In the first twenty years of its existence, the Congress was “moderate” in its objectives and methods. The Congress leaders of this period were called the Moderates. They proposed to struggle against British rule in non-violent manner which the radicals called “politics of petitions”.

The Moderates were a group of Indian leaders who emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They formed the moderate faction within the Indian National Congress, a political organization founded in 1885 to advocate for Indian self-rule and oppose British colonial rule. The Moderates aimed for gradual and constitutional reforms rather than a radical overthrow of British rule.



The Moderates proposed several strategies to challenge British rule in India:

1. Political Agitation: The Moderates believed in using political agitation as a means to achieve their objectives. They organized protests, public meetings, and demonstrations to highlight the grievances of the Indian people and demand political reforms.

2. Education and Awareness: The Moderates emphasized the importance of education and raising awareness among the masses. They believed that a well-informed and educated population would be better equipped to understand and fight against British oppression.

3. Legislative Reforms: The Moderates sought to bring about changes through legislative means. They aimed to work within the British administrative system and push for reforms such as increased representation for Indians in the legislative bodies, separation of powers, and the rule of law.

4. Public Opinion and Press: The Moderates utilized the power of public opinion and the press to rally support for their cause. They established newspapers and journals to disseminate nationalist ideas, criticize British policies, and mobilize public sentiment against colonial rule.

5. Constitutional Demands: The Moderates presented a series of constitutional demands to the British government, which included the expansion of Indian representation in the legislative councils, separation of the judiciary from the executive, and the repeal of repressive laws.

6. Cooperation with British Liberals: The Moderates sought to build alliances and collaborate with sympathetic British politicians and liberals who were willing to support Indian demands for self-rule. They believed that by winning over influential British voices, they could exert pressure on the colonial administration.



In summary, the Moderates were a group of Indian leaders who advocated for gradual and constitutional reforms to challenge British rule. They proposed strategies such as political agitation, education, legislative reforms, public opinion, constitutional demands, and cooperation with sympathetic British politicians. Although their methods were more moderate compared to later radical nationalist movements, the Moderates played a crucial role in laying the foundation for India's struggle for independence.

A political moderate is a person in the center category of the left–right political spectrum...


The Moderates had total faith in the British sense of justice and fair play.They were loyal to the British...

They were totally non-violent...

They were young and more radical compared to the previous generation who were too narrow minded.

They were democratic in thought and even structured
INC on democratic lines.

They were assimilatory, secular, egalitarian and tolerant. Yet they were not always forthright enough to rise above their sectarian interests despite claiming to do so.

They were the western educated intelligentsia of India. They were journalists. They belonged to upper middle class and were elitist.

They had no faith in efficacy of masses. Their social support base was urban, yet their issues and activities were pan-Indian in character and were sympathetic towards peasants....