DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW

SESSION: 2020-2025

HISTORY PROJECT

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS : MODERATE PHASE (1885 – 1905)

SUBMITTED TO - SUBMITTED BY-

DR. VANDANA SINGH ARUSHI
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ENROLMENT NO. - 200101041
(HISTORY) B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University 2nd SEMESTER, SECTION ‘A’
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project report “Indian National Congress : Moderate Phase (1885–
1905)” submitted by me to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow, Uttar
Pradesh is a record of an original work under the guidance of Dr. Vandana Singh, Associate
Professor, History, RMLNLU and this project work is submitted in the partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of the degree of B.A. LLB. (Hons.).
The results embodied in this thesis have not been submitted to any other University or Institute
for the award of any degree or diploma.

- Arushi
200101041
2nd Semester, Section ‘A’
B.A. LL.B (Hons.).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many individuals and organizations. I would like to extend my sincere
thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to Dr. Vandana Singh, Professor, History for her
guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the
project, also for her support in completing the project.
I extend my gratitude towards the seniors of my course, who constantly helped me find the best
sources for research. Finally, I acknowledge the authorities as well as the care-takers of
Dr. Madhu Limaye Library, who provided me with the means to make this project in the
access to online paid law reports et cetera.
This project is a result of my efforts combined with all the means and environment that has
been provided to me by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow and
its authorities and I am thankful to them.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION...................................................................................................................... 1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT....................................................................................................... 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 1

RISE OF INDIAN NATIONALISM ...................................................................................... 2

FORMATION OF THE INDIAN NATIOANL CONGRESS ............................................. 6

THE CONTROVERSY ....................................................................................................... 7

CAUSES FOR THE RISE OF MODERATES ..................................................................... 8

INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN EDUCATION ................................................... 8

RISE OF MIDDLE CLASS ......................................................................................... 8
IMPACT OF CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN MOVEMENTS .......................... 9
ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION ................................................................................. 9
ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC UNIFICATION OF INDIA : ............... 10

DEMANDS OF THE MODERATES................................................................................... 11

POLITICAL DEMANDS .......................................................................................... 11

ADMINISTRATIVE DEMANDS............................................................................. 12
ECONOMIC REFORMS .......................................................................................... 13
DEFENCE OF CIVIL RIGHTS ............................................................................... 14

METHODS OF THE MODERATES .................................................................................. 14

CONTRIBUTION OF THE MODERATES IN INDIAN NATIONALISM .................... 15

CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 16

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................. 17
HISTORY - II

INTRODUCTION

The formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 signified the beginning of a new era in
modern Indian history. The Indian National Congress's efforts were inextricably linked with
the movement for Indian independence.

The work of the Indian National Congress prior to independence in 1947 can be broadly divided
into three different stages. The first phase, known as the moderate phase, lasted from 1885 to
1905. The second phase, known as the Extremist phase, lasted from1906 to 1918. The third
phase is known as the Gandhian Era, and it lasted from 1919 to 1947.

The Moderates, also known as the Early Nationalists, were Indian political leaders active
between 1885 and 1907. Most of the group's members were educated middle-class
professionals, such as lawyers, teachers, and government officials, and many were educated in
England. Their emergence led to the beginning of India's organised national movement.
Some of the essential moderate leaders were Dadabhai Nairoji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Dinshaw
E. Wacha, W.C. Banerjee, Surendranath Banerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, M.G. Ranade and
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.

The Moderates believed that the British were just and freedom-loving and they had brought
benefits to the Indians by abolishing from the Indian society many inherent evils like Sati,
untouchability and child marriage. They firmly believed that the British would help them to
acquire efficiency to govern themselves properly. They further believed that the chief obstacle
on the path of India's progress was social and economic backwardness of the Indians and not
the British colonial rule. The Moderates had entire faith in the British concept of justice, fair
play, honesty, and integrity, and they thought British rule was beneficial to India. They were
called 'Moderates' because they advocated for reforms while using constitutional and peaceful
measures to attain their goals. They were staunch believers in liberalism and moderate politics.

To weld Indians into a nation was the primary objective of the Moderate phase of the Indian
National Congress. The Moderate phase continued till the ‘Extremists’ appeared on the
political scene during the 1907 Surat Congress session.

