ABOUT :

• I have done my Engineering from Pune

university.
• I have been associated with field of
UPSC for past 6 years.
• I have an experience of UPSC CSE
Exam, CDS Exam.
(Appeared for SSB twice), UPPSC.
• 4 year experience of teaching for
UPSC Exams.
Mr. Alok Ojha
 TOPIC
Surat split and Morley-Minto
reforms.
AKOUS
AKOUS AKOUS
 SURAT SPLIT
Causes for split
(1907)
 In Dec. 1905, at the Benaras Session of INC presided over by
Gokhale, Moderate extremist differences came to the fore.
 The failure of moderates were too numerous.
 Moderates lacked faith in common people and did not work
among them & consequently failed to acquire roots among them.
 Even moderates propaganda did not reach the people.
 Moderates did not organize all India Campaign but when All India
Campaign was organised in the form of Swadeshi & Boycott they
were not it’s leaders.
 Moderates believed in policy of settlement of minor issues with
Govt. by Deliberations and believed in persuading the rulers to
introduce Economic & Political reforms but their practical
achievement was meagre.
 Extremist believed in agitation, strikes & Boycott to force their
demands.
 Govt. of India, headed by Lord Minto as Viceroy and John Morley
as secretary of State, offered a bait of fresh reforms in Legislative
Councils.
 Moderates agreed to co-operate with govt and discuss reforms
even when vigorous popular movement was going on in the
country.
● Extremists wanted to extend the Boycott & Swadeshi Movement to regions
outside Bengal and also include all forms of associations (such as Govt.
Schools, Colleges, Law courts, Legislative Councils)
● Moderates were opposed to all these ideas.
● Moderates advocated strict constitutional method to protest against
partition of Bengal.
● At Calcutta Session of Congress in 1906, the extremist wanted Tilak or
Lajpat Rai as president, while moderates proposed the name of Dadabhai
Naoroji, who was widely respected by all Nationalists.
● Finally Dadabhai Naoroji was elected as president and as a concessions to
extremists, goal of INC was defined as “Swarajya” or “Self Govt” & 4
objective resolutions were passed – “Swadeshi”, “Boycott”, “Swarajya” &
“National Education”.
● In 1907, INC session was to be held in
Nagpur/Pune.
● Extremist wanted Lala Lajpat Rai or Bal Gangadhar
Tilak as president but moderates wanted Ras bihari
Ghosh to be the president.
● G.K. Gokhale changed the meeting place from
Poona to Surat. Fearing that if Pune was meeting
place, Tilak would become president & leader from
host province could not be session president as
well as Surat was not Hometown of Tilak.
● At Surat Session, Lala Lajpat Rai had to step down
and Ras Bihari Ghosh presided the session.
● Surat Session of 1907 was held on the banks of
River “Tapti”.
 Course of the split
Phase I :- Increasing Differences
 The extremist were convinced that battle of independence has begun as the
people had been roused.
 Extremist felt that it was a time for a big push and moderates were drag on the
movement.
 Extremist leaders like Aurbindo Ghosh thought that time has come to part away
with moderates.
 Moderate leaders like Pherozshah Mehta were determined for Split.
 Moderates thought that to remain with extremist was to enter dangerous
waters.
 Moderates were afraid that congress, built carefully over past 20 Yrs. would be
shattered if they remain with extremists & Govt. was bound to suppress any
large scale anti – imperialist movement by extremists.
Phase II :- Failure of Reconciliation attempts
 Main Public leaders of two wings were Tilak (Extremist) & G.K. Gokhale
(Moderates) who were mature politicians.
 They had a clear Idea of dangers of disunity in the nationalist ranks.
 Both Tilak & Gokhale were unable to conciliate their respective wings.

