Programme and Achievements of the Early Nationalists (Moderates)

Who started a magazine 'Dharma Marg Darshak'?

1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. Lala Lajpat Rai
3. Bipin Chandra Pal
4. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Answer

Dadabhai Naoroji

Who among the following was a great economist and asserted that the British Rule and its costly system of administration was a heavy drain on the poor resources of India?

1. Pherozeshah Mehta
2. Lal Mohan Ghose
3. W.C. Bonnerjee
4. Dadabhai Naoroji

Answer

Dadabhai Naoroji

Who among the following drafted petitions and memorandums and submitted them to the Government?

1. The Gandhian Nationalists
2. The Early Nationalists
3. The Revolutionaries
4. The Assertive Nationalists

Answer

The Early Nationalists

The Government wanted to use ............... as a safety valve to ease out the discontent among the Indian people.

1. The Communist Party of India
2. The Muslim League
3. The Indian National Congress
4. The Indian Association

Answer

The Indian National Congress

Who was the President of the Indian National Congress session held at Allahabad in 1910?

1. P. Ananda Charlu
2. Sir Henry Cotton
3. N.G. Chandraverkar
4. Sir William Wedderburn

Answer

Sir William Wedderburn

Who among the following threatened the Indians saying, "India was conquered by the sword and by the sword it shall be held"?

1. Lord Ripon
2. Lord Curzon
3. Lord Lytton
4. Lord Elgin II

Answer

Lord Elgin II

Who among the following was associated with the resolution of local self-government in 1882?

1. Lord Ripon
2. Lord Canning
3. Lord Dalhousie
4. Lord Lytton

Answer

Lord Ripon

Who among the following did not believe in agitation or unconstitutional means?

1. The Assertive Nationalists
2. The Early Nationalists
3. Revolutionaries
4. None of these

Answer

The Early Nationalists

Who among the following delivered his historic address on 'Swaraj' as the President of the Indian National Congress at Calcutta in 1906?

1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. A.O. Hume
3. Lala Lajpat Rai
4. George Yule

Answer

Dadabhai Naoroji

Who among the following was best known as the Political Guru of Mahatma Gandhi?

1. Jawaharlal Nehru
2. Motilal Nehru
3. Dadabhai Naoroji
4. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Answer

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Who presided over the Varanasi session of Congress in 1905?

1. Alfred Webb
2. Dinshaw Wacha
3. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
4. Badruddin Tyabji

Answer

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Who came to be known as the 'Grand Old Man of India'?

1. Lala Lajpat Rai
2. Rabindranath Tagore
3. Bipin Chandra Pal
4. Dadabhai Naoroji

Answer

Dadabhai Naoroji

Select an incorrect statement regarding Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

1. He is regarded as 'Political Guru' of Mahatma Gandhi
2. He set up 'Servants of India Society'.
3. He was born in United Provinces
4. He was a protege of Justice M.G. Ranade.

Answer

He was born in United Provinces

The famous 'Drain of Wealth' theory was associated with

1. Sukhdev
2. Dadabhai Naoroji
3. Tatya Tope
4. Mangal Pandey

Answer

Dadabhai Naoroji

Identify the political strategy of the Moderates or Early Nationalists.

P : They believed in confrontation and not in conciliation.

Q : They believed in orderly progress and adopted constitutional means to realise their aims.

R : They organised annual sessions to educate the public and to create a powerful public opinion in favour of their demands.

S : They organised swadeshi-boycott movement to cripple the colonial rulers.

1. P and Q
2. Q and R
3. R and S
4. P and S

Answer

Q and R

Read the two statements given below about the attitude of the Government towards Indian National Congress. Select the correct relationship between (A) and (B).

(A) The Government wanted to use Congress as a 'safety valve' to ease out discontent and dissatisfaction among the people.

(B) Later on Lord Dufferin became hostile to the Congress and branded the leaders as "Disloyal Babus".

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other

Answer

(A) and (B) are independent of each other

Which leader was referred to as "the diamond of India, the jewel of Maharashtra and prince of workers"?

1. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
2. Pherozeshah Mehta
3. Surendranath Benerjea
4. Dadabhai Naoroji

Answer

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Which period of the National Movement is known as the period of the Early Nationalists?

Answer

The phase from 1885 to 1905 is known as the period of the Early Nationalists.

Name any three leaders of the Congress who are known as Early Nationalists.

Answer

Three leaders of the Congress who are known as Early Nationalists are:

1. Dadabhai Naroji
2. Pherozeshah Mehta
3. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

What was the attitude of the Early Nationalists towards the British?

