Question

Who is known as the father of Assertive Nationalism?
A. Lala Lajpat Rai
B. Bal gangadhar Tilak
C. Dada Bhai Naoroji
D. Bipin Chandra Pal

Answer 1

Hint: Due to the failure of the early nationalists, there emerged a group of nationalists who called themselves Assertive Nationalists. They rejected the previous ideas of the moderates.

Complete Step by Step answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was called the father of Assertive nationalism. The Assertive nationalists discarded the ideas as proposed by the moderates which included prayers, petitions and protests. They stood in favour of swadeshi, boycotts and publicly condemned the British for the deplorable social, political and economic conditions of the British.
The Congress split into the Extremists and the Moderates in the Surat session in 1907. The Moderates chose Rashbehari Ghosh to contest as the President of the Indian National Congress whereas the Extremists wanted Lala lajpat Rai or Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The Moderates believed that they could solve minor issues with the British by deliberations. The Extremists knew that the British would not give freedom to India so easily so they resorted to agitation, strikes and boycotts. To the British, the Surat Split was a victory.

Hence, Option ‘B’ is the correct option.

Note: In 1916 the extremists and moderates had joined the Congress once again in the Lucknow session. However they had their differences and the extremists did not take part in the activities of the Indian National Congress. The students,lower middle class, peasants supported the Assertives. The Assertive wanted full independence from the British rule and not dominion status which was the demand of the Moderates. As Bal Gangadhar Tilak rightly said “ Swaraj is my birth right”.