Moderates, Extremists and Revolutionaries in Maharashtra | Maharashtra State PSC (MPSC): Preparation - MPSC (Maharastra) PDF Download

 Page 1


  
 
7 
MODERATES, EXTREMISTS AND 
REVOLUTIONARIES IN MAHARASHTRA 
Unit Structure : 
7.0    Objectives 
7.1    Introduction 
7.2   The Moderate Phase  
7.3   The Extremist Phase  
7.4   Revolutionaries in Maharashtra 
7.5    Summary 
7.6    Questions 
7.7    Additional Reading 
 
7.0 OBJECTIVES 
After the study of this unit, the student will be able to : 
? To grasp the programmes and policies of the Moderates. 
        
   
        
       
       
 INTRODUCTION 
After the foundation of Indian national Congress, there arose different 
forms and factions in the Indian nationalism in Maharashtra. They were as 
moderates, extremists, revolutionaries and Gandhi age. The first three 
forms were represented by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak 
and Vinayak Damodar Sarvarkar respectively whereas due to the 
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, his period came to be known as Gandhi 
age. Although, the Congress leaders had different approaches towards the 
national movement, all they aimed the achievement of independence based 
on the unity of people, which was evolved due to common customs, civil 
institutions and historical traditions. 
 
The memory that their ancestors had wielded political authority over most 
part of the country was still fresh in the minds of the people of 
Maharashtra. Their forefathers had fought for the ‘ Hindvi Swarajya’. This 
Page 2


  
 
7 
MODERATES, EXTREMISTS AND 
REVOLUTIONARIES IN MAHARASHTRA 
Unit Structure : 
7.0    Objectives 
7.1    Introduction 
7.2   The Moderate Phase  
7.3   The Extremist Phase  
7.4   Revolutionaries in Maharashtra 
7.5    Summary 
7.6    Questions 
7.7    Additional Reading 
 
7.0 OBJECTIVES 
After the study of this unit, the student will be able to : 
? To grasp the programmes and policies of the Moderates. 
        
   
        
       
       
 INTRODUCTION 
After the foundation of Indian national Congress, there arose different 
forms and factions in the Indian nationalism in Maharashtra. They were as 
moderates, extremists, revolutionaries and Gandhi age. The first three 
forms were represented by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak 
and Vinayak Damodar Sarvarkar respectively whereas due to the 
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, his period came to be known as Gandhi 
age. Although, the Congress leaders had different approaches towards the 
national movement, all they aimed the achievement of independence based 
on the unity of people, which was evolved due to common customs, civil 
institutions and historical traditions. 
 
The memory that their ancestors had wielded political authority over most 
part of the country was still fresh in the minds of the people of 
Maharashtra. Their forefathers had fought for the ‘ Hindvi Swarajya’. This 
  
 
                    
 
 
motivated leaders like G. K. Gokhale and B. G. Tilak to lead the nation 
towards self government. Their goal was the same but their methods 
differed. Gokhale wanted to pursue constitutional methods. Tilak while 
remaining within the constitutional framework wanted to expose the 
defects in the system of Government and defy oppressive measures. His 
activities inspired revolutionary nationalism among young leaders. We 
shall now discuss the efforts of these men with different political views to 
attain the goal of Swarajya. 
  THE MODERATE PHASE 
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, Phirozshah                  Mehta and 
Mahadev Govind Ranade were the leaders of this Congress. These leaders 
believed in the British liberal traditions, their rule of law and sense of 
judiciary. The moderates wanted reforms first with the help of British as 
freedom of speech, association and press, reforms in the executive and 
legislative councils at the centre and in the provinces. The moderates 
wanted the British stop exploiting Indians and destructing Indian crafts 
and cottage industries. They should stop investing in Indian Railways, 
plantations mines and factories. The British should help the rising. 
Indian capitalists in building Indian industries by way of loans, aid and 
subsidies wherever required. The moderates demanded a reduction in 
heavy taxes, land revenue and free the peasants from the debts of money 
lenders by giving them loans at reasonable interest. To help the Indian 
peasantry, the British should establish land banks and advance loan for 
irrigation. The British should reduce the military expenditure taking place 
on its maintenance in India. The moderates wanted that the British should 
reform and reorganize the civil services, raise the age criteria from 19 to 
21 years and hold examinations simultaneously in India and England. 
 