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RISE OF INDIAN NATIONALISM

A major historical event of the present era was the emergence of India as a nation and the rise
of a powerful anti-imperialist, nationalist movement.

• One of the consequences of colonialism was the economic and political unification of the
country. Colonialism not only integrated India into the world capitalist market but also unified
its economy internally. The break-up of the relative village autonomy and the union of
agriculture and handicrafts, the growth of internal trade, the linkage of the different parts of the
country through modern means of communication, and modern industries and banks all united
the Indian economy. Common administration, laws and judicial structure, and standard
education system further contributed to the country’s unification.

• The spread of modern ideas created a new intelligentsia imbued with a modern democratic,
rational and national outlook. The rise of an influential press played an essential role in this
respect. Politically, the existence of the common colonial ruler, which was, as we shall see,
increasingly seen as a common enemy, was decisive. On the one hand, the emergence of the
Indian nation was a significant factor in the rise of nationalism. On the other, the anti-
imperialist struggle contributed powerfully to the making of the Indian nation.

• The foundations of the Indian national movement were laid by the emerging group of the
modern intelligentsia. Surprisingly, the modern intellectuals adopted, in the beginning, a very
positive approach towards colonial rule. They early realized the fact that India had come under
the rule of the world. They hoped that contact with Britain in a subordinate position would help
transform India also in Britain’s image. Economically, they grasped the importance of the
industrial revolution and were convinced that India would soon become a significant industrial
power with its immense natural and human resources. Politically, they were enthralled by the
heady concepts of popular sovereignty, of democracy of the freedom of the press. People could
be king that commoners could criticize the officials and even the supreme ruling authority ‘that
the ruled could form political associations and seek to change the rulers’ -these were
intoxicating concepts indeed. 1

1
“Growth of Indian Nationalism (10 Factors).” History Discussion - Discuss Anything About History, 8 Aug.
2015, www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/growth-of-indian-nationalism-10-factors/3184.

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 HISTORY - II

• The emerging unification of the Indian people was an added attraction. Equally influential was
the pull of modern sciences and humanities, more rationalist religious concepts and more
egalitarian and libertarian concepts of family and social organization. The wild hopes of the
intellectuals were expressed in the widespread phrase that the British rule was ‘providential’,
that is, God-sent. The second half of the 19th century witnessed the gradual disillusionment of
the intellectuals, for life increasing belied their expectations. Not industrialization but
deindustrialization followed the consolidation of British rule. In place of a modern capitalist
economy arose the colonial economy.

• The very period of the development of industrial capitalism in Britain witnessed the
underdevelopment of India. What is more important, the more discerning Indians began to
notice a connection between the two—men like Dadabhai Nairoji, Justice Ballade, and RC.
Dutt soon saw that the poverty, economic backwardness and underdevelopment of India were
the direct consequence of British rule, that they were inherent in the colonial linkage between
India and Britain. Law and order, the two outstanding alleged achievements of the British Raj,
paled into insignificance and were even seen as instruments of exploitation. As Dadabhai
Naoroji, the pioneer leader of Indian nationalism said: “Under the British despot the man is at
peace, there is no violence; his substance is drained away, unseen, peacefully and subtly-he
starves in peace and perishes in peace, with law and order!” The political disappointment was
no less acute.

• The colonial administrators, statesmen, and intellectuals no longer talked of preparing India
for democracy and self-government. India was declared to be inherently unfit for self-
government and democracy, inherence being the product of India’s climate and history and
racial composition. Indians were to be permanently child-people who must be tyrannized ~
though perhaps benevolently-by the more vigorous race of Angelic Saxons. Increasingly
restricted the freedoms of the Press and association. Whenever the anti-imperialist movement
posed a serious challenge, the British Raj took the soft gloves and showed its mailed fist.

• The picture in the realm of culture was no brighter. Education was confined to learning by rote
in the liberal arts; scientific and technical education failed to get rooted. And even the liberal
arts education was increasingly sought to be restricted. By the end of the 19th century, many

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Indians felt that British rule was the chief obstacle in the path of the economic, political, social
and cultural progress of the Indian people. Intellectuals thought they could agitate against
colonial policies and colonialism; they could even create elementary organizations to carry on
anti-colonial propaganda and agitation. But a mass movement against imperialism could
develop only when different sections of the people became conscious of the contradiction
between their interests and colonialism. First to become aware of this contradiction 'were the
middle-class and lower-middle-class Indians. The absence of industrialization and the slow
pace of the development of social and cultural facilities meant that the area of employment of
these social classes was extremely and increasingly restricted. They could see that their
economic and social salvation was tied up with removing the colonial incubus.

