Surat session of the Congress and Congress split (1907 CE): In 1907, the session of the Congress was proposed to be held in Nagpur which has regarded as the home of the extremists. In December 1907, the annual session of the Congress was held on the banks of river Tapti in Surat. In this session, dispute arose among the extremists and moderates on the issue of the post of chairman. The extremists wished to appoint Lala Lajpat Rai as the chairman.
Ras Bihari Ghosh was elected as chairman in place of Lala Lajpat Rai by the moderates. The extremists wanted the guarantee of passing the proposal of swadeshi, boycott, national education and self-rule passed in Calcutta session of 1906 CE. The dispute extended to such level that chairs were thrown during the session. A person threw a shoe on the stage, which hit Ferozshah Mehta and Surendranath Bannerjee.
Chaos was created in the camp. The extremists were debarred from Congress. In this way, Congress got split into two parts (groups), moderates and extremists. Tilak tried to prevent this split but due to the rigid stand of Ferozshah Mehta and his supporters, this could not happen.
The British government followed its policy of ‘Divide and Rule’, crushed the extremists and tried to gain the support of moderates. Governor General Lord Minto wrote to the Indian Secretary Marley that the decline of Congress in Surat was a very significant victory of them. Annie Besant called the Congress split as the saddest incident in the history of Congress.
Opposition by English Officers: When plague broke out in 1897 CE, Tilak published the news of British officers forcefully intruding the house of the Indians and their misbehaviour in his newspaper. On 27th June 1897, two plague commissioners – Commissioner Rand and dietnant Ayrist were assassinated by two brothers Damodar and Balkrishna Chapekarn. Tilak was charged for inducing the youth and was arrested. He was charged for anti – government activities and was sentenced to 18 months, imprisonment for committing treason.
Political view of Tilak: Tilak was the leader of extremist group. He was in favour of adopting the path of struggle rather than the path of request in order to attain Swaraj. He said, “Swaraj is my birth right. I shall take it.” Tilak talked about Swaraj, Swadeshi, boycott and national education. In 1907 CE, the Congress got split in the Surat session and Tilak was forced to separate from the Congress. Tilak never remained the chairman of Congress.
With the help of his friends, he established a new English school in Poona in 1880. He was associated with the formation of Deccan Education Society and Ferguson College. In order to create public verdict, he published two newspapers named ‘Maratha’ (an English weekly) and ‘Kesari’ (a Marathi daily). Through religious festivals, he developed the spirit of nationalism among the people and provided political education to them.
For this purpose, he started ‘Ganesh festival in 1893 CE and ‘Shivaji festival in 1896 CE and performed the work of organizing the people. He established akharas, Lathi club and committees which opposed the killing of cows for moral and physical development of youth.
He was called as the ‘Crown – less Emperor of India. Taking advantage of the split in Congress, the British tried to lessen the influence of extremists such as Tilak. In 1908 CE, when he was sentenced to six months imprisonment and sent to Mandley Jail in Burma, the people organized a huge procession against this. Tilak said, “Probably God desired that instead of remaining free, the objectives of my life should be fullfilled while I remain in troubles.”
Leadership of Lal, Bal and Pal and allegation against them: Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobindo Ghosh were the major extremist leaders. The first three among these became famous as ‘Lal, Bal, Pal. A case of treason was registered on the main extremist leader, Bal Gangadhar Tilak under pretext of an article that was written against the British government and published in the newspaper ‘Kesari’.
In 1908 CE, he was sent to Mandley jail for 6 years. Lala Lajpat Rai went away to America. Bipin Chandra Pal took temporary retirement from politics. Aurobindo Ghosh spread nationalistic feelings through a newspaper named Vande Mataram’. Aurobindo Ghosh went away to Pondicherry in 1910 CE and adopted the path of sacrifice in politics.
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilk: Tilak was such a nationalistic leader who created close relationship with the masses and tried to organize and activate them. He adopted the path of struggle to gain Swaraj. People called him ‘Lokmanya’ Tilak. He was born on 23rd July 1856 in a Brahmin family in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. The ancestors of Tilak had remained in service of the Peshwas. Tilak had gained education of law.
In Mandley jail, he wrote a book named ‘Gita Rahasya’. He also wrote a book named ‘Arctic home of the Aryans’. In 1914 CE, Tilak was released from jail. He played an important role in the Lucknow Pact which took place between the Congress and the Muslim League in 1916 CE. He ran the Home Rule Movement along with Annie Besant to attain self rule.
As the writer Valentine Cherale called Tilak as the ‘Father of Indian Unrest, Tilak registered a case of defamation against Cherale. He also went to London for this purpose. Due to his death in 1920 CE, the entire country was drowned in grief. About 5 lakh people in his funeral procession.
