Question

Answer the following question in about eight to ten sentences:
Explain the role of Moderates in the freedom struggle of India.

Answer 1

• Traditionally, the first twenty years of the Indian National Congress is called as the Age of Moderates. W.C Banerjee, M.G.Ranade, Surendranatha Banerjee, Dadabai Navoroji, Gopala Krishna Gokhale were the major moderate leaders.
• Moderates had faith in the rule of British and Judiciary. They used to table their demands with the framework of the constitution through prayers and requests. They tried to bring in political awareness among the people.
• They organized public meetings, discussed various burning issues and submitted memorandums to the government.
• They submitted memorandums demanding cutting down of military expenditure, development of Indian industries, providing good education and programmes for poverty alleviation.
  
• Moderates were the first to study the ill effects of the British rule on India. They explained the drain of resources of India into England through scientific statistics and called it “Drain Theory’. By increasing the import and reducing the export, the British facilitated the draining out of precious Indian resources into India. Just like Dadabai Navoroji, R.C Datt too published books explaining the draining of Indian resources into England.