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Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Lucknow Pact ICSE 10

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History & CivicsICSE Class 10 · First and Second Phases of the Indian National Movement

Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split (1907), the Muslim League (1906) and the Lucknow Pact (1916) (ICSE Class 10 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Assertive Nationalists (Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lajpat Rai) demanded Swaraj using Swadeshi, boycott, national education and passive resistance. Disagreements led to the Surat Split of 1907. The Muslim League was formed in 1906 at Dacca. In 1916 the Congress and the League signed the Lucknow Pact, which gave Muslims separate electorates and brought the two parties together.

Follow the order: Partition angers Bengal, the League forms, Congress splits at Surat in 1907, then both parties unite at Lucknow in 1916.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact

1. Why the Assertive Nationalists rose. Petitions had brought few gains; Curzon's repressive measures and the Partition of Bengal; economic distress from famines and plague in the 1890s; and Japan's victory over Russia in 1905, which showed that an Asian power could defeat a European one.

2. Objective. Swaraj, meaning self-rule or freedom from British control. Tilak said, 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.'

3. Methods. Swadeshi (Indian goods and industries); boycott of British goods and later of schools, courts and titles; national education; passive resistance (refusing to obey unjust laws or cooperate); mass mobilisation through Ganapati and Shivaji festivals, meetings and the Press.

4. Contributions (any two).

  • *Bal Gangadhar Tilak:* the Swaraj slogan; the papers *Kesari* and *Maratha*; Ganapati and Shivaji festivals; Home Rule League (1916); a leading role in the Lucknow Pact.
  • *Bipin Chandra Pal:* toured the country for Swadeshi, boycott and national education; edited *New India* and worked with Aurobindo Ghosh on *Bande Mataram*.
  • *Lala Lajpat Rai:* led protests in Punjab and was deported to Mandalay (1907); promoted the DAV College and Punjab National Bank; led protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore and died from injuries.

5. Surat Split (1907). Reasons: Moderates sought reforms within the Empire but the Assertives demanded Swaraj; Moderates wished to confine Swadeshi and boycott to Bengal while the Assertives wanted them extended across India; disagreement over the president (the Assertives wanted Lajpat Rai or Tilak, the Moderates chose Rash Behari Ghosh); and the Moderates feared that the new methods would invite repression. The Moderates kept the Congress; the government suppressed the Assertives (Tilak was sentenced to six years in Mandalay in 1908). The two groups reunited at Lucknow in 1916.

6. Muslim League (1906). Formed on 30 December 1906 at Dacca by leaders including the Aga Khan and Nawab Salimullah. *Factors:* British divide and rule; Muslim educational and economic backwardness and fear of domination in a majority-based system; the Partition of Bengal and the protests against it; the religious tone of some festivals used for mobilisation; and the Simla Deputation (1906), which Lord Minto received favourably. *Objectives:* promote loyalty to the British government among Muslims; protect and advance Muslim political rights; prevent hostility between Muslims and other communities.

7. Lucknow Pact (1916). Signed at Lucknow in December 1916, associated with Tilak for the Congress and Muhammad Ali Jinnah for the League. The Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims and a share of seats; both demanded self-government. *Impact:* Hindu-Muslim unity, a united front, the Moderates and Assertives reunited, more pressure on the British; but acceptance of separate electorates recognised communal representation, which later encouraged separatism.

Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact: key facts

Assertive leaders
TilakKesari and Maratha
PalBande Mataram
Lajpat RaiPunjab, DAV
Aurobindo Ghosh
Lal-Bal-Pal.
Methods
  • Swadeshi
  • Boycott
  • National education
  • Passive resistance
Four.
Key years
  • Surat Split 1907
  • Muslim League 1906
  • Lucknow Pact 1916
  • Annulment of partition 1911
Years.
Lucknow Pact
  • Congress and League
  • Tilak and Jinnah
  • Separate electorates
  • Joint demand for self-government
Four facts.