They believed in the sense of justice and traditions of liberalism of the 
British. They, therefore, undertook petition and appeals to get sanctioned 
their demands. They also undertook public meetings and writing 
extensively in Indian now’s papers, journals and pamphlets. Although, the 
moderates put forth various demands and adopted all legal and 
constitutional strategies to get them passed, they could not succeed in 
getting them passed. Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and other Extremist 
Congress members were very critical about strategies and programme the 
moderates. Although the moderates could not reach to the masses, they 
could keep alive the Indian national movement for a long period. 
 
    
    
GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE (1866-1915) 
 Gopal Krishna Gokhale was  born in Kokanastha Brahman family. He was 
born in ChipIun in Ratnagiri District in 1866. He was educated at 
Kolhapur, Pune and Bombay. He had also the privilege of studying at the 
Elphistone College like  Ranade and Dadabhal Naoroji. He was appointed 
Page 3


  
 
7 
MODERATES, EXTREMISTS AND 
REVOLUTIONARIES IN MAHARASHTRA 
Unit Structure : 
7.0    Objectives 
7.1    Introduction 
7.2   The Moderate Phase  
7.3   The Extremist Phase  
7.4   Revolutionaries in Maharashtra 
7.5    Summary 
7.6    Questions 
7.7    Additional Reading 
 
7.0 OBJECTIVES 
After the study of this unit, the student will be able to : 
? To grasp the programmes and policies of the Moderates. 
        
   
        
       
       
 INTRODUCTION 
After the foundation of Indian national Congress, there arose different 
forms and factions in the Indian nationalism in Maharashtra. They were as 
moderates, extremists, revolutionaries and Gandhi age. The first three 
forms were represented by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak 
and Vinayak Damodar Sarvarkar respectively whereas due to the 
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, his period came to be known as Gandhi 
age. Although, the Congress leaders had different approaches towards the 
national movement, all they aimed the achievement of independence based 
on the unity of people, which was evolved due to common customs, civil 
institutions and historical traditions. 
 
The memory that their ancestors had wielded political authority over most 
part of the country was still fresh in the minds of the people of 
Maharashtra. Their forefathers had fought for the ‘ Hindvi Swarajya’. This 
  
 
                    
 
 
motivated leaders like G. K. Gokhale and B. G. Tilak to lead the nation 
towards self government. Their goal was the same but their methods 
differed. Gokhale wanted to pursue constitutional methods. Tilak while 
remaining within the constitutional framework wanted to expose the 
defects in the system of Government and defy oppressive measures. His 
activities inspired revolutionary nationalism among young leaders. We 
shall now discuss the efforts of these men with different political views to 
attain the goal of Swarajya. 
  THE MODERATE PHASE 
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, Phirozshah                  Mehta and 
Mahadev Govind Ranade were the leaders of this Congress. These leaders 
believed in the British liberal traditions, their rule of law and sense of 
judiciary. The moderates wanted reforms first with the help of British as 
freedom of speech, association and press, reforms in the executive and 
legislative councils at the centre and in the provinces. The moderates 
wanted the British stop exploiting Indians and destructing Indian crafts 
and cottage industries. They should stop investing in Indian Railways, 
plantations mines and factories. The British should help the rising. 
Indian capitalists in building Indian industries by way of loans, aid and 
subsidies wherever required. The moderates demanded a reduction in 
heavy taxes, land revenue and free the peasants from the debts of money 
lenders by giving them loans at reasonable interest. To help the Indian 
peasantry, the British should establish land banks and advance loan for 
irrigation. The British should reduce the military expenditure taking place 
on its maintenance in India. The moderates wanted that the British should 
reform and reorganize the civil services, raise the age criteria from 19 to 
21 years and hold examinations simultaneously in India and England. 
 
