Moderates and the era of early nationalists
(1885-1905)
• The early nationalist who dominated the
affairs of the Indian National Congress from
1885 to 1905 were known as the Moderates.
• The middle class intelligentsia, (men of legal,
medical, engineering, literary pursuits and
journalists) who were Indian in blood and
colour but British in tastes, in opinions, in
morals and in intellect mainly constituted the
group.
• They were supporters of British institutions.
They believed that what India needed was a
balanced and lucid presentation of her needs
before the Englishmen and their Parliament.
Demands of Moderates
• Moderates demanded following:
• Expansion of Viceroy’s executive council and more
representation of Indians in it.
• Inclusion of more Indian members the Council of
Secretary of State.
• Separation of the judicial and executive organs of
government.
• Reform of Central and provincial Legislative Councils
with greater powers for Indian representatives.
• Representation of Indians in British Parliament
at the rate of two members from each province
• Indianisation of Services. Indians be admitted
into public services in large measure. To hold
Civil Services examinations simultaneously in
England and India.
• The appointment of Indians to the
commissioned ranks of the Army.
• The repeal of the Arms Act.
• Change in the existing pattern of taxation and
expenditure which put a heavy burden on the
poor while leaving the rich, especially the
foreigners, with a very light load.
• Reduction of military expenditure.
• Reduction in Land revenue demands. To
provide cheap credit to the peasantry through
agricultural banks and to make avail able
irrigation facilities on a large scale.
• Impetus to indigenous industries and
establishment of modern industries
• Changes in the forest laws that affected the
Indian people
• Improvement in the conditions of work of the
plantation labourers.
• Freedom of speech and the press.
Methods adopted by Moderates
• constitutional agitation within the
framework of Rule of Law
• a slow, orderly political process
• believed that their main task was
– to educate the people,
– to arouse national political consciousness,
– To generate united public opinion on political
questions.
• For this purpose they held meetings.
• They criticised the Government through the
press.
• They drafted and submitted memorials and
petitions to the Government of India and also
to the British Parliament.
• They also worked to influence the British
Parliament and British public opinion.
• They complained of India’s growing poverty
and economic backwardness and put all the
blame on the policies of the British
Government.
• They criticised the individual administrative
measures and worked hard to reform the
administrative system.
Limitations of Moderates
• Had narrow social base
• did not have a wide appeal.
• The area of their influence was limited to the
urban community.
• It failed to mobilise all the people in the anti-
imperialist struggle and, consequently, it was
forced to compromise with imperialism, often
even talking of loyalty to the Raj.
• Their programmes and policies championed the
cause of all sections of the Indian people and
represented nation-wide interests against colonial
exploitation. What they wanted was to reform or
liberalise the existing system of government through
peaceful, gradualist and constitutional means. The
influence of the moderates, however, declined with
the rise of the militants who did not believe in
gradualism and who criticized the moderates for their
great faith in Britain and British political institutions.
