Moderate Nationalism in India

Different Modes of Agitation 

The history of the Indian National Movement can be studied in three important phases:

1. Moderate Nationalism -1885 to 1905 
2. Extreme Nationalism -1906 to 1916 
3. Gandhian Era – 1917 to 1947

Moderate Nationalism

• They were loyal to the British and they looked to England for inspiration and guidance.
• The Moderates used petitions, resolutions, meetings, leaflets and pamphlets, memorandum and delegations to present their demands.
• They confined their political activities to the educated classes only.
• Their aim was to attain political rights and self-government stage by stage.
• In the beginning, the British Government welcomed the birth of the Indian National Congress.
• In 1886, Governor General Lord Dufferin gave a tea garden party for the Congress members in Calcutta.
• Surendranath Banerjee, Dadabai Naoroji, Feroshah Mehta, Gopala Krishna Gokhale and M.G. Ranade were some of the important moderate leaders.
• The demands of the moderates were described as “Political Mendicancy“.

Demands of Moderates 

1. Expansion and reform of legislative councils.
2. Greater opportunities for Indians in higher posts by holding the ICS examination simultaneously in England and in India.
3. Separation of the judiciary from the executive.
4. More powers for the local bodies.
5. Reduction of land revenue and protection of peasants from unjust landlords.
6. Abolition of salt tax and sugar duty.
7. Reduction of spending on army.
8. Freedom of speech and expression and freedom to form associations

• Some Moderates like Ranade and Gokhale favoured social reforms. They protested against child marriage and widowhood.
• The only demand of the Congress granted by the British was the expansion of the legislative councils by the Indian Councils Act of 1892.

Achievements of Moderates

1. The Moderates were able to create a wide national awakening among the people.
2. They popularized the ideas of democracy, civil liberties and representative institutions.
3. They explained how the British were exploiting Indians. 

Moderate leaders

Dadabhai Naoroji

• Dadabhai Naoroji in his famous book “Poverty and UnBritish Rule” in India wrote his Drain of wealth Theory. 
• He showed how India’s wealth was going away to England in the form of:
  

1. 1. Salaries
   2. savings
   3. pensions
   4. Payments to British troops in India and
   5. Profits of the British companies.
      

• In fact, the British Government was forced to appoint the Welby Commission, with Dadabhai as the first Indian as its member, to enquire into the matter.
• He is the first Indian to become the Member of The British House of Common.
• Dadabhai Naoroji founded and edited two journals called Voice of India and Rast Goftar.
• He is called as Grand old man of India.

Surendra Nath Banerjee

• He found Indian Association in 1876
• He found Indian National Conference in 1883 and later merged it with INC
• He actively participated in Bengal Partition agitation.
• Surendranath Banerjee edited the newspaper called Bengalee.
• He is called as Indian Burke

Gopala Krishna Gokhale

• He found Servant of India Society in 1905.
• It was the first secular organization in the country to devote itself to the betterment of underprivileged, rural and tribal people.
• He is the Political Guru of Gandhiji.

G.Subramaniya Aiyer

• One of the founder of Madras Mahajana Sabha.
• He started The Hindu English Magazine in 1878.
• He started Tamil newspaper Swadesmitran in 1882.
• The first resolution of Indian National Congress in 1885 was passed by Him.

Moderate of Tamil Nadu 

The distinguished Tamil Moderates from Madras: 

1. V.S. Srinivasa Sastri
2. P.S. Sivasamy
3. V. Krishnasamy
4. T.R Venkatramanar
5. G.A. Natesan
6. T.M. Madhava Rao
7. S. Subramaniar