They believed in the sense of justice and traditions of liberalism of the 
British. They, therefore, undertook petition and appeals to get sanctioned 
their demands. They also undertook public meetings and writing 
extensively in Indian now’s papers, journals and pamphlets. Although, the 
moderates put forth various demands and adopted all legal and 
constitutional strategies to get them passed, they could not succeed in 
getting them passed. Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and other Extremist 
Congress members were very critical about strategies and programme the 
moderates. Although the moderates could not reach to the masses, they 
could keep alive the Indian national movement for a long period. 
 
    
    
GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE (1866-1915) 
 Gopal Krishna Gokhale was  born in Kokanastha Brahman family. He was 
born in ChipIun in Ratnagiri District in 1866. He was educated at 
Kolhapur, Pune and Bombay. He had also the privilege of studying at the 
Elphistone College like  Ranade and Dadabhal Naoroji. He was appointed 
 
 
 
 
 
Professor at the age of twenty in the Fergusan College, Pune. He was 
elected life member of the Deccan Education Society on June 7, 1886. He 
was welcomed to the Fergusan College by Lokmanya Tilak and the great 
social reformer Agarkar. 
 
The cordial relations between Agarkar and Gokhale were strengthened 
with  the x passage of time but Tilak’s social and political views were too 
strong for Gokhale, the disciple of Ranade to accept. Tilak and GokhaIe 
clashed in the Deccan Society over the policy matters and Tilak resigned 
his life membership of the society in 1890. The hostility between Gokhale 
and Tilak  was to cloud their political and social vision and create 
impediments in the progress towards their identical goal with different 
approaches. 
 
Gokhale regarded Ranade as his Guru (Preceptor) and always sought his 
advise on many important matters political, social and economic. The 
Manifesto of the Deccan Sabha which Ranade had drafted moulded 
Gokhale’s liberalism and moderation in pubic life. 
Extended view of Liberalism 
He had spelled out his ideas of constitutional means for achieving any 
political goal. In one of his speeches he said that all means, are 
constitutional except three. They are :- 
(a) Rebellion against the established authority. 
(b) Lending support to foreign invasion and 
(c) Committing atrocities on the people. 
Moderates 
The first Congress President, W.C.Bannerjee had made a special plea for, 
‘Consolidation of National Unity. The second President Dadabhai Naoroji 
in December 1886 in session at Calcutta set the pattern of moderation and 
restraint. “What is it for which we are now met?’’ he asked. “Is this 
Congress a nursery for sedition and rebellion against the British 
Government ?(Cries of ‘No! No!’) Is it another stone in the foundation of 
the stability of the government? (Cries of ‘Yes! Yes !) 
 
.... Let us speak out like men and proclaim that we are loyal to the 
backbone”. This will give us an outline of the policies and programme 
followed by the Congress till the partition of Bengal. As this concerns the 
national history in general we shall restrict our attention to Maharashtra 
and see what the ‘Prince of Indian Liberalism’ Gopal Krishna Gokhale, 
said and did to promote nationalism in Maharashtra. 
 Gopal Krishna Gokhale and the Moderates 
Ranade, Gokhale’s guru, Dadabhai Naoroji and Phirozeshah Mehta were 
very much impressed by the English Liberal tradition. Gokhale had 
established close contacts with these stalwarts of the nineteenth century. He 
was also in personal contact with English liberals and had imbibed the 
Page 4


  
 
7 
MODERATES, EXTREMISTS AND 
REVOLUTIONARIES IN MAHARASHTRA 
Unit Structure : 
7.0    Objectives 
7.1    Introduction 
7.2   The Moderate Phase  
7.3   The Extremist Phase  
7.4   Revolutionaries in Maharashtra 
7.5    Summary 
7.6    Questions 
7.7    Additional Reading 
 
7.0 OBJECTIVES 
After the study of this unit, the student will be able to : 
? To grasp the programmes and policies of the Moderates. 
        