• The capitalist class was in the beginning rather happy with the new commercial opportunities
that had opened up after 1858. However, as sections of this class took to industry and banking,
the absence of a nation-state of their own was felt more and more. The nascent capitalist class
needed state support in finance, tariffs, technical education, etc., as had been given to its
counterparts in Germany, France, Russia, Japan, the USA and even Britain in their formative
years. The colonial state did not provide such support. The entire machinery of the colonial
administration was hostile to the indigenous capitalist aspirations. Above all, the weak
indigenous capitalist clan feared that it would be submerged under the superior economic
strength of the foreign capitalist class. Wanting to multiply and, even more, fearing suppression
by foreign capital, the Indian capitalists in time came to support the emerging national
movement.

• The Indian artisans had been primary victims of the colonial economy. They formed the
backbone of the popular movement; against imperialism in the urban areas.

• The urban workers were late in developing political consciousness. Moreover, the oppressive
conditions in modern plantations and factories - a 14 hour working day, low pay, miserable
housing, and complete absence of social security-for a long time kept their attention focussed
on the trade union struggle against their employers, Indian or foreign. However, they did begin
to see the connection between imperialism, economic stagnation, and their social condition in
time. After 1928, they increasingly came under the influence of radical political groups and

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parties and learnt to combine struggle against the employers with the national struggle against
imperialism.

• It is axiomatic that the mom potent social force in India was that of the peasantry, which had
for centuries borne, Atlas like, the burden of society. It was even more so under colonialism.
The peasant ultimately maintained the costly colonial administration, the entrenched landed
magnates, and the proliferating class of merchants, moneylenders, lawyers, and the new
landlords. It was inevitable that the peasant would turn against all of them, and above all,
against the colonial state which maintained this entire structure of his exploitation and
oppression. This happened after Gandhiji came on the scene.

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HISTORY - II

FORMATION OF THE INDIAN NATIOANL CONGRESS

The establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885 was not a coincidental occurrence.
It was the culmination of a political awakening that began in the 1860s and 1870s and took a
significant stride forward in the late 1870s and early 1880s. The year 1885 was a watershed
moment in this process, because it was the year that political Indians, modern intellectuals
interested in politics, who saw themselves no longer as spokesmen of narrow group interests,
but as representatives of national interest vis-à-vis foreign rule, as a "national party," saw their
efforts bear fruit.2

Between 1875 and1885, a new political drive was created by younger, more radical nationalist
intellectuals, most of whom entered politics during this time. They formed new associations
after discovering that the previous organisations were too narrowly focused in terms of their
programmes, political activity, and social roots. These were ‘middle class’ rather than zamindar
led compositions. The most important of these organisations were the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
(1870), The Indian Association (1876), which organised the first all India agitation in 1877-78
on the civil service and the press act issues, the Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884) and the Bombay
Presidency Association (1885). From the early 1880s onwards, there had been numerous
suggestions and attempts to come together of such associations on an all India scale. However,
eventually, only the attempt launched at the initiative of Allan Octavian Hume succeeded
permanently, and 72 largely self-appointed delegates met for the first session of the Indian
National Congress at Bombay in December 1885. 3

The nucleus of the Congress leadership consisted of the men from Bombay and Calcutta who
had first came together in London in the late 1860s and early 70s while studying for the ICS or
law – Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, W.C. Banerjee, Manmohan and Lalmohan
Ghosh, Surendranath Banerjee, Anand Mohan Bose and Romesh Chandra Dutt, fell in the
influence of Dadabhai Naoroji who was then settled in England as a businessman.

2
Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence 45.
3
Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885 – 1947 88.

