Question

evaluate congress policies,programmes and works upto 1905
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Answer 1

Answer:

For the first 20 years from 1885 -1905 the Congress worked as a moderate constitutional body. The main achievements of the congress during this period were to make itself a national body and spread political consciousness all over the country. The organisation gradually grew larger. The delegates came from all parts of India. The Congress used to discuss many important issues.

It passed resolutions demanding inquiry into the administrative and legislative reforms of the country, reduction of military expenditures, and introduction of representative institutions, separation of the judiciary from the executive and the reform of the police administration. It expressed grave concern over the poverty of the people in general and the peasants in particular.

The congress also thought of the welfare of the peasants, development of local industries and spread of education. The congress on the whole worked as an opposite force on the British Government in India. On the other-hand the Government gave a deaf ear to the demands of the Congress.

The Government felt disturbed at the Congress movement. Viceroy Dufferin who wished for the growth of the congress turned hostile to it and tried to suppress through criticism. Many British officers criticised the congress as a body of “baboos” a microscopic minority an organisation of no value, a body of discontented place-seeker or an organisation of unhappy educated youths and a mischievous organisation. They went to the extent of criticising the congress leaders as men of straw who appealed to the ignorance and passions of the people but did not present them.

In spite of such unhealthy criticisms the Congress went ahead to reach the people and work for them. Pherozeshah Mehta, the Congress President in 1890 declared “we have survived ridiculed abuse and misrepresentation. We have survived the charge of sedition and disloyalty. We have survived the charge of being a macroscopic minority.