Introduction
The Moderate Phase of the Indian National Movement, spanning from 1885 to 1905, was a period marked by a cautious and constitutional approach to achieving political reforms. The leaders of this phase believed in the power of persuasion and legal means to bring about change. They sought to work within the existing British legal framework to secure greater representation and rights for Indians. This phase laid the groundwork for the more radical movements that followed, by raising awareness and building a platform for Indian voices.
Key Leaders
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- Background: Gokhale was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and a mentor to many future leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi.
- Philosophy: He emphasized the importance of education, gradual reform, and working within the legal system to achieve political goals.
- Achievements: Gokhale was instrumental in the formation of the Servants of India Society, which aimed to promote social and political reforms through service and education.
Dadabhai Naoroji
- Background: Known as the “Grand Old Man of India,” Naoroji was a leading economist and politician.
- Philosophy: He believed in the power of economic arguments to influence British policies and advocated for self-government.
- Achievements: Naoroji’s theory of the “Drain of Wealth” was a seminal contribution to the understanding of British economic exploitation in India. He also served as the first Indian member of the British Parliament, where he continued to advocate for Indian rights.
Pherozeshah Mehta
- Background: A lawyer and politician, Mehta was a key figure in the early Indian National Congress.
- Philosophy: He advocated for self-government and the Indianisation of the civil service, emphasizing the need for Indians to have a greater role in their own administration.
- Achievements: Mehta played a significant role in the municipal reforms in Bombay and was a strong voice for constitutional methods within the Congress.
Techniques
The Moderates employed several constitutional methods to achieve their goals:
Petitions:
- Description: Formal requests submitted to the British government, outlining grievances and demands.
- Examples: Petitions for the repeal of the Vernacular Press Act (1878) and for the reduction of salt tax.
- Impact: These petitions helped to raise awareness and build a case for reforms, though they often did not lead to immediate changes.
Resolutions:
- Description: Formal statements passed at Congress sessions and other public meetings, expressing collective opinions and demands.
- Examples: Resolutions demanding the expansion of legislative councils and the Indianisation of services.
- Impact: Resolutions were used to build public support and pressure the government, contributing to the formation of a united national opinion.
Deputations:
- Description: Delegations sent to meet with British officials to discuss issues and seek reforms.
- Examples: Deputations to the Secretary of State for India and to the Viceroy.
- Impact: These meetings aimed to convince the government to implement reforms, though they often met with limited success.
Demands
The Moderates had a clear set of demands, which they pursued through their constitutional methods:
Expansion of Legislative Councils:
- Objective: To increase the number of elected Indian members in legislative bodies, thereby giving Indians more say in the governance of the country.
- Rationale: The moderates believed that greater representation would lead to more responsive and fair governance.
- Impact: The Indian Councils Act of 1892 partially addressed this demand by increasing the number of non-official Indian members in legislative councils, though the British retained control over key decisions.
Indianisation of Services:
- Objective: To demand more Indians be appointed to higher positions in the civil service and other government roles, reducing the dominance of British officials.
- Rationale: The moderates argued that Indians were equally capable of holding these positions and that their exclusion was a form of racial discrimination.
- Impact: This demand was a precursor to the Indianisation of the civil service, which became a significant issue in later phases of the national movement.
Achievements
The Moderates made significant contributions to the Indian National Movement:
Exposure of Economic Drain:
- Theory: Dadabhai Naoroji’s “Drain of Wealth” theory argued that British colonial rule was draining India’s wealth through various means, including the export of raw materials, the import of finished goods, and the remittance of profits by British companies.
- Evidence: Naoroji presented detailed economic data to support his theory, showing the adverse impact of British policies on India’s economy.
- Impact: The theory gained widespread acceptance and was used to argue for economic reforms and greater Indian control over economic policies. It also helped to galvanize public opinion against British rule.
Formation of Indian Opinion:
- Platform: The Moderates organized public meetings, published newspapers, and wrote articles to foster a sense of national identity and political consciousness among the people.
- Examples: The establishment of newspapers like “The Times of India” and “The Hindu,” and the publication of books and pamphlets.
- Impact: These efforts were crucial in creating a platform for Indian voices to be heard and in building a national movement. They helped to educate the masses about the issues facing the country and the need for reforms.
Criticism by Extremists
Despite their achievements, the Moderates faced criticism from the extremist faction of the Indian National Congress:
- “Political Mendicancy”:
- Critique: Extremist leaders, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai, criticized the moderate approach as being too submissive and reliant on appealing to the British for reforms.
- Rationale: They viewed the moderate methods as “political mendicancy,” suggesting that the moderates were begging for scraps from the British rather than demanding their rights.
- Impact: The criticism led to a growing divide within the Congress and eventually resulted in the Surat Split in 1907. The extremists believed in more assertive and direct action, including mass agitation and boycotts, to achieve their goals.
Table: Key Events and Milestones of the Moderate Phase (1885–1905)
| Year | Event | Significance |
| 1885 | Formation of the Indian National Congress | Marked the beginning of organized political activity in India. |
| 1886 | First session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta | Set the tone for the moderate approach and established the Congress as a national platform. |
| 1892 | Indian Councils Act | Increased the number of non-official Indian members in legislative councils, though still limited. |
| 1893 | Dadabhai Naoroji presents “Drain of Wealth” theory | Exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British, gaining widespread acceptance. |
| 1895 | Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society | Promoted social and political reforms through service and education. |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal | Led to widespread protests and the rise of the extremist faction. |
| 1906 | Formation of the All India Muslim League | Highlighted the growing communal tensions and the need for a more inclusive national movement. |
| 1907 | Surat Split | The Indian National Congress split into moderate and extremist factions, weakening the Congress temporarily but leading to new strategies and leaders. |
Static Portion
Indian Councils Act, 1892
- Objective: To increase the number of Indian members in legislative councils.