How to answer Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact questions

Expect: objectives and methods (4 marks), contributions (4 marks), Surat Split reasons (4 marks), Muslim League factors and objectives (4-6 marks), Lucknow Pact signatories and impact (4 marks).

  1. 1Separate Moderates from Assertives by objective: reform versus Swaraj.
  2. 2For the League, keep factors and objectives apart.
  3. 3State the year with each event.
  4. 4Use neutral wording about communities; give causes and effects, not blame.

Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A stricter approach

Suppose students who first wrote polite appeals for a new sports ground decided to refuse school-canteen goods and prepare their own, stopping only when the demand was met.

Which methods of the Assertive Nationalists does this resemble?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Refusing items is like boycott.
  2. Making their own is like Swadeshi.
  3. Staying firm is passive resistance.

Answer: It resembles boycott, Swadeshi and passive resistance.

Memory hook: Refuse and replace.

Two groups, one pact

Imagine two student groups that disagree on many matters but agree on a joint list of demands in order to speak to the principal together.

Which event does this resemble, and what is its limitation?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Two bodies make a common demand.
  2. It resembles the Lucknow Pact.
  3. Limitation: the agreement fixed separate representation.

Answer: It resembles the Lucknow Pact; unity strengthened the demand, but separate electorates recognised communal representation.

Memory hook: United front, separate seats.

Tricks to remember Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • S-B-N-P

    Swadeshi, Boycott, National education, Passive resistance.

    Use it when: Methods.

  • Obj-Meth-Pres-Sym

    Surat split: aims, methods, presidency, fear of repression.

    Use it when: Reasons.

  • 1906-07-11-16

    League, Surat, Annulment, Lucknow.

    Use it when: Years.

Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Muslim League · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

When and where was the Muslim League formed? State one objective. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 1906 at Dacca (1 mark).
  2. One objective (1 mark).

Answer: It was formed on 30 December 1906 at Dacca. One objective was to protect and advance the political rights and interests of Muslims.

Example 2: Contributions · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

State any two contributions of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Newspapers Kesari and Maratha (1 mark).
  2. Ganapati and Shivaji festivals (1 mark).

Answer: He started the newspapers Kesari and Maratha and organised the Ganapati and Shivaji festivals to bring people together; he also gave the Swaraj slogan.

Example 3: Surat Split · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

State the reasons for the Surat Split of 1907. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Objectives (1 mark).
  2. Methods (1 mark).
  3. Presidency (1 mark).
  4. Fear of repression (1 mark).

Answer: The Moderates wanted self-government within the Empire through reforms while the Assertives demanded Swaraj. The Moderates wished to limit Swadeshi and boycott to Bengal, whereas the Assertives wanted them extended to the whole country. They also disagreed over the Congress presidency, since the Assertives wanted Lajpat Rai or Tilak and the Moderates chose Rash Behari Ghosh, and the Moderates feared the new methods would invite government repression.

Example 4: League factors · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

A deputation led by the Aga Khan met the Viceroy in 1906 and a new political body followed within months. Explain four conditions that led to its formation. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Four factors, 1 mark each.

Answer: The British policy of divide and rule encouraged separate political identities. Muslims were educationally and economically backward and feared domination in a system of majority rule. The Partition of Bengal, which many Muslim leaders welcomed, and the Hindu-led protests against it strengthened the wish for a separate body. The Simla Deputation of 1906, whose demand for separate electorates Lord Minto received favourably, encouraged them to organise.

Example 5: Case: Lucknow, 1916 · 6 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case. In December 1916 the Congress and the Muslim League held sessions at the same city and agreed on a common plan. (i) Name the pact. [1] (ii) Name the leaders associated with it. [1] (iii) State one concession the Congress made. [2] (iv) Why was the unity not lasting? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Lucknow Pact (1 mark).
  2. (ii) Tilak and Jinnah (1 mark).
  3. (iii) Accepted separate electorates (2 marks).
  4. (iv) Communal representation encouraged separatism (2 marks).