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HISTORY - II

THE CONTROVERSY

The controversy was sparked by W.C. Bonnerji's claim in 1898 that Hume was acting on
Dufferin's direct advice. The controversy was sparked by W.C. Bonnerji's claim in 1898 that
Hume was acting on Dufferin's direct advice. This account of the Congress's foundation,
probably put up as a method of earning credibility, was later evaluated alongside Hume's
pleadings to officials for concessions to educated Indians in order to prevent mob violence,
which he repeatedly prophesied was just around the corner. The outcome was a theory that
later radical critics of the Congress (like as R.P. Dutt) found appealing. It was alleged that the
Congress had been purposefully founded by a British Viceroy operating through a British ex-
civilian to operate as a “safety valve” against popular unrest. However, this ‘conspiracy
theory’ has been discredited by the opening of the Dufferin’s private papers, which revealed
that Hume met Dufferin at Shimla in May 1885 but the Viceroy’s primary immediate reaction
was to advise the Governor of Bombay to keep away from the proposed ‘political convention
of delegates’. In any case, the whole story greatly exaggerated the personal role of Hume.
Something like a national organisation had been in the air for quite some time. Hume only took
advantage of the already created situation, though he was perhaps helped by the fact that he
was more acceptable to Indians as free of regional loyalties.4

“Safety Valve Theory”- According to this theory the British wanted the formation of an
organization which could save the administration from the possible political outburst in the
country. For the same reason, A.O. Hume and other Indian intelligentsia was provided ample
support by the government.

4
Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885 – 1947 89.

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 HISTORY - II

CAUSES FOR THE RISE OF MODERATES

The paradox about nationalism as it developed in the subcontinent was that its ideologues were
drawn from a native elite that itself was a product of British colonialism. This fact was well
understood and repeatedly acknowledged by Moderate leaders. These men were inspired by
new prospects made available by western education, employment in the colonial government,
and innovations in the press. They were convinced that the British had liberated India from
years of "despotism" and backwardness. Rather than a break, they envisioned a lasting British
link for India.

• INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN EDUCATION

The Introduction of Western education by the British in India provided opportunities for
assimilation of modern western ideas of democracy and nationalism. This, in turn, gave a new
direction to Indian political thinking and national awakening. The English system of education
opened to the newly educated Indians the floodgates of liberal European thought. Through the
study of European history, political thought and economic ideas, educated Indians had access
to the ideals of liberty, nationality, equality, the rule of law and self-government.

The spread of the English language in all parts of India gave the educated Indians a common
language to communicate with one another. In the absence of such a common language, it
would have been very difficult for the Indians to speak different regional languages to come
on a common platform and organise a movement of an all- India character.

• RISE OF MIDDLE CLASS

Western education and the administrative and economic system innovations gave rise to a new
urban middle class in towns. This newly educated class became lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc.
Some of them visited England for higher studies and could see the difference between the
working of political situations there and in India. On their return to India, they found that they
were not given a chance for higher employment. This realization turned them into nationalists.

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HISTORY - II

They formed the nucleus for the political unrest in the country and provided leadership to the
Indian political associations. 5

• IMPACT OF CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN MOVEMENTS

Nationalist movements in Europe at that time provided a great stimulus to the growth of Indian
nationalism. In Europe, the national liberation movements in Greece, Italy, and Ireland
profoundly impacted Indians. In fact. Indian nationalism was partly the product of nationalism
and the right of self-determination initiated by the French Revolution and similar other
movements in Europe.

• ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION

Many factors aroused opposition to British rule, but economic discontent and distress were the
most important among them. More and more Indians realized that the British ruled India to
promote their interests at the cost of the welfare of Indians. The economic discontent of
different sections of society was as follows:

a. The Peasants: The government took away a large part of their produce in land revenue
and other taxes. These exorbitant taxes led the peasants into the clutches of landlords
and moneylenders.
b. The Artisans and Craftsmen: The British economic policies were against Indian trade
and industry interests. The English East India Company used its political rights to
destroy Indian handicrafts and industry. They became a source of raw materials for the
industries of the Company and a market for its finished products. This policy crippled
the artisans and craftsmen as they were devoid of their sources of livelihood.
c. The Working Class: The growth of modern industries led to the birth of a new social
class in India-the working class. They were exploited by the factory owners, who were
generally Englishmen. Although they formed a small section of the population, they
represented a new social outlook. Their outlook and interests were comprehensive,
covering the whole of India, though their factories were located in cities. These factors
made their political thinking far more significant than their numerical strength.

