Evaluation of the Early Nationalists
Modern History › Beginning of Modern Nationalism and the Moderate Phase · Topic 13.8
The early nationalists awakened national sentiment, trained people in politics, exposed the exploitative nature of colonial rule and laid the base for a mass movement, but had a narrow social base because they lacked faith in the masses. The government turned hostile to the Congress from the start, branding it seditious and following a divide-and-rule policy.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Beginning of Modern Nationalism and the Moderate Phase
At a Glance
- What it is An assessment of the Moderate phase, 1885-1905
- Strengths National awakening, political training, exposure of colonial rule
- Weakness Narrow base; no faith in the masses
- Government Hostile from the start; divide and rule
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Beginning of Modern Nationalism and the Moderate Phase
Where Does It Fit?
This is the eighth and last topic of the category on the beginning of modern nationalism and the Moderate phase. The earlier topics told the background, founding, methods and contributions of the early nationalists. This topic assesses them. The next category covers the era of militant nationalism. Previous topic: Indian Councils Act, 1892: partial concession Administrative Indianisation,…">Constitutional Reforms, Administrative Reforms and Civil Rights Campaigns.
What Did the Early Nationalists Achieve?
The early nationalists did a great deal to awaken national sentiment, even though they could not draw the masses to them.
| Achievement or limit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Progressive forces | They represented the most progressive forces of the time |
| National awakening | Created a wide national awakening of Indians with common interests, the need to rally around a common programme against a common enemy and, above all, the feeling of belonging to one nation |
| Political training | Trained people in political work and popularised modern ideas |
| Exposed colonialism | Exposed the exploitative character of colonial rule and undermined its moral foundations |
| Realism | Political work based on hard realities, not on shallow sentiment or religion |
| Basic truth | Established the political truth that India should be ruled in the interest of Indians |
| Base for the future | Created a solid base for a more vigorous, militant, mass-based national movement |
| Limit | Failed to widen their democratic base and the scope of their demands |
Why Did the Masses Play a Passive Role?
The Moderate phase had a narrow social base, and the masses played a passive role. The early nationalists lacked political faith in the masses. They felt that there were numerous divisions and sub-divisions in Indian society and that the masses were generally ignorant and conservative. The Moderates felt that these heterogeneous elements had first to be welded into a nation before they entered the political sphere. They failed to realise that it was only during a freedom struggle, and with political participation, that diverse elements could come together.
Because of the lack of mass participation, the Moderates could not take militant positions against the authorities, and the later nationalists differed from them on precisely this point. Still, the early nationalists represented the emerging Indian nation against colonial interests. The narrow base is also noted in Constitutional Reforms, Administrative Reforms and Civil Rights Campaigns.
What Did Historians and Leaders Say?
| Voice | View |
|---|---|
| Pattabhi Sitaramayya | The Moderates cannot be blamed for their attitude as pioneers, as one cannot blame the foundation of a building; they made possible every later storey, from colonial self-government to complete independence |
| Bipan Chandra | The period from 1858 to 1905 was the seed time of Indian nationalism, and the early nationalists sowed the seeds well and deep |
| Lala Lajpat Rai | At best an opportunist movement, which opened opportunities for treachery and hypocrisy and let some trade in the name of patriotism |
The three views differ because they ask different questions. Sitaramayya and Bipan Chandra look at what the Moderates made possible, while Lajpat Rai, an Extremist, looks at what they failed to attempt.
How Did the Government Treat the Congress?
The British Indian government was hostile to the Congress from the beginning, despite its moderate methods and its emphasis on loyalty to the Crown. The official attitude stiffened further after 1887, when the government failed to persuade the Congress to confine itself to social issues, as the Congress was becoming increasingly critical of colonial rule. The government now resorted to open condemnation of the Congress, calling nationalists seditious brahmins and disloyal babus. Dufferin called the Congress a factory of sedition. Curzon declared in 1900 that the Congress was tottering to its fall and that one of his great ambitions in India was to assist it to a peaceful demise.
Later the government adopted a divide-and-rule policy. Officials encouraged reactionary elements such as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Raja Shiv Prasad Singh of Benaras to organise the United Indian Patriotic Association to counter Congress propaganda. The government also tried to divide nationalists on the basis of religion, and, through a policy of carrot and stick, pitted the Moderates against the Extremists. But it failed to check the rising tide of nationalism. The Deoband school’s attitude to the same organisations is told in The Deoband School (Darul Uloom).