   
        
       
       
 INTRODUCTION 
After the foundation of Indian national Congress, there arose different 
forms and factions in the Indian nationalism in Maharashtra. They were as 
moderates, extremists, revolutionaries and Gandhi age. The first three 
forms were represented by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak 
and Vinayak Damodar Sarvarkar respectively whereas due to the 
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, his period came to be known as Gandhi 
age. Although, the Congress leaders had different approaches towards the 
national movement, all they aimed the achievement of independence based 
on the unity of people, which was evolved due to common customs, civil 
institutions and historical traditions. 
 
The memory that their ancestors had wielded political authority over most 
part of the country was still fresh in the minds of the people of 
Maharashtra. Their forefathers had fought for the ‘ Hindvi Swarajya’. This 
  
 
                    
 
 
motivated leaders like G. K. Gokhale and B. G. Tilak to lead the nation 
towards self government. Their goal was the same but their methods 
differed. Gokhale wanted to pursue constitutional methods. Tilak while 
remaining within the constitutional framework wanted to expose the 
defects in the system of Government and defy oppressive measures. His 
activities inspired revolutionary nationalism among young leaders. We 
shall now discuss the efforts of these men with different political views to 
attain the goal of Swarajya. 
  THE MODERATE PHASE 
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, Phirozshah                  Mehta and 
Mahadev Govind Ranade were the leaders of this Congress. These leaders 
believed in the British liberal traditions, their rule of law and sense of 
judiciary. The moderates wanted reforms first with the help of British as 
freedom of speech, association and press, reforms in the executive and 
legislative councils at the centre and in the provinces. The moderates 
wanted the British stop exploiting Indians and destructing Indian crafts 
and cottage industries. They should stop investing in Indian Railways, 
plantations mines and factories. The British should help the rising. 
Indian capitalists in building Indian industries by way of loans, aid and 
subsidies wherever required. The moderates demanded a reduction in 
heavy taxes, land revenue and free the peasants from the debts of money 
lenders by giving them loans at reasonable interest. To help the Indian 
peasantry, the British should establish land banks and advance loan for 
irrigation. The British should reduce the military expenditure taking place 
on its maintenance in India. The moderates wanted that the British should 
reform and reorganize the civil services, raise the age criteria from 19 to 
21 years and hold examinations simultaneously in India and England. 
 
They believed in the sense of justice and traditions of liberalism of the 
British. They, therefore, undertook petition and appeals to get sanctioned 
their demands. They also undertook public meetings and writing 
extensively in Indian now’s papers, journals and pamphlets. Although, the 
moderates put forth various demands and adopted all legal and 
constitutional strategies to get them passed, they could not succeed in 
getting them passed. Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and other Extremist 
Congress members were very critical about strategies and programme the 
moderates. Although the moderates could not reach to the masses, they 
could keep alive the Indian national movement for a long period. 
 
    
    
GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE (1866-1915) 
 Gopal Krishna Gokhale was  born in Kokanastha Brahman family. He was 
born in ChipIun in Ratnagiri District in 1866. He was educated at 
Kolhapur, Pune and Bombay. He had also the privilege of studying at the 
Elphistone College like  Ranade and Dadabhal Naoroji. He was appointed 
 
 
 
 
 
Professor at the age of twenty in the Fergusan College, Pune. He was 
elected life member of the Deccan Education Society on June 7, 1886. He 
was welcomed to the Fergusan College by Lokmanya Tilak and the great 
social reformer Agarkar. 
 
The cordial relations between Agarkar and Gokhale were strengthened 
with  the x passage of time but Tilak’s social and political views were too 
strong for Gokhale, the disciple of Ranade to accept. Tilak and GokhaIe 
clashed in the Deccan Society over the policy matters and Tilak resigned 
his life membership of the society in 1890. The hostility between Gokhale 
and Tilak  was to cloud their political and social vision and create 
impediments in the progress towards their identical goal with different 
approaches. 
 
