Editing Indian National Congress (section)

=== Early years ===

Since its establishment, the Congress was led by Moderate leaders, who were influenced by [[Western world|Western]] [[Political philosophy|political ideas]], particularly [[liberalism]]. They emphasized [[Humanism|individual dignity]], the [[right to freedom]], and [[Social equality|equality]] for all, regardless of caste, creed, or sex. This philosophy guided them in opposing British autocracy, demanding the rule of law, equality before the law, and advocating for [[secularism]].<ref name="Approach"/> However, by 1905, two factions had emerged within the party, leading to different approaches and ideologies regarding the methods to achieve [[Swaraj|self-rule]] for India.
A division arose between the Moderates, led by [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], who believed in a peaceful and constitutional approach to achieve reforms and self-governance within the framework of the British Empire, and the Extremists.<ref name="Moderates">{{cite web |title=The Making of the National Movement: 1870s–1947 |url=https://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/hess205.pdf |publisher=[[National Council of Educational Research and Training]] |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> The moderates preferred to avoid direct conflict with the Britishers, aiming instead to reform their governance to better serve the country's interests. They aimed to collaborate with British authorities and use constitutional means, such as petitions, resolutions, and dialogue, to address the grievances of Indians.<ref name="Approach">{{cite web |title=MODERATES, EXTREMISTS AND REVOLUTIONARIES |url=https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/63797/1/Block-4.pdf |publisher=eGyanKosh, IGNOU |access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref> Over time, as they recognized the impact of British rule, many moderate leaders shifted their stance and started advocating for ''Swaraj'' or self-government for India within the British Empire. Thereafter, the moderates followed a two-fold approach to achieve their goals. First, they aimed to build strong public opinion to inspire a sense of national consciousness and unity, while educating the masses on shared political issues. Second, they sought to influence both the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] and public opinion, advocating for reforms in India that aligned with the demands of the nationalists.<ref name="Approach"/> In 1889, a [[British Committee of the Indian National Congress|British branch]] of the Indian National Congress was set up in [[London]].<ref name="INC Branch">{{cite journal | last=Shankar | first=Prabha Ravi | title=BRITISH COMMITTEE OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS — A CRITICAL APPRAISAL | journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress | publisher=Indian History Congress | volume=65 | year=2004 | issn=2249-1937 | jstor=44144789 | pages=761–767 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/44144789 | access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref> [[Dadabhai Naoroji]], a member of the sister [[Indian National Association]], was elected president of the Congress in 1886. He was the first Indian Member of Parliament in the [[British House of Commons]] (1892–1895) and spent a large part of his life and resources campaigning for India’s cause on the international stage. The Moderates were able to analyze the political and economic impacts of [[British rule]] in India. Dadabhai Naoroji, [[Romesh Chunder Dutt]], and [[Dinshaw Wacha]] and others introduced the [[Dadabhai Naoroji#Drain_theory_and_poverty|Drain Theory]] to highlight how Britain exploited India's resources.<ref name="Drain Theory">{{cite web | title=Uncivil liberalism: labour, capital and commercial society in Dadabhai Naoroji's political thought | website=search.worldcat.org | url=https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1343197973 | access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref> The Drain Theory, proposed by these leaders, challenged the notion that British rule was beneficial for India, shaping a nationwide public opinion that British colonialism was the primary reason for India’s poverty and economic exploitation.<ref name="Poverty">{{cite journal | last=VISANA | first=VIKRAM | title=Vernacular Liberalism, Capitalism, and Anti-Imperialism in the Political Thought of Dadabhai Naoroji | journal=The Historical Journal | publisher=Cambridge University Press (CUP) | volume=59 | issue=3 | date=12 January 2016 | issn=0018-246X | doi=10.1017/s0018246x15000230 | pages=775–797}}</ref> The moderate leaders had several demands, including proper representation of Indians on the [[Indian Councils Act 1892|Legislative Councils]] and an increase in the powers of these councils. They also advocated for administrative reforms and voiced their opinions on international issues. They opposed the annexation of [[Burma]], the military actions in [[Afghanistan]], and the treatment of tribal people in [[northwestern India]]. Additionally, they called for better conditions for Indian workers who had migrated to countries such as [[South Africa]], [[British Malaya|Malaya]], [[Mauritius]], the [[West Indies]], and [[British Guyana]].
[[File:Sri Aurobindo presiding over a meeting of the Nationalists after the Surat Congress, with Tilak speaking, 1907.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Early Nationalists|[[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] speaking in 1907 as the Party split into moderates and extremists. Seated at the table is [[Aurobindo Ghosh]] and to his right (in the chair) is [[G. S. Khaparde]], both allies of Tilak.]]
The other faction led by extremist or radical leaders, including [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]], [[Bipin Chandra Pal]], and [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], colloquially, "Lal, Bal, Pal", was more radical in their approach. Emerging as a result of the [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|partition of Bengal]] in 1905, the extremist group believed in direct action and criticized the moderate approach, advocating for more assertive and aggressive means to achieve self-rule (''Swaraj''). They were less willing to compromise with the British and focused on building mass support, instilling in them a sense of self-respect, self-reliance, pride in their ancient heritage and national unity to attain their objectives.<ref name="Extremists">{{cite web |title=Moderates, Extremists and Revolutionaries |url=https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/63798/1/Unit-13.pdf |publisher=[[Indira Gandhi National Open University]] |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> The Extremist leaders opposed the use of violence against British rule and did not condone methods such as political murder and assassination. They successfully engaged the urban middle and lower classes, as well as mobilized peasants and workers. The Extremist leaders utilized religious symbols to inspire the masses, but they did not intertwine religion with politics. Tilak tried to mobilise Hindu Indians by appealing to an explicitly Hindu political identity displayed in the annual public [[Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav]] and [[Shiv Jayanti]] festivals that he inaugurated in western India.<ref>Stanley A. Wolpert, ''Tilak and Gokhale: Revolution and Reform in the Making of Modern India'' (1962) p 67</ref> Tilak, along with his friend [[Gopal Ganesh Agarkar]], believed that educating the people was the best way to serve the country. In 1876, they founded the New English School in [[Pune]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/pune-school-founded-by-bal-gangadhar-tilak-goes-co-ed-once-more/article24039606.ece|title=Pune school founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak goes co-ed once more|work=The Hindu |date=30 May 2018 |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shoumojit }}</ref> However, Tilak soon realized that education alone was not sufficient; the people also needed to be aware of the country's condition. To achieve this, he started two weekly publications in 1881: the ''[[Maratha]]'' in English and ''[[Kesari (Marathi newspaper)|Kesari]]'' in Marathi. By the end of 1905, Congress was transformed into a mass movement during the [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|partition of Bengal]], and the resultant [[Swadeshi movement]].<ref name="INC" /> However, the ideological differences between the extremists and moderates led to a deep divide. During its session held in Surat in December 1907, a split occurred between two factions within the Congress known as [[Surat Split]].<ref name="Surat Split">{{cite web |title=Surat Split, 1907 – History, Causes, Aftermath & Impact |url=https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/19929/1/Unit-10.pdf |publisher=eGyanKosh, IGNOU |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref>

