The Moderate leaders came from the educated middle class, including lawyers, teachers, and journalists, many of whom were educated in England. They believed in justice, fair play, and honesty of the British administration.
Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917)
- Known as the "Grand Old Man of India."
- Founding member of the INC.
- Served as INC President three times – 1886, 1893, and 1906.
- First Indian to become a member of the British House of Commons.
- Formulated the famous "Drain of Wealth Theory."
Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866–1915)
- Senior leader of the INC.
- Known as the "Political Guru of Mahatma Gandhi."
- Believed in social reform and constitutional methods.
- Founded the Servants of India Society in 1905 to train national workers.
Pherozeshah Mehta (1845–1915)
- Prominent lawyer and founding member of the INC.
- Strong advocate of civil rights.
- Known for powerful oratory and commitment to constitutionalism.
Other Important Moderate Leaders:
Surendranath Banerjee
- Founder of the Indian Association (1876), which helped prepare the ground for the INC.
- Strong advocate of civil service reforms and constitutional agitation.
M.G. Ranade (Mahadev Govind Ranade)
- Prominent social reformer and founding member of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha.
- Advocated economic reforms and industrial development in India.
R.C. Dutt (Romesh Chunder Dutt)
- Former ICS officer who later became an economic historian.
- Criticized British land revenue policies and economic exploitation of India.
W.C. Bonnerjee (Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee)
- First President of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
- Played a key role in organizing the early sessions of the INC.
The Moderates had full faith in the British sense of justice and believed that if their demands were placed logically, the British government would eventually concede them. Their approach was peaceful and constitutional.
Main Methods Adopted by the Moderates:
- Prayer and Petition: They drafted petitions and memorandums outlining grievances and demands, which were submitted to the British government for redress.
- Resolutions: Annual sessions of the INC were organized where issues were debated, and formal resolutions were passed and forwarded to the government.
- Public Meetings and Press: Public meetings and speeches were conducted to create political awareness. Newspapers and journals were used to criticize government policies and educate the public.
- Deputations to England: Delegations of Indian leaders were sent to England to influence British public opinion and parliamentarians. In 1889, the British Committee of the Indian National Congress was formed in London, which started a journal titled India.
The Moderates raised a wide range of political, administrative, and economic demands.
A. The Indian Councils Act of 1892
This was a major achievement of the Moderate phase, fulfilling one of their key demands for legislative reform.
Background:
- The INC demanded expansion of legislative councils.
- They wanted greater Indian representation.
- They demanded the principle of election instead of nomination.
Provisions of the Act:
- Increased the number of additional (non-official) members in Central and Provincial Legislative Councils.
- Introduced the principle of representation. Members were recommended by district boards, universities, municipalities, zamindars, and chambers of commerce.
- Allowed members to ask questions on the budget and matters of public interest (no supplementary questions allowed).
Significance:
- First step toward representative government in modern India.
- Did not establish responsible government or true democracy.
- Slow pace of reforms caused dissatisfaction, leading to the rise of assertive nationalism.
B. The Theory of "Drain of Wealth" – Dadabhai Naoroji
The most powerful economic critique of British imperialism developed during the Moderate phase.
Concept:
The "Drain of Wealth" referred to the continuous transfer of India's wealth to England without adequate economic or material return. Dadabhai Naoroji first systematically presented this idea in his 1867 paper, "England's Debt to India".
How the Drain Occurred:
- Home Charges: Expenses incurred in Britain on behalf of India (army charges, interest on public debt, Secretary of State's office expenses, pensions).
- Salaries and Pensions: British officials sent a large portion of their income back to Britain.
- Profits of British Capitalists: Profits from plantations, railways, banking, and industries were repatriated to Britain.
Dadabhai Naoroji's Six Factors Causing the Drain:
- India was ruled by foreigners.
- India did not attract immigrant labor and capital like other colonies.
- India bore the full cost of British civil administration and army.
- India paid for British wars and territorial expansion.
- India followed exploitative free trade policies.
- Foreign officials earned in India but remitted savings abroad.
Impact of the Drain Theory:
- Exposed the exploitative nature of British rule.
- Proved that India's poverty was man-made.
- United Indians across regions through a common economic grievance.
- Laid the foundation for later mass nationalist movements.
| Aspect | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Period | 1885–1905 |
| Key Leaders | Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee |
| Core Methods | Constitutional means: Prayer, Petition, Resolution, and Deputations |
| Key Political Reform | Indian Councils Act of 1892 – Increased council size and introduced the principle of representation |
| Key Economic Critique | Drain of Wealth Theory by Dadabhai Naoroji – Exposed British economic exploitation |
| Legacy | Created national awakening, trained political leadership, and laid foundation for militant nationalism |