Gokhale regarded Ranade as his Guru (Preceptor) and always sought his 
advise on many important matters political, social and economic. The 
Manifesto of the Deccan Sabha which Ranade had drafted moulded 
Gokhale’s liberalism and moderation in pubic life. 
Extended view of Liberalism 
He had spelled out his ideas of constitutional means for achieving any 
political goal. In one of his speeches he said that all means, are 
constitutional except three. They are :- 
(a) Rebellion against the established authority. 
(b) Lending support to foreign invasion and 
(c) Committing atrocities on the people. 
Moderates 
The first Congress President, W.C.Bannerjee had made a special plea for, 
‘Consolidation of National Unity. The second President Dadabhai Naoroji 
in December 1886 in session at Calcutta set the pattern of moderation and 
restraint. “What is it for which we are now met?’’ he asked. “Is this 
Congress a nursery for sedition and rebellion against the British 
Government ?(Cries of ‘No! No!’) Is it another stone in the foundation of 
the stability of the government? (Cries of ‘Yes! Yes !) 
 
.... Let us speak out like men and proclaim that we are loyal to the 
backbone”. This will give us an outline of the policies and programme 
followed by the Congress till the partition of Bengal. As this concerns the 
national history in general we shall restrict our attention to Maharashtra 
and see what the ‘Prince of Indian Liberalism’ Gopal Krishna Gokhale, 
said and did to promote nationalism in Maharashtra. 
 Gopal Krishna Gokhale and the Moderates 
Ranade, Gokhale’s guru, Dadabhai Naoroji and Phirozeshah Mehta were 
very much impressed by the English Liberal tradition. Gokhale had 
established close contacts with these stalwarts of the nineteenth century. He 
was also in personal contact with English liberals and had imbibed the 
  
 
                       
 
 
humanism and liberalism from the writings of Edmund Burke and John 
Stuart Mill. Gokhale was inspired for social and public life by the 
examples of Lokmanya Tilak and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar. He was 
associated with Mahadev Govind Ranade during his professorship at the 
Ferguson College, Pune. 
 
Gokhale like other liberals believed in agitating for piecemeal reforms. He 
wanted reform in the administration, representative Legislature, separation 
of the executive and judicial function. The programme of the moderates 
who led the Congress was primarily conceived in the interest of the upper 
and middle classes. 
 
The moderates desired gradual refoms of the councils, Indian Civil services, 
local bodies and the Defense forces. They reposed their faith in 
constitutional method. Gokhale laid great stress on representing the 
grievances of the people to the government. He thought that if the British 
rulers were convinced of the justice of their demand, the British had the 
sense of justice and fair play to grant them their legitimate demands. He 
conceived his role as a mediator between the people and the government. 
Gokhale like Ranade had somehow or other uncritically placed his faith in 
the British justice. These moderates believed that the British rule was for 
the good of the Indian people. It was a Divine Providence that the British 
were sent to India at the right time. Indian people should be grateful for 
the blessings of peace and stability of their government. They wished to 
forget the bad dream of 1857 and wanted to focus the attention of the 
people on the English literature, the systems of education and justice; the 
improvements in transport and communications and the rule of law which 
they retarded as blessings of the British Rule. 
 
The test of their legitimate belief in the political wisdom of the rulers 
came when the Indian Councils Act of 1892 was passed. The moderates 
had entertained high hopes about the reform and expansion of the supreme 
and existing Provincial legislative Councils. The first session of the Indian 
National Congress had passed a resolution containing such aspiration as 
admission of a considerable proportion of elected members and the granting 
of right to the members to interpolate the executive in regard to all 
branches of the administration. They were sadly let down by the British 
Rulers when the Indian Councils Act of 1892 was published. There were 
too many limitations on the power and functions of the councils. The 
constitutional methods of Prayers and Petition did not bear any fruit. The 
people’s faith in the sense of justice of the Englishman received a great 
jolt. 
 