[[Annie Besant]], a British social reformer, moved to India in 1893 and became actively involved in the Congress.<ref name="Besant India">{{cite web | title=Annie Besant | website=BBC | date=30 October 2006 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/besant_annie.shtml#:~:text=Besant%20first%20visited%20India%20in,of%20the%20Indian%20National%20Congress. | access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref> Recognizing the importance of full cooperation from the extremists for the success of the movement, both Tilak and Besant realized that it was necessary to secure the full cooperation of the moderates. In 1915, during the annual session of the Congress held at [[Lucknow]] under the presidency of [[Ambica Charan Mazumdar]], it was decided that the extremists led by Tilak would be admitted to the Congress. Inspired by the [[Irish Home Rule movement]], which sought greater autonomy from Britain, Tilak and Besant were influenced by the concept of self-government (Home Rule) and began calling for similar rights for India.<ref name="IHR"/> However, Tilak and Besant were unable to convince the Indian National Congress to support their proposal to set up Home Rule leagues. As a result, they established separate leagues. Tilak launched the [[Indian Home Rule League]] in April 1916 at [[Belgaum]], with its headquarters in [[Poona]]. His league operated primarily in [[Maharashtra]] (excluding Bombay), [[Karnataka]], and the [[Central Provinces and Berar]].<ref name="IHR">{{cite web | title=Establishment of Tilak's Home Rule League | url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/error.htm | access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref> In contrast, Besant set up her All-India Home Rule League in September 1916 in [[Madras]], which grew to include over 200 branches across the country.<ref name="Besant India"/> Prominent leaders who joined or supported the Home Rule movement included [[Motilal Nehru]], [[Bhulabhai Desai]], [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Chittaranjan Das]], [[Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi]], [[Saifuddin Kitchlew]], [[Madan Mohan Malviya]], [[Mohammad Ali Jinnah]], [[Tej Bahadur Sapru]], and [[Lala Lajpat Rai]].