5
“Growth of Indian Nationalism (10 Factors).” History Discussion - Discuss Anything About History, 8
Aug. 2015, www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/growth-of-indian-nationalism-10-factors/3184.

9
HISTORY - II

d. The Educated Indians: The only employment available for the educated Indians was
government service in which competition was high and chances of promotions were
bleak. They hoped that British capitalism would help develop India’s productive forces
as it had done for Britain. Instead, they found that British policies were keeping India
economically backwards.

• ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC UNIFICATION OF INDIA :

Britain conquered India from the Himalayas in the north to Cape Comorin in the south and
from Assam in the east to the Khyber Pass in the west. They brought the whole country under
one government. While Indian native states were under indirect British rule, Indian provinces
were under direct British rule. The British established a highly centralised administrative
system in India, out of a hierarchy of public officials. They enforced uniform civil and criminal
law throughout the country, and thus India was judicially unified. Consequently, common
institutions and common laws began to shape India in a common mould; this led to political
unity. The people from different parts of the country started to think and act as one nation. The
destruction of the rural and local self-sufficient economy and the introduction of modern trade
and industries on an all-India scale brought about the economic unification of India.

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DEMANDS OF THE MODERATES

The principle demands of Moderates can be divided into political, administrative, and
economical.
• POLITICAL DEMANDS

a. The principal political demand was for the reform of Supreme and Local Legislative
Councils. To grant more extraordinary powers (of budget discussion and
interpellation, for instance) and make them representative by including members
elected by local bodies, commerce chambers, universities, and universities etc. The
Indian Councils Act of 1861 enlarged the Governor General’s Executive Council to
make laws. The Governor-General could now add from six to twelve members to the
Executive Council. At least half of these nominations had to be non-officials, Indian
or British. This Council came to be known as the Imperial Legislative Council. It
possessed no powers at all. It could not discuss the budget or a financial measure, or
any other important bill without the previous approval of the Government. It could
not discuss the actions of the administration. Therefore, it could not be seen as some
parliament, even of the most elementary kind.
b. Indian members were few in number — in thirty years, from 1862 to 1892, only forty-
fiveIndians were nominated to it. They also demanded to increase the representation
of Indians. The overwhelming majority of Indian nominees did not represent the
Indian people or emerging nationalist opinion. It was, therefore, not surprising that
they completely toed the official line.
c. The voting record of Indian nominees on the Council was poor. When the Vernacular
Press Bill came up before the Council, only one Indian member, Maharaja Jotendra
Mohan Tagore, the zamindari-dominated British Indian Association leader, was
present. He voted for it. In 1885, the two spokesmen of the zamindars in the Council
helped emasculate the pro-tenant character of the Bengal Tenancy Bill at a time when
Moderate leaders like Surendranath Banerjea were agitating to make it more pro-
tenant. Thus, Moderates opposed this oppression as the Indian nominees to Council
did not work for the interest of Indians and exercised their voting rights against the
interest of Indians. Their main contention was that the existing Legislative Councils
were unrepresentative of Indian opinion. For example, In 1888, Peary Mohan
Mukherjea and Dinshaw Petit, representatives of the big zamindars and big merchants,

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respectively, supported the enhancement of the salt tax and the non-official British
members representing British business in India.
d. Till 1892, limited their demand was the expansion and reform of the Legislative
Councils. They demanded more involvement in them by a more significant number of
elected Indian members as also more expansive powers for the Councils and an
increase in the powers of the members to ‘discuss and deal with’ the budget and
question and criticize the day-to-day administration.
e. The nationalists were dissatisfied with the Act of 1892. They saw in it a mockery of
their demands. The Councils were still impotent; despotism still ruled. They now
demanded a majority for non-official elected members with the right to vote on the
budget and, thus, to the public purse. They raised the slogan ‘no taxation without
representation.’ Gradually, they raised their demands. For example, many leaders —
for instance, Dadabhai Naoroji in 1904 and G.K. Gokhale in 1905 began to put forward
the demand for self-government, the model of the self-governing colonies of Canada
and Australia.
• ADMINISTRATIVE DEMANDS

a. Among administrative reforms, the demand for Indianization of services through

