Rule Movement (1915-16)

B.G. Tilak founded Indian Home Rule League at Pune on 28 April, 1916. Annie Besant, inspired by the Irish rebellion started Home Rule Movement in India in September, 1916. The branches of H.R. League were established all over India. B.G. Tilak joined forces with Annie Basant and persuaded the Muslim League to support this program.

Lucknow Pact-Congress-League Pact (1916)

This Lucknow Pact was the step forward to achieve the Hindu-Muslim unity. Anti-British feelings were generated among the Muslim following the war between Britain and Turkey, which opened the way between the INC and Muslim League. The congress accepted the separate electorate and both organization jointly demanded ‘dominion status’ for the country.

Montagu Declaration/ August Declaration of 1917

The control over the Indian government would be transferred gradually to the Indian people. This was the result of Hindu-Muslim unity exhibited in Lucknow Pact.