- Provisions:
- Increased the number of non-official members in the Imperial Legislative Council and provincial legislative councils.
- Allowed some members to be elected, though the majority were still nominated.
- Gave the councils the power to discuss the budget and ask questions of government officials.
- Impact: While it was a step forward, the Act did not provide substantial power to the Indian members, and the British retained control over key decisions. However, it was a significant milestone in the gradual process of Indian representation in governance.
Dadabhai Naoroji’s “Drain of Wealth” Theory
- Concept: Naoroji argued that British colonial rule was draining India’s wealth through various means, including the export of raw materials, the import of finished goods, and the remittance of profits by British companies.
- Evidence: He presented detailed economic data to support his theory, showing the adverse impact of British policies on India’s economy.
- Impact: The theory gained widespread acceptance and was used to argue for economic reforms and greater Indian control over economic policies. It also helped to galvanize public opinion against British rule and laid the foundation for future economic arguments in the national movement.
Indian National Congress (INC)
- Formation: Founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, and others.
- Objective: To provide a platform for the expression of Indian political aspirations and to work for the betterment of the country.
- Methods: Initially, the INC focused on constitutional methods, such as petitions, resolutions, and deputations.
- Achievements:
- Played a crucial role in raising awareness about the economic and political issues facing India.
- Built a national movement and fostered a sense of unity among Indians.
- Contributed to the formation of Indian opinion and the development of a political consciousness.
Surat Split (1907)
- Context: The Indian National Congress split into moderate and extremist factions at the Surat session in 1907.
- Reasons:
- Differences in methods and goals between the moderates and extremists.
- The moderates favored constitutional methods, while the extremists advocated for more radical and direct action.
- Impact:
- The split weakened the Congress temporarily but also led to the emergence of new leaders and strategies.
- It highlighted the growing divide within the national movement and the need for a more inclusive approach to address the diverse political views of Indians.
| Detailed Analysis Political ContextThe Moderate Phase emerged in a context where the British colonial government was relatively stable and resistant to significant reforms. The moderates believed that by working within the legal and constitutional framework, they could gradually influence British policies and secure more rights for Indians. This approach was rooted in the belief that the British were not inherently malevolent and could be persuaded to act in the best interests of India. Economic ContextThe economic exploitation of India by the British was a major issue during this phase. Dadabhai Naoroji’s “Drain of Wealth” theory provided a powerful economic argument against British rule. The theory highlighted how British policies were systematically draining India’s resources, leading to poverty and underdevelopment. This economic critique was crucial in building a case for reforms and in galvanizing public opinion against British rule. Social ContextThe Moderates also addressed social issues, such as the need for education and the Indianisation of services. Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s emphasis on education and gradual reform was aimed at building a more informed and capable Indian leadership. The demand for Indianisation of services was a response to the racial discrimination and exclusion of Indians from higher positions in the civil service. Impact on the National MovementThe Moderate Phase played a crucial role in the early development of the Indian National Movement. By raising awareness and building a platform for Indian voices, the moderates laid the groundwork for more radical movements that followed. Their efforts in exposing economic exploitation and advocating for greater representation helped to create a sense of national identity and political consciousness among the Indian people. Limitations and CriticismsDespite their achievements, the moderates faced several limitations and criticisms:Limited Success: The constitutional methods often did not lead to immediate or substantial changes, as the British were reluctant to cede power.Criticism by Extremists: Extremist leaders viewed the moderate approach as too passive and ineffective. They believed that more assertive and direct action was necessary to achieve independence.Communal Tensions: The moderate phase also saw the emergence of communal tensions, as evidenced by the formation of the All-India Muslim League in 1906. This highlighted the need for a more inclusive and representative national movement. |
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Conclusion
The Moderate Phase (1885–1905) was a critical period in the Indian National Movement. The leaders of this phase, through their constitutional methods and clear demands, laid the foundation for the more radical movements that followed. Extremists criticized their approach, but the moderates were important in making people aware, building a national platform, and pushing for changes. Their efforts were instrumental in shaping the future of the national movement and in preparing the ground for more assertive actions in the years to come.
MCQ:-
1.Which Act passed by the British Parliament increased Indian representation in legislative councils during the Moderate Phase?
A) Indian Councils Act of 1861
B) Indian Councils Act of 1892
C) Government of India Act of 1919
D) Indian Councils Act of 1909
Answer: B) Indian Councils Act of 1892
Explanation: The 1892 Act expanded the legislative councils and allowed for indirect election of some members, addressing some Moderate demands
2.Which of the following methods was primarily used by the Moderates to press their demands?
A) Armed rebellion
B) Boycott and Swadeshi
C) Petitions and resolutions
D) Civil disobedience
Answer: C) Petitions and resolutions
Explanation: Moderates believed in constitutional methods like petitions, speeches, and resolutions to bring about reforms
3.The Moderates emphasized the separation of which two branches of governance?
A) Legislative and Executive
B) Judiciary and Executive
C) Legislative and Judiciary
D) Military and Civil Services
Answer: B) Judiciary and Executive
Explanation: They believed that separating the judiciary from the executive would ensure impartial justice.
