Moderate Politics in Indian National Movement
The politics of the first twenty years in the history of the Indian National Congress is broadly termed “Moderate Politics” because the national movement led by the Congress during this period was under the leadership of Moderate leaders. They were called Moderates to distinguish them from the Assertive (Extremist) nationalists of the twentieth century. During this phase, the Congress was dominated by prosperous middle-class intellectuals – lawyers, doctors, engineers, journalists, and literary figures – such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Badruddin Tyabji, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Pherozeshah Mehta, P. Ananda Charlu, Surendranath Banerji, Romesh Chunder Dutt, Ananda Mohan Bose, Dinshaw Wacha, Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and others. Influenced by Western education and culture, they firmly believed in constitutional methods.
At this stage, the objectives of the Indian National Congress were vague, unclear, and somewhat ambiguous. The Congress was hardly an organised political party; it functioned more like an annual conference that debated, passed resolutions, and dispersed after “three days of spectacle”.
Ideological Foundations of the Moderates
The Moderates were primarily influenced by utilitarian philosophy. Edmund Burke, John Stuart Mill, and John Morley left a deep imprint on their thinking and actions. They believed government should be guided not by morality or virtue but by expediency. They regarded the British constitution as inviolable and repeatedly petitioned the British Parliament that the Government of India was violating it.
They did not demand equality, which appeared a relatively abstract idea; they equated liberty with class privileges and desired gradual, piecemeal reforms. Most of them believed that British rule in India was “a divine dispensation” and that British contributions – literature, education system, means of transport and communication, justice system, and local self-government – were meant to modernise India. They firmly believed India could preserve its unity and achieve progress only under British rule.
Presiding over the sixth session of the Congress, Pherozeshah Mehta declared: “The connection between England and India will prove a blessing to both countries and to succeeding generations of mankind.”
The Moderates believed India’s progress was possible only under British supervision and therefore remained loyal to the Crown. Expressing loyalty, Surendranath Banerji said: “We must work with unflinching loyalty to maintain our connection with the British Government. We do not contemplate severance; we desire permanent association with the Government that has given the world the noblest model of free institutions.”
Faith in British Justice
The Moderate Congressmen had complete faith in British sense of justice. They believed the British themselves loved liberty and, once convinced that Indians were fit for self-government, would voluntarily grant it. Surendranath Banerji had firm belief in British justice, generosity, and fair play. He said: “Our hearts are filled with reverence for the greatest representative assembly, the mother of Parliaments – the British House of Commons. The British have everywhere built their government on the representative ideal.”
Dadabhai Naoroji remarked: “Though John Bull (the British nation) is somewhat thick-headed, if you tell him something good and just, you may be sure he will ultimately do it.” They also believed the day was not far when the British would voluntarily leave India.
Methods of the Early Nationalists
The early nationalists were totally opposed to confrontation with the government. They presented their demands in moderate and restrained language through petitions, memorials, and delegations. At the third session of the Congress, Madan Mohan Malaviya urged repeated appeals to the government for speedy consideration of their demands.
The Moderates placed concrete facts about people’s sufferings before the authorities and prayed for speedy redress. Presiding over the 1906 Congress session, Dadabhai Naoroji said: “The law of peaceful means is the very life and soul of British political, social, and industrial history; therefore, we too must adopt that civilised, peaceful, and moral weapon.”
Activities and Programmes of the Moderates
To achieve their objectives, the Moderates adopted two types of programmes:
1. Creating strong public opinion in India by awakening political consciousness and national spirit, educating and uniting people on political questions.
- They passed resolutions at annual Congress sessions and publicised them through newspapers.
- They submitted extremely humble petitions to the British Government.
Though Congress resolutions and petitions were addressed to the government, their real purpose was to educate the Indian masses.
2. Influencing British public opinion and the British Government so that suggested reforms could be implemented.
The Moderates believed the British people and Parliament wanted to do justice to India but lacked knowledge of real conditions. Therefore, along with educating Indian opinion, they tried to create favourable public opinion in England.
Dadabhai Naoroji established the “Indian Reform Society” in London (1887) and the “Indian Agency” (1888). In 1889, it became the British Committee of the Indian National Congress and started publishing the weekly journal India (1890). Congress delegations were regularly sent to England. In 1889 and 1890, leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal, Surendranath Banerji, W.C. Bonnerjee, and A.O. Hume visited Britain. A decision was even taken to hold the 1892 Congress session in London. This propaganda created a pro-India section in Britain.