A group of young men began to look inwards and explore the glories of 
ancient India. The Hindu revivalist movements began. Gokhale however 
was firm in his belief in the good intentions of the British. His Attitude 
towards the Politics 
 
Gokhale made critical analysis of the political situation in India. He 
criticized British policy of maintaining a ratio of 1 : 2 between British 
Page 5


  
 
7 
MODERATES, EXTREMISTS AND 
REVOLUTIONARIES IN MAHARASHTRA 
Unit Structure : 
7.0    Objectives 
7.1    Introduction 
7.2   The Moderate Phase  
7.3   The Extremist Phase  
7.4   Revolutionaries in Maharashtra 
7.5    Summary 
7.6    Questions 
7.7    Additional Reading 
 
7.0 OBJECTIVES 
After the study of this unit, the student will be able to : 
? To grasp the programmes and policies of the Moderates. 
        
   
        
       
       
 INTRODUCTION 
After the foundation of Indian national Congress, there arose different 
forms and factions in the Indian nationalism in Maharashtra. They were as 
moderates, extremists, revolutionaries and Gandhi age. The first three 
forms were represented by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak 
and Vinayak Damodar Sarvarkar respectively whereas due to the 
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, his period came to be known as Gandhi 
age. Although, the Congress leaders had different approaches towards the 
national movement, all they aimed the achievement of independence based 
on the unity of people, which was evolved due to common customs, civil 
institutions and historical traditions. 
 
The memory that their ancestors had wielded political authority over most 
part of the country was still fresh in the minds of the people of 
Maharashtra. Their forefathers had fought for the ‘ Hindvi Swarajya’. This 
  
 
                    
 
 
motivated leaders like G. K. Gokhale and B. G. Tilak to lead the nation 
towards self government. Their goal was the same but their methods 
differed. Gokhale wanted to pursue constitutional methods. Tilak while 
remaining within the constitutional framework wanted to expose the 
defects in the system of Government and defy oppressive measures. His 
activities inspired revolutionary nationalism among young leaders. We 
shall now discuss the efforts of these men with different political views to 
attain the goal of Swarajya. 
  THE MODERATE PHASE 
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, Phirozshah                  Mehta and 
Mahadev Govind Ranade were the leaders of this Congress. These leaders 
believed in the British liberal traditions, their rule of law and sense of 
judiciary. The moderates wanted reforms first with the help of British as 
freedom of speech, association and press, reforms in the executive and 
legislative councils at the centre and in the provinces. The moderates 
wanted the British stop exploiting Indians and destructing Indian crafts 
and cottage industries. They should stop investing in Indian Railways, 
plantations mines and factories. The British should help the rising. 
Indian capitalists in building Indian industries by way of loans, aid and 
subsidies wherever required. The moderates demanded a reduction in 
heavy taxes, land revenue and free the peasants from the debts of money 
lenders by giving them loans at reasonable interest. To help the Indian 
peasantry, the British should establish land banks and advance loan for 
irrigation. The British should reduce the military expenditure taking place 
on its maintenance in India. The moderates wanted that the British should 
reform and reorganize the civil services, raise the age criteria from 19 to 
21 years and hold examinations simultaneously in India and England. 
 
They believed in the sense of justice and traditions of liberalism of the 
British. They, therefore, undertook petition and appeals to get sanctioned 
their demands. They also undertook public meetings and writing 
extensively in Indian now’s papers, journals and pamphlets. Although, the 
moderates put forth various demands and adopted all legal and 
constitutional strategies to get them passed, they could not succeed in 
getting them passed. Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and other Extremist 
Congress members were very critical about strategies and programme the 
moderates. Although the moderates could not reach to the masses, they 
could keep alive the Indian national movement for a long period. 
 
