Explain in brief the method of the Moderates.
Answers
The national leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozshah Mehta, D.E. Wacha, W.C. Bonnerjea, and S.N. Banerjea who dominated the Congress policies during this period were staunch believers in ‘liberalism’ and ‘moderate’ politics and came to be labelled as Moderates to distinguish them from the neo-nationalists of the early twentieth century who were referred to as the Extremists.
The moderate political activity involved constitutional agitation within the confines of law and showed a slow but orderly political progress. The Moderates believed that the British basically wanted to be just to the Indians but were not aware of the real conditions.
Therefore, if public opinion could be created in the country and public demands be presented to the Government through resolutions, petitions, meetings, etc., the authorities would concede these demands gradually.
To achieve these ends, they worked on a two-pronged methodology one, create a strong public opinion to arouse consciousness and national spirit and then educate and unite people on common political questions; and two, persuade the British Government and British public opinion to introduce reforms in India on the lines laid out by the nationalists.
For this purpose, a British committee of the Indian National Congress was established in London in 1899 which had India as its organ. Dadabhai Naoroji spent a substantial portion of his life and income campaigning for India’s case abroad. In 1890, it was decided to hold a session of the Indian National Congress in London in 1892, but owing to the British elections of 1891 the proposal was postponed and never revived later.
The Moderate leaders believed that political connections with Britain were in India’s interest at that stage of history and that the time was not ripe for a direct challenge to the British rule. Therefore, it was considered to be appropriate to try and transform the colonial rule to approximate to a national rule.
Indian National Congress got split into two called Moderates and Extremists at the Surat session of the congress. They wanted Indians to be employed in administrative services and they never wanted the end of British rule. They knew the despotic nature of British and wanted change and transformation of British policies in India rather than expulsion of British.
They believed in peaceful agitation which is right as per the constitution. They also believe in fair play and justice. They incorporate western ideas of equality, democracy and liberalism.
They believe that petitions, prayer and protest are the three ways in which they can do some good to the Indian society. They also believed in cooperation and reconciliation to British abut they never intended for elimination of British rule.