Answer

Introduction

The Moderates in the Indian National Congress (1885–1905) sought gradual reforms through constitutional methods such as petitions, dialogues, and appeals to British justice. Their emphasis on dialogue aimed to create a political awakening and lay a foundation for organized national resistance against colonial rule.

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Role of Moderates in Preparing the Base for the Wider Freedom Movement

• Organizational Foundations: The formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 provided a crucial national platform, fostering political awareness and uniting diverse voices for nationalist discourse.
• Political Awakening: Moderates actively utilized newspapers and Congress meetings to educate people and promote nationalist ideas, increasing political awareness across India.
  Eg: Dadabhai Naoroji’s “Drain Theory” highlighted economic exploitation, awakening public consciousness.
• Moderate Tactics: Moderates used peaceful protests and petitions to involve educated Indians, broadening political awareness beyond elites.
  Eg: 1895 Ilbert Bill petitions mobilized wider public support.
• Expansion of Nationalist Ideas: Moderates highlighted racial discrimination and civil rights, raising public awareness and uniting diverse groups against colonial injustice.
  Eg: Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s campaigns advocating reforms in the Indian Civil Service.
  Eg: Gokhale’s civil service reform campaigns connected educated Indians’ career aspirations with broader anti-colonial political injustice.
• Training Ground for Leaders: The Moderates trained future leaders who later became radicals or led mass movements, strengthening the freedom struggle.
  Eg: Early political involvement of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal in Moderate politics.

Limitations of moderates

• Restricted Social Base: The Moderate leaders primarily represented the interests of Western-educated middle classes and failed to reach the rural masses, workers, or peasants. Their meetings were confined to urban centers and urban elites.
  Eg: Congress sessions till 1905 had minimal participation from peasants or vernacular-speaking populations.
• Excessive Faith in British Benevolence: Moderates believed that the British would grant reforms if politely convinced through petitions and speeches. This approach ignored the exploitative nature of colonial rule and underestimated British resistance to genuine power sharing.
  Eg: Despite repeated demands for more Indians in the Indian Civil Services, the British continued to impose discriminatory barriers like the age limit and exams in London.
• Failure to Achieve Tangible Reforms: Their methods led to few concrete outcomes, and the British often dismissed their resolutions as harmless expressions. This disillusioned many younger nationalists and led to the rise of the Extremist faction.
  Eg: The British response to repeated economic and administrative grievances like poverty due to the ‘Drain of Wealth’ was dismissive, prompting leaders like Tilak to adopt more assertive means.
• Neglect of Mass Mobilization and Vernacular Communication: Moderates did not prioritize organizing public opinion through local languages or engaging large social groups. This limited nationalist reach and slowed down the formation of a mass-based movement.
  Eg: Unlike later leaders like Gandhi, the Moderates rarely used local dialects or symbols familiar to the common people

Conclusion 

While the Moderates laid the initial groundwork, the base for the wider freedom movement was further strengthened by later developments. The rise of Extremist nationalism, Gandhian mass mobilisation, socialist ideas, and Dalit assertion added mass participation and ideological diversity. Together, these phases transformed the freedom movement into a truly broad-based and inclusive national struggle.

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