simultaneous ICS tests in England and India took centre stage—a demand expressed
not simply to gratify the tiny elite who could expect to get into the ICS, as some have
claimed, but also to address much broader issues. Indianization was advocated as a
blow against racism; it would also reduce the drain of wealth so far as much of the fat
salaries and pensions enjoyed by white officials were being remitted to England and
help make administration more responsive to Indian needs.6
b. They demanded the separation of judicial from executive functions.
c. They Criticised the oppressive and unjust bureaucracy and the expensive and time-
consuming judicial system.
d. Criticism of an aggressive foreign policy resulted in the annexation of Burma, attack
on Afghanistan and suppression of tribal people in the North-West.
e. Increase in expenditure on welfare (i.e., health, sanitation), education—especially
elementary and technical— irrigation works and improvement of agriculture,
agricultural banks for cultivators, etc.

6
Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885 – 1947 90.

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f. They demanded better treatment for Indian labour abroad in other British colonies,
who faced oppression and racial discrimination there.
• ECONOMIC REFORMS

a. The economic issues raised were all bound up with the general poverty of India-drain
of wealth theme. Resolutions were repeatedly passed calling for an enquiry into India’s
growing poverty and famines.
b. Moderate economic demands were much more radical than political ones. They
demanded a monetary policy geared to serve the colony’s interests, primarily directed
towards achieving independent industrial growth and prosperity. They also wanted the
British to promote technical education to promote the employment of Indians in
industries.
c. Their demand for greater participation in colonial administration was linked to their
desire to initiate economic development of a capitalist kind. The economic critique of
colonialism was built upon and invoked by nationalist leaders to understand and
critique British rule and eventually developed into a political critique and an
independence movement.
d. Reduction in Home Charges was also an economic demand which Moderates raised.
The British officials residing in England were paid from the funds collected in India.
The leaders believed that this is an indirect transfer of India’s wealth in England, which
agitated them.
e. They also advocated the demand for the creation of Agriculture Banks to grant loans to
the farmers to tackle the effects of famine and poverty. They were also against the
exploitation of farmers by money lenders.
f. They also demanded protection of interest of labours and forest dwellers. They were
against the oppressive Forest laws.
g. Dadabhai Naoroji propounds the theory of ‘drain of wealth’ in his work, Poverty and
un-British Rule in India. He delineated how wealth was draining out of the country
through all the sectors of the economy – commercial, industrial and financial. He
resented India’s role as a supplier of raw material, a market for British manufactures
and a field of investment for foreign capital. He attacked colonial tariff and taxation
policies, land revenue settlements, the use of the Indian army and revenues for British
expansion in Asia and Africa. He questioned the whole logic of burdening Indian

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revenues with meeting the cost of maintaining the vast machinery for British rule in the
first place.
• DEFENCE OF CIVIL RIGHTS

a. The Moderates defended civil rights whenever the British Government tried to curtail
them. Because of the Moderates’ political work done by the Moderates that democratic
ideas began to take root among Indians.
b. They demanded the removal of the restriction imposed by the British Government on
the freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
c. They also demanded the abolitions of the Preventive Detention Act and restoration of
individual liberties and restoration of the right to assemble and form associations.

METHODS OF THE MODERATES

The method, popularly known as Constitutional Agitation Method was followed by the Early
Nationalists. They believed in the policy of constitutional agitation within the legal framework,
and slow orderly political progress

First Set of Methods: Moderates aimed to was to educate people in India in modern politics,
to arouse national political consciousness and to create a united public opinion. For this
purpose, they held meetings where speeches were made and resolutions for popular demands
were passed. They made use of the press to criticise government policies. They sent
memorandums and petitions to government officials and the British Parliament.

Second Set of Methods: Moderates seeked to influence the British government and the British
public. To achieve this objective, they made use of three P's i.e. Petitions, Prayers and Protests.
A British Committee of the Indian National Congress was set up in London in 1889, which
published a weekly journal, India, to present India's case before the British public. Deputations
of Indian leaders were sent to Britain. These political leaders carried on active propaganda in
Britain. For example, Dadabhai Naoroji spent a major part of his life in Britain to create
awareness among British people and politicians about the plight of Indians.

