Interesting Facts: Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave the slogan: "Freedom is our birthright, and we must have it."

Basis

Moderates

Extremists

Phase

1885-1905

1905-1920

Aim

• Aimed at administrative and constitutional reforms.
• Wanted greater autonomy and self-rule while still under the nominal rule of the British crown.
• They were secular in their attitudes.

• Aim of getting Swaraj.
• Wanted to end the tyrannical rule of the British.

Ideology

• Believed in the efficacy of constitutional agitation.
• Had great faith in the British sense of justice and fair play.
• They imbibed Western ideas of liberalism, democracy, equity and freedom.

• Radical in their approach. 
• Ideological inspiration was Indian History, Cultural heritage, etc. Hence, they revived the Ganapati and Shivaji festivals.

Methodology

• They follow the principles of 3P: Petition, Prayer, and Protest.
• They believed in cooperation and reconciliation.

• Guided by 4 principles Swarajya, Swadeshi, Boycott of foreign goods, and National education to make Indians aware.
• Believed in Atma Shakti as a weapon against domination.
• Non-cooperation with the bureaucracy and ‘Passive Resistance’ to British rule.

Social support

• Zamindars and Upper middle classes in towns.

• Educated middle and lower middle classes in towns.

Leaders

• Surendra Nath Banerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

• Lala Lajpat Rai, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghose

Contribution

• Economic Critique of British Imperialism.
• Constitutional Reforms and Propaganda in Legislature.
• Campaign for General Administrative Reforms.
• Defense of Civil Rights.

• Demand of Swaraj.
• Mass movement.
• Spread of national education.
• Upliftment of downtrodden.
• Nationalism.
• Support for revolutionary movements.

Success

• Awareness and Education: By countering the British version of ancient India as “Dark Ages” with “Golden age”. 

• Also, they created awareness about rights and the economic exploitation by the British. For example, Dadabhai Naoroji's, particularly his "Drain Theory," highlighted how British policies led to the economic impoverishment of India.

• Constitutional Reforms: They advocated for constitutional reforms through petitions, speeches, slogans (No Taxation without Representation) and participation in legislative councils. 

• For example, Indian Councils Act of 1892, which expanded the role of Indians in legislative councils.

• Divide and rule in Military: - Moderates tackled it with providing newspapers and journals in military camps to promote unity. 
• Economic Critique: The Moderates' critique of British economic policies. 

• For example, heavy taxation, foreign investment and the destruction of local industries, helped build a case against colonial rule.

• Annulment of Bengal partition: - The strong and unified opposition, particularly led by extremists, forced the British to annul the partition in 1911.
• Mass Mobilization: in the swadeshi and anti-partition struggle of Bengal large number of people were united against British Bengal policy.  
• Filled vacuum of moderates: They gave the national movement a new way and energy. Political unity was seen for ex- Lucknow pact, 1966 between moderates and extremists and Muslim league and INC. 
• Exposure of oppressive policies: through their newspapers like Kesari and Mahratta of B. G. Tilak.

Failure

• Failure against Divide & rule: - Moderates couldn’t clearly see the British policy of divide and rule (extremists Vs Moderates) or governance.
• Failed to get effective political representation: - this can be seen in Indian council’s act, 1892 and Morley-Minto reforms, 1909. 
• The elected Indian members could discuss the budget but not vote on it, and their ability to influence legislation was minimal (Indian councils act, 1892).
• Over-Reliance on Constitutional Methods: The Moderates' faith in constitutional and peaceful methods was seen as a weakness which didn’t help fulfil their demands of abrogating the Bengal partition. 
• Failed to stop Britisher’s oppressive laws: such as the Newspaper Act (1908 AD) during the swadeshi and boycott movement. 
• Land Revenue Policies: The British continued their exploitative land revenue policies, which heavily burdened Indian peasants and farmers. The resulting economic distress fueled discontent among farmers.

• Could not identify British efforts of Divide and Rule: This was seen during the Surat split in 1907. 
• Failure against communal divide: - Promoting communal divisions through policies. For example, separate electorates for Muslims and supporting loyalist groups and leaders to undermine the unity of the nationalist movement. 
• Rowlatt Act (1919): Which allowed for detention without trial. This act was a direct response to the activities of extremist.
• Morley-Minto Reforms (1909): Which introduced reforms that expanded the legislative councils and introduced separate electorates for Muslims.

• Violent revolutionaries: Extremists leaders failed to tap into the energy of young revolutionaries who committed violence post 1908, which the British suppressed with policies of force.

•  Ex- Defence of Indian Rules, The Prevention of seditious meetings Act (1907 AD), The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act (1908 AD).

UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQs)

1. To what extent did the role of the Moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? (2021, 15 marks)
2. Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (2017, 10 Marks)