Achievements of the Moderates
The early Moderates believed direct struggle for political emancipation was not yet practical. India was still a nascent nation that needed organisation as a nation. Politically conscious Indians had to rise above caste and religious divisions and foster national unity.
Thus, instead of demanding independence, they sought only civil liberties and growth of representative institutions so that Indians could be united on a common economic-political programme. They repeatedly clarified that they wanted neither revolution nor independence nor a new constitution – only representation in councils at the centre and provinces.
Economic Critique of Imperialism – The Greatest Contribution
The most significant political achievement of the early nationalists was their economic critique of imperialism. Leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Justice M.G. Ranade, R.C. Dutt, and Dinshaw Wacha exposed the exploitative economic policies of colonial rule and built a powerful movement against them.
In his book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, Dadabhai Naoroji held British policies responsible for India’s growing poverty, economic backwardness, and destruction of agriculture. As early as 1881, he declared: “British rule is a permanent, growing, and continuous foreign invasion that is slowly but surely destroying the country.” He proved that poverty in India was a creation of British rule.
The Drain Theory became the cornerstone of economic nationalism. The Moderates criticised destruction of traditional handicrafts, obstruction of modern industries, and heavy investment of foreign capital in railways, plantations, and industries. Foreign capital meant outflow of profits – the famous “Drain of Wealth”.
They opposed high land revenue that pauperised peasants and the absence of protective tariffs that killed Indian industries. Per capita income, according to Naoroji, was only ₹20; William Digby calculated ₹18 in 1899. Famines and epidemics told their own tragic story.
The early nationalists popularised the idea that British rule was based on exploitation, was continuously impoverishing India, and causing economic backwardness and under-development.
They demanded reduction in land revenue, extension of permanent settlement, promotion of cottage industries, abolition of salt tax, improvement in conditions of plantation labour, reduction in military expenditure, and protection for Indian industries. They promoted Swadeshi and boycott of foreign goods. In 1896, foreign cloth was publicly burnt in Poona and other Maharashtra towns.
Demand for Constitutional Reforms
The early Moderates never contemplated complete separation from the British Empire; they wanted limited self-government within the imperial framework. They hoped one day they would be treated as partners, not subordinates, and granted full British citizenship rights.
Because of Moderate pressure, the British Government passed the Indian Councils Act of 1892, which provided very limited expansion of legislative councils. Though highly inadequate, it was a step forward.
By the early twentieth century, they began demanding self-government on the colonial dominion model (like Canada and Australia). Gokhale (1905) and Dadabhai Naoroji (1906) formally raised this demand.
Administrative and Other Reforms
- Indianisation of civil services (simultaneous ICS exams in India and England, age limit raised to 23)
- Separation of judicial from executive functions.
- Reduction in military expenditure and equal sharing of imperial war costs.
- Repeal of Arms Act, spread of primary and technical education, agricultural banks, abolition of salt tax, etc.
Defence of Civil Rights
The Moderates were attracted to modern civil rights – freedom of speech, press, thought, and association. They vigorously opposed every restriction on civil liberties, making democratic freedom an integral part of the freedom struggle.
Contradictions and Limitations of Moderate Nationalism
Though the Moderate programme is generally regarded as representing the interests of all sections and the emerging Indian nation, certain inherent contradictions narrowed its base and alienated larger sections.
- Dominated by prosperous professionals and landlords; failed to take a consistent pro-peasant or pro-worker stand.
- Overwhelmingly upper-caste Hindu composition; social conservatism prevented discussion of social questions till 1907.
- Failed to win over Muslims; communal representation demands and silence on cow-slaughter riots deepened Muslim alienation after 1893.
Evaluation of Moderate Politics
The Moderate policy of prayers and petitions met only partial success. Yet, working under extremely difficult circumstances when political consciousness was limited, their achievements cannot be ignored.
They created national political consciousness, forced minor constitutional reforms (1892 Act), compelled appointment of Welby Commission (1896) on Indian expenditure, and, most importantly, provided the first economic critique of colonialism that became the foundation of later anti-imperialist attacks.
Their constitutional path was wise and far-sighted. They were genuine patriots who aimed not to expel the British but to transform British rule into a national government. When British refusal became evident, many Moderates themselves moved toward the demand for self-government.
Without the tireless work of the Moderates, the seed of Indian nationalism – which later grew into a mighty banyan tree of national service – could never have sprouted.