    
    
GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE (1866-1915) 
 Gopal Krishna Gokhale was  born in Kokanastha Brahman family. He was 
born in ChipIun in Ratnagiri District in 1866. He was educated at 
Kolhapur, Pune and Bombay. He had also the privilege of studying at the 
Elphistone College like  Ranade and Dadabhal Naoroji. He was appointed 
 
 
 
 
 
Professor at the age of twenty in the Fergusan College, Pune. He was 
elected life member of the Deccan Education Society on June 7, 1886. He 
was welcomed to the Fergusan College by Lokmanya Tilak and the great 
social reformer Agarkar. 
 
The cordial relations between Agarkar and Gokhale were strengthened 
with  the x passage of time but Tilak’s social and political views were too 
strong for Gokhale, the disciple of Ranade to accept. Tilak and GokhaIe 
clashed in the Deccan Society over the policy matters and Tilak resigned 
his life membership of the society in 1890. The hostility between Gokhale 
and Tilak  was to cloud their political and social vision and create 
impediments in the progress towards their identical goal with different 
approaches. 
 
Gokhale regarded Ranade as his Guru (Preceptor) and always sought his 
advise on many important matters political, social and economic. The 
Manifesto of the Deccan Sabha which Ranade had drafted moulded 
Gokhale’s liberalism and moderation in pubic life. 
Extended view of Liberalism 
He had spelled out his ideas of constitutional means for achieving any 
political goal. In one of his speeches he said that all means, are 
constitutional except three. They are :- 
(a) Rebellion against the established authority. 
(b) Lending support to foreign invasion and 
(c) Committing atrocities on the people. 
Moderates 
The first Congress President, W.C.Bannerjee had made a special plea for, 
‘Consolidation of National Unity. The second President Dadabhai Naoroji 
in December 1886 in session at Calcutta set the pattern of moderation and 
restraint. “What is it for which we are now met?’’ he asked. “Is this 
Congress a nursery for sedition and rebellion against the British 
Government ?(Cries of ‘No! No!’) Is it another stone in the foundation of 
the stability of the government? (Cries of ‘Yes! Yes !) 
 
.... Let us speak out like men and proclaim that we are loyal to the 
backbone”. This will give us an outline of the policies and programme 
followed by the Congress till the partition of Bengal. As this concerns the 
national history in general we shall restrict our attention to Maharashtra 
and see what the ‘Prince of Indian Liberalism’ Gopal Krishna Gokhale, 
said and did to promote nationalism in Maharashtra. 
 Gopal Krishna Gokhale and the Moderates 
Ranade, Gokhale’s guru, Dadabhai Naoroji and Phirozeshah Mehta were 
very much impressed by the English Liberal tradition. Gokhale had 
established close contacts with these stalwarts of the nineteenth century. He 
was also in personal contact with English liberals and had imbibed the 
  
 
                       
 
 
humanism and liberalism from the writings of Edmund Burke and John 
Stuart Mill. Gokhale was inspired for social and public life by the 
examples of Lokmanya Tilak and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar. He was 
associated with Mahadev Govind Ranade during his professorship at the 
Ferguson College, Pune. 
 
Gokhale like other liberals believed in agitating for piecemeal reforms. He 
wanted reform in the administration, representative Legislature, separation 
of the executive and judicial function. The programme of the moderates 
who led the Congress was primarily conceived in the interest of the upper 
and middle classes. 
 
The moderates desired gradual refoms of the councils, Indian Civil services, 
local bodies and the Defense forces. They reposed their faith in 
constitutional method. Gokhale laid great stress on representing the 
grievances of the people to the government. He thought that if the British 
rulers were convinced of the justice of their demand, the British had the 
sense of justice and fair play to grant them their legitimate demands. He 
conceived his role as a mediator between the people and the government. 
Gokhale like Ranade had somehow or other uncritically placed his faith in 
the British justice. These moderates believed that the British rule was for 
the good of the Indian people. It was a Divine Providence that the British 
were sent to India at the right time. Indian people should be grateful for 
the blessings of peace and stability of their government. They wished to 
forget the bad dream of 1857 and wanted to focus the attention of the 
people on the English literature, the systems of education and justice; the 
improvements in transport and communications and the rule of law which 
they retarded as blessings of the British Rule. 
 
