The Moderate: Meaning and their Works

The Moderates were the one who dominate the affairs of the Indian National Congress from 1885-1905. They were Indians but in reality British in taste, intellect, opinions and morality. They believed in patience, steadiness, conciliation and union. The leader of the first phase of the National Movement were A.O. Hume, W.C. Banerjee, Surendra Nath Banerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Feroze Shah Mehta, Gopalakrishna Gokhale, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Badruddin Tyabji, Justice Ranade, G.Subramanya Aiyar etc. They were called moderates because they appeal through petitions, speeches and articles loudly professing loyalty to the British Raj.

Demands of Moderates

• They plea for the extension of legislative council that leads to the popular control of administration.
• Removal of restriction on freedom of the press and the speech.
• Abolition of arms act which breaches the freedom of people
• Separation of judiciary from executive
• Supporter of Democracy and  Nationalism
• Exploitative relation of British could be exempted.

Achievements of Moderates

• They represented the most aggressive forces of the time which transform the Indian political notion.
• They succeeded to burn the flame of political awareness and leadership among the lower middle, middle class and intelligentsia.
• They spread the idea of democracy and civil liberty
• They sowed the seed of nationalism and laid the foundation of the National Movement.

Conclusion

Hence, we can say that the Moderates were acting like Safety-Valve between the masses and Britisher’s. But over the time their Indian blood rejuvenated and their leadership urges then to overthrow British by an Institutional method.

GK Questions and Answers on History of India