Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The emergence of Indian nationalism in the late 19th century was a gradual process, beginning with the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885. The early nationalists, often referred to as ‘Moderates’, comprised largely of educated elites – lawyers, teachers, and journalists – who believed in achieving political reforms through constitutional means. They represented a nascent, yet significant, challenge to British rule, articulating Indian grievances and demanding greater participation in governance. However, their methods and scope of demands were limited, leading to questions about their ability to truly represent the diverse and often radicalized aspirations of the Indian people. This answer will discuss their policies and programs, and evaluate the extent to which they fulfilled the needs of the Indian populace.
Policies and Programmes of the Early Nationalists (Moderates)
The Moderates, dominated figures like Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Pherozeshah Mehta, adopted a three-pronged approach to achieving their political goals:
1. Constitutional Methods & Political Mobilization
- Petitions and Representations: They heavily relied on submitting petitions, memorials, and resolutions to the British government and Parliament, highlighting grievances and demanding reforms. The annual sessions of the Indian National Congress served as platforms for articulating these demands.
- Public Opinion Formation: Moderates utilized the press – newspapers like ‘Kesari’ and ‘Mahratta’ (Tilak, though later a radical) and ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’ – to educate and mobilize public opinion. They aimed to create a sense of national consciousness.
- Civic Nationalism: They focused on issues of common concern to all Indians, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion, fostering a sense of shared identity.
- Boycott (limited): While initially hesitant, they cautiously adopted boycott of foreign goods during the Swadeshi movement, but primarily as a means to pressure the government, not as a complete rejection of British rule.
2. Economic Critique
- Drain of Wealth Theory: Dadabhai Naoroji’s ‘Poverty and Un-British Rule in India’ (1901) articulated the ‘Drain of Wealth’ theory, arguing that British economic policies systematically impoverished India by draining its resources to Britain.
- Land Revenue Systems: They criticized the exploitative land revenue systems imposed by the British, leading to agrarian distress and peasant indebtedness.
- Destruction of Indian Industries: They highlighted the decline of traditional Indian industries, particularly textiles, due to unfair competition from British manufactured goods.
- Salt Duty: They protested against the high salt duty, which disproportionately affected the poor.
3. Administrative and Political Reforms
- Indianization of Services: They demanded the Indianization of the Indian Civil Service (ICS) and other administrative posts, arguing for greater Indian representation in governance.
- Expansion of Legislative Councils: They advocated for the expansion of legislative councils and the introduction of elected Indian members, with greater powers.
- Reform of the Police: They criticized the oppressive nature of the British police system and demanded reforms to ensure fair and impartial law enforcement.
- Freedom of the Press: They championed freedom of the press and expression, opposing restrictive laws like the Vernacular Press Act (1878).
Extent of Fulfilling People’s Aspirations
While the Moderates laid the foundation for the Indian nationalist movement, their ability to fulfill the aspirations of the Indian people was limited for several reasons:
- Limited Social Base: Their movement was largely confined to the educated elite and lacked widespread mass participation. They failed to effectively connect with the peasantry, who constituted the vast majority of the Indian population.
- Moderate Demands: Their demands were largely constitutional and reformist, falling short of the more radical aspirations for complete independence.
- Faith in British Justice: They retained a degree of faith in British justice and fair play, believing that the British government would eventually concede to their demands. This proved to be a miscalculation.
- Lack of Militant Approach: Their non-violent and constitutional methods were often ineffective in challenging the entrenched power of the British Raj.
- Regional and Communal Divisions: They struggled to overcome regional and communal divisions within Indian society, hindering the development of a unified national identity.
| Aspect | Moderate Achievements | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Political Awareness | Created political awareness and fostered a sense of national consciousness among the educated elite. | Failed to reach the masses and mobilize widespread support. |
| Economic Critique | Exposed the exploitative nature of British economic policies. | Lacked concrete solutions to address the economic problems faced by the Indian people. |
| Political Representation | Secured limited Indian representation in legislative councils. | Legislative councils had limited powers and were largely advisory in nature. |
| Administrative Reforms | Raised concerns about administrative injustices and demanded reforms. | Reforms were slow and often inadequate. |
Conclusion
The early nationalists, or Moderates, played a crucial role in initiating the Indian nationalist movement. Their policies and programs, though limited in scope, laid the groundwork for future struggles for independence. While they successfully articulated Indian grievances and raised political awareness, their restricted social base, moderate demands, and faith in British justice prevented them from fully realizing the aspirations of the Indian people. Their period marked the beginning of organized political activity, but the need for a more radical and mass-based movement became increasingly apparent in the early 20th century, paving the way for the rise of the Extremists and, eventually, the Gandhian era.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.