Topic: Moderates - Their Ideology, Methods, Demands and Limitations.

Question : Briefly discuss the moderates phase (1885-1905) of Indian National Congress?

Answer :

W.C. Bannerjee’s presidential speech at the first Congress session put forward its aims as

(a) promotion of friendship and personal intimacy amongst the countrymen,

(b) eradication of all possible prejudices relating to race, creed or province,

(c) Consolidation of the sentiments of national unity, and

(d) recording the opinion of educated classes on pressing problems of the day.

These mild and constitutional demands reflect the nature and the composition of the Moderates. The moderates were the early intellectual of India who had benefited from western styled education and were feeling the strain of Government red-tape. To be radical was not in their nature. The Indian National Congress in its earlier years, maybe till the very end, expressed the aspirations of educated middle classes.

Main leaders - W.C. Bannerjee, Ananda Mohan Bose, Lal Mohan Ghose, A.C. Mazumdar, Ras Bihari Ghose, S N Banerjee, R C Dutt from Bengal; Dadabhai Naoroji, M.G. Ranade, Gokhale, Ferozshah Mehta, Telang, Tyabji from Bombay, R R Naidu, Subramaniya lyer, Anand Charu from Madras and Flume, Wedderburn and Henery Cotton from England.

Ideology and Methods

Believed in the justness of the British rule hence professed complete loyalty to the British. They believed that India was yet not ready to stand on her own legs and needed the British for empowering them.

• Believed in-the efficacy of peaceful and bloodless means and constitutional methods.

• Press was used as the platform to discuss various British policies and disseminating them thereby creating awareness.

• Sessions were also used as platforms to pass resolutions or to discuss/protest against the discriminatory laws.

Demands

• Aimed at educating the masses and create an organized public opinion which would make people aware of their rights, the true conditions of India.

• To create a reservoir of national political leadership and people trained in the art of representative governance.

• Wanted self-rule under the British along the lines of a Dominion Status like Canada or Australia.

• Full control over finances and legislation. After 1892, INC raised the cry of ‘No taxation without representation.

• Appointment of a Royal Commission for enquiring into the Indian affairs with adequate Indian representation.

• Indian representation in Indian Council in London and in the Executive Council at the Center.

• Reduction in the expenditure on army

• Development of modern capitalist industries in India parallel to those in Britain through tariff protection and direct government aid.

• Opposed to large scale import of capital in railways plantations and industries and to allow it only in areas where Indian capital was unavailable

• End of Indian economic drain developed the economic criticism of the British rule- three areas covered- trade, finance and industry.

• Abolition of the salt tax.

• Indianisation of the Indian Civil Services and simultaneously conducting the examinations in India and London.

• Separation of judiciary and executive

• Extension of trial by jury

• Repeal of the Arms Act of 1878.

• Higher ranking jobs for Indians in the army.

• Increase in the money spent on education.

• Opposed to any restriction imposed on the freedom of press and speech.

• Cut in the Home charges.

Limitations

From the time of its inception, INC had some limitations. The foremost limitation, which also led to the split and uneven curve of its popularity, was the exclusion of the non-elites from its membership. Professional groups- journalists, educationists, reformers doctors, lawyers, religious men, merchants and bankers, were included in its membership. INC was not yet anti-British government or rule. In its initial phase, INC sought to widen the governing base by increasing the number of Indians in it. It was geared towards rectifying the un-Britishness of the British rule in India. The moderates expected the British to guide India, help her conquer the cultural and social backwardness and then transform into progressive country which would lead to establishment of representative government. For them the interests of the British and Indians were similar rather than opposites.

An important limitation was that majority of the moderates were Hindus. Between the period of 1892-1909, Hindus comprised 90% of the delegates attending the Congress. In spite of its claim as representing all communities, ironically, it has been accused of being a Hindu party by some from its very inception. This was primarily because of the fluidity of the members. e.g. many members of the Congress were also involved in cow protection Movement or Nagri movement. Some held simultaneous membership of the Hindu Mahasabha and Congress.

Lacked confidence in the ability of the uneducated masses to participate in the political affairs.lt had limited social appeal.

Was dominated by the English educated so drew most of their ideas from Western political tradition hence alienated from the masses.

Did not envisage an end of the British rule.

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