As an analytical point, a fair assessment sees the Moderates as pioneers whose methods suited the conditions, but whose limits were real. The government’s hostility despite their loyalty also shows why the petition method could not continue to satisfy younger nationalists, whose story begins in Why Militant Nationalism Grew.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Stock Mains question The evaluation of the Moderates appears in most papers
- Quotes Sitaramayya, Bipan Chandra and Lajpat Rai are commonly cited
- Link to the militant phase The limits of the Moderates lead to the next phase
What Came Next?
The next category begins with the era of militant nationalism. Next topic: Why Militant Nationalism Grew.
Key People and Terms
- Seed time Bipan Chandra’s term for 1858-1905
- Heterogeneous elements The diverse groups of Indian society
- Factory of sedition Dufferin’s description of the Congress
- United Indian Patriotic Association The body organised to counter Congress propaganda
- Carrot and stick A policy of rewards and punishments
- Passive role Limited participation of the masses
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Strength: national awakening, political training, exposure of colonial exploitation.
- Weakness: narrow base; no faith in the masses.
- Sitaramayya: foundation of the building; Bipan Chandra: seed time; Lajpat Rai: opportunist.
- Official hostility stiffened after 1887; Dufferin: factory of sedition.
- United Indian Patriotic Association: Sir Syed and Raja Shiv Prasad.
Do Not Confuse With
- Sitaramayya and Lajpat Rai Sitaramayya praised the foundation; Lajpat Rai called the movement opportunist
- Dufferin and Curzon Dufferin: factory of sedition; Curzon: tottering to its fall, 1900
- Passive role and no role The masses played a passive, not absent, role
Memory Hook
Seed time sown well; the masses left out; the government hostile.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for a balanced assessment of the Moderates. These points add depth.
- Pioneers They created a national awakening and a base for later mass movements
- Limits Narrow base and passive masses
- Official response Hostility and divide and rule
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Critically evaluate the contribution of the early nationalists to the national movement.”
How to Answer
- Strengths Awakening, training, exposure of colonialism.
- Weaknesses Narrow base, no faith in the masses.
- Views Sitaramayya, Bipan Chandra, Lajpat Rai.
- Conclude A balanced verdict.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the achievements of the early nationalists?
They awakened national sentiment, trained people in political work, popularised modern ideas, exposed the exploitative nature of colonial rule, established that India should be ruled in the interest of Indians, and created a solid base for a more militant mass movement.
What were the weaknesses of the Moderate phase?
The Moderates failed to widen their democratic base and demands. Their social base was narrow, they lacked political faith in the masses, who they thought ignorant and divided, so the masses played a passive role.
Why did the Moderates not involve the masses?
They felt Indian society had numerous divisions and that the masses were ignorant and conservative, so heterogeneous elements had first to be welded into a nation. They failed to see that unity came through participation in the freedom struggle.
What did Bipan Chandra say about the early nationalists?
Bipan Chandra said the period from 1858 to 1905 was the seed time of Indian nationalism, and that the early nationalists sowed the seeds well and deep, laying the basis for the later mass movement.
What was the attitude of the British government to the early Congress?
The government was hostile from the start despite the Congress's moderate methods and loyalty. After 1887 it condemned nationalists as seditious, Dufferin called the Congress a factory of sedition, and later the government followed a divide-and-rule policy.
What was the United Indian Patriotic Association?
The United Indian Patriotic Association was organised by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Raja Shiv Prasad Singh of Benaras, encouraged by officials, to counter Congress propaganda. It was part of the government's divide-and-rule policy towards the Congress.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Pattabhi Sitaramayya compared the Moderates to the foundation of a building.
He said later stages rested on them.
2 The Moderates actively drew the masses into the Congress.
They lacked faith in the masses, who played a passive role.
3 Dufferin called the Congress a factory of sedition.
The government turned hostile after 1887.
4 Bipan Chandra called 1858-1905 the seed time of Indian nationalism.
He said the early nationalists sowed the seeds well.
5 The government encouraged the United Indian Patriotic Association to support the Congress.
It was meant to counter Congress propaganda.
Related Topics
Browse the full Modern History index