Phase – III :- Untoward Incidents

 Congress session was held on 26th December 1907, at Surat on
the banks of River Tapti.
 Extremists were angered by the rumours that moderates
wanted to scuttle the 4 calcutta resolution (Swaraj, Swadeshi,
Boycott and National Education).
 To Force the moderates to accept the Calcutta resolutions,
extremist decided to oject Rasbihari Ghosh (Prez of Surat
Session)
 Almost around 1600 delegates were present.
 In meantime some unidentified person hurdled a shoe
which hit Pheroz Shah Mehta & Surendra Nath
Banerjee.
 Both the wings hurdled Shoes, Chair, Eggs on each
other.
 Police came and cleared the hall.
Phase – IV :- Vertical Split
 Tilak saw the danger of split and made last minute efforts to avoid it.
 But Tilak was helpless before his followers.
 Tilak sent a virtual letter of regret to his opponents, accepted Ras Bihari Ghosh as
President of congress and offered his co-operation in working for Congress Unity.
 But Pheroz Shah Mehta and his collagues did not relent.
Phase V :- Repression by the Govt.
• Govt. launched a massive attack on extremists.
• Between 1907 & 1911,new laws were enforced to check Anti-
Government activity.
• Legislations included Seditious Meetings Act, 1907;
Indian Newspaper (Incitement of offences) Act, 1908;
Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908; Indian Press Act; 1910 ;
Explosive Substance Act, 1908.
Seditious Meeting Act, 1907
 “Area of Operation” of the act was province of British India.
 In a proclaimed area there were restrictions on public meeting
or distribution of written material.
 Such meetings were prohibited unless Police Commissioner or
District Superintendent gave written permission or received 3
days advance notice in writing.
 Police could attend such meetings.
 District Magistrate or Police Commissioner could prohibit such
meetings.
 Organising a prohibited meeting was punishable with 6 months
imprisonment.
 The act was raised in British House of commons in 1908 by
“Vickerman Rutherford”.
 It was later replaced.
 Tilak was sent to Mandalay Jail for 6 Yrs. (1908-14).
 Aurobindo Ghosh settled in Pondicherry.
 Bipin Chandra Pal left the politics temporarily.
 Lala Lajpat Rai went to England.
 Extremist were not able to organise an effective alternative
party to sustain the movement.
 Moderates were left with no popular base or support.
MORLEY-MINTO REFORMS, 1909
Background
 Though Indian Council Act of 1892 introduced indirect elections, it
failed to placate Indians who were much more concious of their rights.
 There was rise of extremism in congress due to reactionary policies of
Curzon.
 Govt. on one hand wanted to supress the extremists and on the other
hand wanted to pacify the moderates.
 Meanwhile G.K. Gokhale went to England and met Mr. Morley,
Secretary of state for India.
 Viceroy Lord Minto also emphasised need of making some reforms.
 Both Viceroy & Secretary of state decided to work out some scheme.
 This culminated in Indian Council Act 1909.
 The act was passed to win the support of moderates in the Congress.
MORLEY-MINTO REFORMS, 1909
Salient provisions
 The act enlarged the size of Imperial & provincial legislative council.
 The number of members in Imperial legislative council was increased
from 16 to 60.
 The number of members in Provincial legislative councils was not
uniform.
 Provincial legislatures of Bombay, Bengal, United province & Madras
was to have 50 members.
 Assam, Burma & Punjab was to have 30 members.
 The act empowered the members to discuss the budget, ask questions
& supplementary questions, move resolutions, discuss the matters of
public importance (except army & Foreign Policy), discuss matters
related to loans to local bodies.
 However,Governor – general had to the power to disallow discussion
on budget.
 Budget could be discussed but not voted upon.
 Out of 60 members in Imperial Legislative council, 27 were elected
members.
 Out of 27 elected members 8 were reserved for muslims, 6 for big –
Landlords/ Zamindars, 2 for British Capitalist.
 These elected members were to be indirectly elected.
Members of Provincial legislature could elect member of Imperial legislature
Electoral College would elect Provincial members of legislature
Local bodies to elect electoral college

 As Indian member was appointed to Governor General’s executive

council for the first time “Satyendranath Sinha” was the 1st Indian
Member to be appointed.
 Practice of appointing Indians to council began.
 2 Indians were nominated to council of secretary of State for Indian
Affairs in England.
 Act introduced separate electorate for muslims.
 Under separate electorate, muslims could vote exclusively for muslim
candidates in constituencies reserved for muslim.
Merits of Morley – Minto Reforms
 It marked an important stage in growth of representative institution.
 It gave a recognition to elective principle as the basis of composition
of legislative council for first time.
 It gave avenues to Indians to ventilate their grievances.
 They also got opportunity to criticise the executives and make
suggestions for better administration.
 The enlargement of legislatures furthured the demand of complete
Indianization of Legislature.
Criticism of Morley – Minto Reforms
 Though non-official majority was given in provincial councils, practical
result was nothing.
 The non-official majority was nullfied by the fact that it included
nominated members.
 The position of Governor-General remained unchanged and his veto
power remained undiluted.
 While some form of parliamentary form was introduced, no
responsibility was conceded.
 Narrow franchise,limited powers of legislative councils ushered a
complete irresponsible govt. It gave the people of country a ‘’Shadow
rather than substance” .People had demanded self-govt. & what they
got was ‘’ benevolent despotism”