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CONTRIBUTION OF THE MODERATES IN INDIAN NATIONALISM

From its inception in 1885 until close to1905, the Indian National Congress (INC) was
dominated by moderates. This stage was critical in establishing the INC's stable foundation in
the Indian political arena. Congress's politics throughout the first twenty years of its existence
are generally referred to be moderate politics. Congress was hardly a full-fledged political party
at the time; it was more like an annual conference that deliberated and adopted resolutions
during sessions and then dispersed. Its members were mostly part-time politicians who were
also successful professionals—a completely Anglicized upper class with little time and
dedication for full-time politics.
The national leaders who dominated Congress policies during this period, such as Dadabhai
Naoroji, Pherozshah Mehta, D.E. Wacha, W.C. Bonnerjea, and S.N. Banerjea, were staunch
believers in ‘Liberalism' and ‘Moderate' politics and came to be referred to as Moderates to
distinguish them from the neo-nationalists of the early twentieth century who were referred to
as ‘Extremists’.
The Moderates believed that the British wanted to be just to the Indians but were not aware of
the actual conditions. Therefore, if public opinion could be created in the country and public
demands be presented to the Government through resolutions, petitions, meetings, etc., the
authorities would concede these demands gradually. To achieve these ends, they worked on a
two-pronged methodology one, create a solid public opinion to arouse consciousness and
national spirit and then educate and unite people on common political questions; and two,
persuade the British Government and British public opinion to introduce reforms in India on
the lines laid out by the nationalists. For this purpose, a British committee of the Indian
National Congress was established in London in 1899, which had India as its organ. Dadabhai
Naoroji spent a substantial portion of his life and income campaigning for India’s case abroad.
In 1890, it was decided to hold a session of the Indian National Congress in London in 1892,
but owing to the British elections of 1891, the proposal was postponed and never revived later.
The Moderate leaders believed that political connections with Britain were in India’s interest
at that stage of history and that the time was not ripe for a direct challenge to British rule.
Therefore, it was appropriate to try and transform the colonial rule to approximate a national
rule.

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CONCLUSION

Taking into consideration the difficulties the Moderates had to confront at that time, they
achieved a lot. The moderates represented the most aggressive form of the time. They made
possible a decisive shift in Indian politics. They made the people of India conscious of the
bonds of common political, economic and cultural interests and the existence of the common
enemy and thus, helped to weld them into a common nationality. They popularised the idea of
democracy and civil liberty. They successfully brought to light the most important political and
economic aspect of the Indian reality that a foreign power ruled India for economic
exploitation.

In the beginning, the British Government looked upon the Congress movement with favour. In
fact, a few government officials attended the first session of the Congress and took part in its
deliberations. But the official attitude soon changed as instead of being a tool in the hands of
the authorities, Congress gradually became the focus of Indian nationalism. In 1887, Lord
Dufferin attacked the National Congress in his speech and ridiculed it as representing only 'a
microscopic minority of the people'. In 1890, the Government employees were forbidden from
participating in the Congress deliberations or attending its meetings. Realising that the growing
unity of the Indians posed a significant threat to their rule, the British pushed further the policy
of 'divide and rule'. However, their policy of repression and hostility made the Congress more
powerful.

Despite their many failures, they laid the strong foundation for the national movement to grow
upon, and they deserve a high place among the makers of modern India.

However, if we critically evaluate the work of the Moderates, they could not achieve a lot. The
methods used by them of passing resolution and sending petitions was criticised as inadequate.
They depended on the generosity of the British instead of relying on their own strength and
challenging the imperialist might. They failed to realise that British and Indian interests clashed
with each other. Britain was using India's resources to increase its wealth. The Moderates failed
to draw the masses into the mainstream of the national movement. Their area of influence was
limited to the urban educated Indians. In particular, their leadership was confined to
professional groups such as lawyers, doctors, journalists and teachers.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS
1. Modern India 1885-1947, Sumit Sarkar.

2. India’s Struggle for Independence, Bipin Chandra.

ONLINE SOURCES
1. “Growth of Indian Nationalism (10 Factors).” History Discussion - Discuss Anything
About History, 8 Aug. 2015, www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/growth-of-indian-
nationalism-10-factors/3184.
2. “The Moderates and Extremists: Part V.”
https://selfstudyhistory.com/2015/02/09/the-moderates-and-extremists-partition-of-
bengal-1905-and-the-swadeshi-movement/comment-page-1/.
3. https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/indian-
national-congress-was-formed-on-this-day-facts-about-inc-1117601-2017-12-28.

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