Moderate leaders
|
Indian National Congress (Early Nationalists 1885–1905)
|
|
|---|---|
| Leader |
W.C. Banerjee Rash Behari Ghosh Surendranath Banerjee R. C. Dutt Dadabhai Naoroji Gopal Krishna Gokhale Pherozeshah Mehta Justice Ranade P. R. Naidu S. Subramania Iyer Ananda Charlu Madan Mohan Malaviya A.O. Hume William Wedderburn |
| Founder | A.O. Hume |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Dissolved | 1905 |
| Preceded by | The Landholders' society |
| Succeeded by | Assertive Nationalist (Extremist) |
| Newspaper | Dharma Marg Darshak (magazine) |
| Ideology | Regain Self-government without violation |
The Early Nationalists, also known as the Moderates, were a group of political leaders in India active between 1885 and 1905. Their emergence marked the beginning of the organised national movement in India. With members of the group drawn from educated middle-class professionals including lawyers, teachers and government officials, many of them were educated in England. They have become known as "Early Nationalists" because they believed in demanding reforms while adopting constitutional and peaceful means to achieve their aims. The Early Nationalists had full faith in the British sense of justice, fair play, honesty, and integrity while they believed that British rule was a boon for India. The Early Nationalists were staunch believers in open-minded and moderate politics.
Their successors, the "Assertives", existed from 1905 to 1919 and were followed by nationalists of the Gandhian era, which existed from 1919 until Indian Independence in 1947.
Focusing on demands for reform, the Early Nationalists adopted a constitutional and peaceful approach to achieve their objectives. They remained friendly towards the then British rulers but believed that Indians should have a proper and legitimate role in the government of the country. Although they asked for constitutional and other reforms within the framework of British rule, they had full faith in that nation's sense of justice and fair play. They further believed that continuation of the British connection with India was in the interests of both countries. At an early stage, the nationalists considered their association with England an advantage. British rule had done much good by removing various cultural anomalies including the caste system and the abolition of the practice of sati or "widow sacrifice" that had previously pervaded Indian society. Influenced by western thought, culture, education, literature and history, the demands of the early nationalists were not considered extreme but of a relatively moderate nature.
The Early Nationalists believed in patience and conciliation rather than confrontation, adopting orderly progress and constitutional means to realise their aims. To educate the people, to arouse political consciousness, and to create powerful public opinion in favour of their demands they organised annual sessions. Processions and meetings were held, speeches delivered and discussions held on various economic, social and political questions. Following these discussions, resolutions were adopted. They also drafted petitions and memorandums before submitting them to the government. The Early Nationalists wanted to convey their feelings to the government, so as to gradually bring the authorities around to their viewpoint. To influence the British government and to enlighten the British public and its political leaders, the Early Nationalists sent deputations of leading Indian leaders to England. In 1889, a British Committee of the Indian National Congress was founded and followed by a journal called India started by the Committee in 1890.
...
Wikipedia