Answer

The Early Nationalists were friendly to the British. They adopted constitutional and peaceful means to achieve their aims. They were opposed to the use of force and violent methods, and were were patient, moderate and conciliatory in their demands. They had full faith in the British sense of justice, fair play, honesty and integrity. They believed that British Rule was a boon for India.

What was the attitude of the Early Nationalists towards freedom of the Press?

Answer

The Early Nationalists used the press for criticising the wrong policies of the Government and organising public opinion. So they opposed tooth and nail the restrictions imposed by the Government on the freedom of press. They demanded freedom of press and abolition of press censorship. Dadabhai Naroji and Surendranath Banerjea started movements against the Vernacular Press Act.

Describe any two methods of the Early Nationalists to achieve their aims.

Answer

The Early Nationalists believed in demanding for reforms and adopting constitutional and peaceful means to achieve their aims. Two methods of the Early Nationalists to achieve their aims are:

1. They drafted petitions and memorandums and submitted them to the Government.
2. They educated the Indians and aroused political consciousness among them. They gave them training in politics, political agitation and struggle.

Give two points on which the Early Nationalists are criticised.

Answer

Two points upon which the Early Nationalists are criticised are:

1. They were too moderate and petition oriented. Their method of peaceful constitutional agitation was strongly criticised.
2. They were loyal to the Crown. They believed that India's problems were due to the ignorance of the British authorities rather than deliberate exploitation. This over-dependence on British fairness limited the effectiveness of their demands.

Who was the Early Nationalist leader who came to be known as the Grand Old Man of India?

Answer

Dadabhai Naoroji is known as the 'Grand Old Man of India'.

Name the Congress leader who founded the Servants of India Society.

Answer

Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society.

Give one reason why the British Government was friendly towards the Indian National Congress in the beginning.

Answer

The British Government viewed the Congress leaders as a friendly tribe in the beginning. The Government wanted to use the Congress as a 'safety valve' to ease out the discontent among the Indian people. The British wanted to understand the real feelings and sentiments of the people with the help of the Congress and introduce necessary reforms in the administration.

What were the beliefs of Early Nationalists?

Answer

The Early Nationalists believed in demanding for reforms and adopting constitutional and peaceful means to achieve their aims. They were opposed to the use of force and violent methods, and were ready to wait for a long time to get their demands fulfilled. They had full faith in the British sense of justice, fair play, honesty and integrity. They believed that British Rule was a boon for India.

The period from 1885 to 1905 is called the period of the Early Nationalists. In this context, explain the following

(a) Why is this period called the period of the Early Nationalists?

(b) Demands of the Early Nationalists

(c) Methods of the Early Nationalists

Answer

(a) The phase from 1885 to 1905 is known as the period of the Early Nationalists because during this period the affairs of the Congress and the reins of the National Movement remained in the hands of the Early Nationalist leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjea, Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya, etc. They concerned themselves with the demand for reforms and Adopted constitutional and peaceful means to achieve their objectives.

(b) The Early Nationalists wanted certain political and economic reforms, such as:

1. Constitutional Reforms : Costitutional demands put forward by the Early Nationalists are:

   1. Expansion and reform of the Legislative Council, increase in its membership and powers, and the members of the councils to be directly elected by the people.
   2. Swaraj or self-government within the British Empire

2. Economic Reforms : Economic demands put forward by the Early Nationalists are:

   1. Reduction in land revenue.
   2. Rapid development of the modern industries.
   3. Use of Swadeshi goods to promote Indian industries.
   4. Change in the existing pattern of taxation and expenditure
   5. Abolition of salt tax
   6. Reduction in expenditure on the army and the welfare of the Indians.

3. Administrative and Other Reforms : Administrative demands put forward by the Early Nationalists to change the corrupt, inefficient and oppressive adminstrative system are:

   1. Indianisation of administrative services
   2. Appointment of the educated Indians to higher posts
   3. Expenditure on the Civil Service was criticised
   4. Repeal of the Arms Act and Licence Act, and separation of judiciary from the executive
   5. Simultaneous examinations in India and England for the Indian Civil Service.
   6. Facilities for primary, higher and technical education
   7. Development of banking, irrigation, medical and health facilities
   8. Reforms in the police system to set up a welfare state
   9. Complete separation of the Judiciary and the Executive

4. Defence of Civil Rights : Following demands were made by the Early Nationalists for the defense of the Civil rights:

   1. Abolition of the Preventive Detention Act and restoration of individual liberties.
   2. Right to assemble and form association.
   3. Freedom of press and abolition of press censorship.

(c) The methods of the Early Nationalists were as moderate as their demands, aims and objectives.

