Campaign for General Administrative Reforms by Indian Moderates (1885-1905)

The period between 1885 and 1905, known as the phase of “Moderate Nationalism“ within the Indian National Congress (INC), was marked by demands for various administrative reforms. These demands were based on the belief that a series of reforms within the existing British administrative framework could gradually bring about the conditions for self-governance and improve the lives of millions of Indians.

Need for Administrative Reforms

Context: The early nationalists believed in the possibility of reform within the British imperial system. They saw the British public and authorities as potentially rational, ethical, and open to argument and persuasion. 

• They hoped for changes that would modernize the administration, making it more responsive and accountable to the people it governed.
• Main Issues: The administration was foreign in its composition and character, with very few Indians in higher ranks, leading to decisions often being disconnected from the realities and needs of the larger Indian populace. Additionally, rampant corruption, inefficiency, and racial discrimination plagued the system.

Indianization of the Civil Services

Key Proponents: Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, and others.

• Demands: The nationalists pressed for a more significant representation of Indians in the Indian Civil Service (ICS). 
• They criticized the recruitment process in Britain, which had an inherent racial bias and was logistically and financially impossible for many qualified Indians.
• Proposed Reforms: They sought the simultaneous holding of the ICS examinations in India and Britain, a quota system for Indian candidates, and the appointment of more Indians to high offices.

Reforms in the Police and Army

Concerns: The police force was seen as an oppressive tool in the hands of the administration, known for its brutality and corruption. Simultaneously, Indians had minimal representation in the higher echelons of the army.

• Proposed Reforms: Nationalists demanded better training, accountability, and Indianization of the police force, alongside higher appointments for Indians in the military, hoping it would make these entities more sympathetic to Indian citizens.

Judicial Reforms

• Issues Highlighted: The judiciary’s shortcomings were a significant concern, with problems such as the high cost of legal proceedings, the lengthy duration of trials, the complexity of laws, and racial bias in judgments.
• Demands: Moderates called for the separation of the judiciary from the executive, the appointment of more Indian judges, and provision of affordable and accessible legal services to ensure justice was within every citizen’s reach.

Financial Decentralisation

• Financial Reality of the Time: Moderates like R.C. Dutt and Dadabhai Naoroji highlighted the centralization of financial powers with British officials, leading to regional neglect, financial burdens, and economic drain from India.
• Demands: Early nationalists advocated for greater financial powers for provincial governments and local bodies, promoting more balanced and region-specific development.

Educational Reforms

• Observations: Leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade pointed out the shortcomings in the colonial education system, including the emphasis on rote learning, neglect of women’s education, and inadequate focus on technical and vocational training.
• Demands: They pressed for an expanded and improved educational system, under Indian control, to meet the country’s socio-economic needs.

Public Services Delivery and Accountability

• Goal: The moderates sought to make the administration more accountable and responsive to the people’s needs.
• Strategies: They urged for the introduction of parliamentary control over the administration, including budgetary powers and the right to ask interpellation questions, seeking transparent governance.

Better Treatment for Indians labourers Abroad

• Moderates also made a strong demand for better treatment for Indian labourers abroad (i.e., in other British colonies), where they were routinely subjected to cruel oppression and racial discrimination. 

Conclusion

While the early nationalists’ approach was marked by constitutionalism, petitions, and public debates, their impact should not be underestimated. Their campaigns laid the foundation for more radical demands in the future. They were instrumental in creating a public discourse around self-governance and civil rights, gradually mobilizing the Indian populace towards the idea of independence. Though many of their immediate demands were not met, their persistent advocacy brought several issues to the fore, significantly influencing policies and reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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