The test of their legitimate belief in the political wisdom of the rulers 
came when the Indian Councils Act of 1892 was passed. The moderates 
had entertained high hopes about the reform and expansion of the supreme 
and existing Provincial legislative Councils. The first session of the Indian 
National Congress had passed a resolution containing such aspiration as 
admission of a considerable proportion of elected members and the granting 
of right to the members to interpolate the executive in regard to all 
branches of the administration. They were sadly let down by the British 
Rulers when the Indian Councils Act of 1892 was published. There were 
too many limitations on the power and functions of the councils. The 
constitutional methods of Prayers and Petition did not bear any fruit. The 
people’s faith in the sense of justice of the Englishman received a great 
jolt. 
 
A group of young men began to look inwards and explore the glories of 
ancient India. The Hindu revivalist movements began. Gokhale however 
was firm in his belief in the good intentions of the British. His Attitude 
towards the Politics 
 
Gokhale made critical analysis of the political situation in India. He 
criticized British policy of maintaining a ratio of 1 : 2 between British 
 
 
 
 
 
forces and Indian forces. Gokhale entered the Bombay Legislative 
Council. During his tenure he worked hard to solve the problem of famine, 
land revenue and agricultural discontent. He also acted as a member of 
Pune Municipal Corporation. He introduced a practice of printing the 
rule which were passed in meeting. He reached the peak of his career 
when he was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1981. His 
entrance in the council opened a new chapter in his life. His budgetary 
analysis earned great praise even from opponents. He took pride in the 
service of the common people. He always pointed out that the expenditure 
on welfare schemes would make people to resist the famines. 
Gokhale And The Indian Expenditure Commission 
A Royal Commission to inquire into the India expenditure was appointed 
on May 24, 1895 under the chairmanship of Lord Welby. The commission 
began its enquiries about financial administration in 1896. In that year 
monsoon failed in the Deccan which resulted in a serious famine. The 
Deccan Sabha was founded by Ranade during that year to undertake the 
relief and other social work and render social service as the Sarvajanik 
Sabha had done before. 
 
The Welby commission consisted of all seasoned statesman and there were 
Wedderburn and Caine with Dadabhai Naoroji to present the Indian point 
of view. The witnesses were to be called from India to give evidence before 
the commission and as Ranade could not be released by the Bombay 
Govemment, Gokhale was chosen in his place to go to England with 
Wachha. This was a great breakthrough for Gokhale. Wachha held Gokhale 
in high esteem and was happy that Gokhale came forward to shoulder the 
responsibility. Ranade coached Gokhale rigorously for weeks to show him 
the nuances of Indian finance. Ranade gave a letter of introduction to 
Wedderburn asking him to guide the young man on the right lines. 
Gokhale presented the Indian point of view with great authority and 
confidence. Wedderburn was frank enough to praise the young man in 
these words ‘‘Your evidence will be much the best on our side. Let me 
congratulate you on the signal service which you have rendered to your 
country. Our minority report will be based practically on your evidence’’. 
The Plague And Famine Administration 1897 
In 1896 there was a famine, and in the next year bubonic plague broke out 
in Bombay and Pune. Schools and businesses were, closed and the 
Government appointed W.C. Rand as plague Commissioner for Pune. He 
was keen on enforcing health regulations and had ordered police to inspect 
homes harboring victims. All those who were infected by the disease were 
removed to the quarantine hospitals. The authorities also sent a band of 
officials to take measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic. There were 
protest by the local people regarding the quarantine hospitals as death 
hospitals. The rumours began to spread that the police were violating the 
sanctity of women’s quarters. A series of. memorials were sent to the 
Bombay Government under the leadership of Lokmanya Tilak. They 
denounced police oppression.