Mains Marathon 2024

Introduction

The moderate phase of the Indian National Movement (1885-1905) marks an important period in India's struggle for independence. The moderate political activity involved constitutional agitation within the confines of the law and showed slow but orderly political progress.

Body

Contribution of Moderates to National Sentiment :

• Establishment of the Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Formation: The Indian National Congress was established in 1885 by A.O. Hume, along with prominent Indian leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, W.C. Bonnerjee, and Surendranath Banerjee.
  • Platform for Discussion: The INC provided a platform for political discussion and debate, which was crucial in forming a collective Indian identity.
• Constitutional Methods and Petitions
  • Petitions and Memoranda: The moderates relied on submitting petitions, resolutions, and memoranda to the British government to express their grievances and demands.
    • They gave the slogan- “No taxation without representation”
  • Reforms and Representation: They demanded constitutional reforms, greater Indian representation in legislative councils, and better administrative policies.
    • The Indian Councils Act of 1892 was a modest but important political success for moderate nationalists in the legislative reform of British India.
• Economic Critique
  • Drain Theory: Dadabhai Naoroji's 'Drain Theory' articulated the economic exploitation of India by the British, which resonated with many Indians and raised awareness about the detrimental effects of British rule on India's economy.
  • Economic Exploitation: Leaders like R.C. Dutt highlighted the adverse impact of British economic policies on Indian agriculture and industry.
• Social and Educational Reforms
  • Promotion of Education: Moderates emphasized the importance of Western education as a means to empower Indians and promote political awareness.
  • Social Reform: They advocated for social reforms, including the abolition of practices like child marriage and the promotion of women's rights, contributing to a broader sense of national development.
• Political Awareness and National Identity
  • Protection of Civil Rights: Through an incessant campaign, the nationalists were able to spread modern democratic ideas and soon the defense of civil rights became an integral part of the freedom struggle.
  • Awakening National Identity: They were able to create a wide national awakening of all Indians having common interests and the need to rally around common interests and the need to rally around a common program against a common enemy and above all the feeling of belonging to one nation.

Limitations of the Moderate Phase

• Lack of Mass Mobilization
  • Elitist Approach: The moderates primarily consisted of the educated elite, including lawyers, professionals, and intellectuals. Their methods and language often did not resonate with the broader masses, particularly the rural population.
  • Limited Reach: The focus on constitutional methods and reliance on British goodwill limited their appeal to the general populace, who were suffering from immediate economic and social hardships.
• Ineffectiveness in Immediate Reforms
  • Slow Progress: The moderate approach of petitions and appeals often led to slow and minimal reforms from the British government, which frustrated many Indians.
  • Perception of Loyalty: The moderates' loyalty to the British Crown and their belief in gradual reform were sometimes perceived as weakness or complacency.
• Growing Discontent
  • Rising Frustration: The limited success and slow pace of the moderates' methods led to growing frustration among younger leaders and the masses.
  • Emergence of Extremists: This discontent paved the way for the rise of the extremist faction within the INC, led by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai, who advocated for more radical and direct action.
• Transition to the Extremist Phase
  • Mass Mobilization: The extremists focused on mass mobilization, boycotts, and Swadeshi (self-reliance) movements, which were more effective in drawing the masses into the national movement.
  • Cultural Revival: The new leadership felt the stranglehold of excessive Westernization and sensed colonial designs to submerge the Indian National identity in the British Empire.
    • Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s political message was ‘India for the Indians’

Conclusion

The moderate phase of the Indian National Movement played a crucial role in awakening national sentiment and laying the intellectual and organizational groundwork for the later phases of the struggle for independence. The transition from moderate to extremist methods was a natural progression, reflecting the evolving aspirations and frustrations of the Indian people under colonial rule.