Answer: (i) The Lucknow Pact. (ii) Bal Gangadhar Tilak for the Congress and Muhammad Ali Jinnah for the Muslim League. (iii) The Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims and a fixed share of seats. (iv) Accepting separate electorates recognised communal representation, which later encouraged separatist politics.

Where students lose marks in Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Confusing factors and objectives

    Mixing the two lists for the League.

    Wrong working

    Objective: divide and rule.

    Right working

    Divide and rule is a factor; objectives are loyalty, protecting rights and avoiding hostility.

    Do this: Two headings.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Wrong year for the split

    Writing 1905 for Surat.

    Wrong working

    Surat Split in 1905.

    Right working

    1907.

    Do this: Split 07.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Misnaming the signatories

    Writing Gokhale.

    Wrong working

    Gokhale signed for the Congress.

    Right working

    Tilak for the Congress, Jinnah for the League.

    Do this: T-J.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Loaded wording on communities

    Blaming a community for the League.

    Wrong working

    Muslims betrayed the nation.

    Right working

    State the factors neutrally and attribute them to leaders and circumstances.

    Do this: Keep tone neutral.

    Usually costs: Tone.

Exam tips

  • Give the year with every event.
  • Keep factors and objectives of the League in separate lists.
  • Use neutral, factual wording about all communities.

Practice questions on Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Who were Lal, Bal and Pal? [2]

    Hint

    Three names.

    Answer

    Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, the leaders of the Assertive Nationalists.

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    What was the objective of the Assertive Nationalists, and how did it differ from that of the Moderates? [3]

    Hint

    Swaraj versus reform.

    Answer

    The Assertives aimed at Swaraj, or self-rule and freedom from British control, whereas the Moderates sought reforms and self-government within the Empire.

  3. Q3 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Describe the methods of the Assertive Nationalists. [4]

    Hint

    Four methods.

    Answer

    They used Swadeshi, boycott of British goods and institutions, national education and passive resistance, and mobilised people through festivals, meetings and the Press.

  4. Q4 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Describe the impact of the Lucknow Pact on the national movement. [5]

    Hint

    Positives and the limit.

    Answer

    It brought Hindu-Muslim unity and showed the British a united front. The Moderates and Assertives had reunited at Lucknow, which strengthened the movement, and the British were pressed to promise gradual self-government. However, by accepting separate electorates the Congress recognised communal representation, which later strengthened separatism.

  5. Q5 · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Compare the political approach of the Early and the Assertive Nationalists on objectives, methods and the Partition of Bengal. [6]

    Hint

    Reform versus Swaraj.

    Answer

    The Early Nationalists wanted reforms and self-government within the Empire; the Assertives wanted Swaraj. The Early Nationalists used petitions and delegations, whereas the Assertives used Swadeshi, boycott, national education and passive resistance. On the Partition, the Moderates mainly wished to protest within Bengal, but the Assertives wanted to extend boycott and resistance to the whole country, a difference that led to the Surat Split.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.When was the Surat Split?Show answer

    1907.

  2. 2.Where was the Muslim League formed?Show answer

    Dacca.

  3. 3.Who gave the slogan Swaraj is my birthright?Show answer

    Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

  4. 4.Who was deported to Mandalay in 1907?Show answer

    Lala Lajpat Rai.

  5. 5.Which pact was signed in 1916?Show answer

    The Lucknow Pact.

  6. 6.Who was the Moderates' choice for president at Surat?Show answer

    Rash Behari Ghosh.

Assertive Nationalists, Surat Split, Muslim League and Lucknow Pact: frequently asked questions

Who led the Assertive Nationalists?

Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai, with Aurobindo Ghosh.

What happened to the Assertives after Surat?

The government suppressed them and Tilak was sentenced to six years in Mandalay in 1908.

What were the League's objectives?

Loyalty to the government, protection of Muslim political rights and avoidance of hostility to other communities.

What did the Lucknow Pact provide?

Separate electorates for Muslims and a joint demand for self-government.