1. They believed in patience and conciliation and not in confrontation.
2. They believed in orderly progress and adopted constitutional means to realise their aims.
3. To educate the people, to arouse political consciousness and to create a powerful public opinion in favour of their demands, they organised annual sessions.
4. Processions were taken out, meetings were held, speeches were delivered and discussions were held on various economic, social and political questions.
5. The Early Nationalists drafted petitions and memorandums and submitted them to the Government.
6. They used the press for criticising the wrong policies of the Government and organising public opinion on various political, economic and social problems of the day.

Briefly explain the contributions made by each of the following to the National Movement:

(a) Dadabhai Naoroji

(b) Surendranath Banerjea

(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Answer

(a) The contributions made by Dadabhai Naroji are given below:

1. He was among one of the founder members of the Indian National Congress.
2. He gave the famous 'Drain' theory and his views on Indian economy.
3. He started a magazine Dharma Marg Darshak and the Rast Goftar (Truth Teller), an Anglo-Gujarati newspaper in 1854.
4. He founded the East India Association in London in 1866.
5. He was in favour of appointing the educated Indians to high posts.
6. He started movements against the Vernacular Press Act and the atrocious treatment of the Zamindars with the poor peasants.
7. Swaraj was the key-note of his presidential address at Calcutta Session in 1906. He demanded Swaraj, for the first time.
8. Four resolutions on self-government, boycott, swadeshi and national education were passed by the Congress under his presidentship.

(b) The contributions made by Surendranath Banerjea are given below:

1. To fight against the wrong policies of the British and injustice, he founded the Indian Association in 1876. It merged with the Congress in 1886.
2. He was one of the founding members of Indian National Congress.
3. S.N. Banerjea started agitations against the Licence Act, the Arms Act, the Vernacular Press Act and against lowering the age gradually from 23 years to 19 years to appear in the ICS Examination.
4. He organised popular demonstrations for protecting the poor peasants against the exploitation and oppression of the Zamindars.
5. He vehemently opposed the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909 which introduced separate electorates for the Hindus and the Muslims.
6. He also opposed the division of Bengal by Lord Curzon in 1905.
7. The sale of foreign goods proved harmful for the Indian trade and industries and ruined them. So he preached the use of swadeshi and boycott of foreign goods.

(c) The contributions made by Gopal Krishna Gokhale are given below:

1. He established "Servants of India Society."
2. He opposed the policies of the British Government whenever necessary. He attacked the toll tax because it was a burden on the poor.
3. He criticised the Government for incurring huge expenditure on the English army, for adopting the policy of racial discrimination in appointments to high posts, imposing production tax on cotton, ignoring elementary education, etc.
4. He opposed Lord Curzon for the division of Bengal (1905) and establishing strict government control over universities.
5. He played an important role in the passage of the Minto-Morley Reforms.
6. He impressed upon the Government to reduce the land revenue.
7. He laid great stress on encouraging industry and on appointing Indians to high posts so that the money saved could be used for the welfare of the people.
8. It was the result of his effort that the toll tax was reduced, more Indians were appointed to high posts and much attention was paid for promoting elementary education.

The men who dominated the Congress from 1885 to 1905 were liberal in their views and outlook. In this context :

(a) Name the Early Nationalist leaders who were famous during this period.

(b) State the methods adopted by them.

(c) Describe the attitude of the British towards them.

Answer

(a) The Early Nationalist leaders famous dueing the period of 1885 to 1905 were Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjea, Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya, etc.

(b) The methods of the Early Nationalists were as moderate as their demands, aims and objectives.

1. They believed in patience and conciliation and not in confrontation.
2. They believed in orderly progress and adopted constitutional means to realise their aims.
3. To educate the people, to arouse political consciousness and to create a powerful public opinion in favour of their demands, they organised annual sessions.
4. Processions were taken out, meetings were held, speeches were delivered and discussions were held on various economic, social and political questions.
5. The Early Nationalists drafted petitions and memorandums and submitted them to the Government.
6. They used the press for criticising the wrong policies of the Government and organising public opinion on various political, economic and social problems of the day.

(c) In the beginning the Government adopted a friendly and favourable attitude towards the Congress. The Government wanted to use it as a 'safety valve' to ease out the discontent among the Indian people. They wanted to understand the real feelings and sentiments of the people with the help of the Congress and introduce necessary reforms in the administration.

As the Congress began to demand more rights for the people, the British attidue became hostile. Lord Dufferin began to look upon it with suspicion. He condemned the Congress and issued an order forbidding the Government servants to attend the meetings of the Congress. The British officials began to criticise the Congress leaders publicly and branded them as "Disloyal Babus", "Seditious Brahmins" and "Violent Villains". In 1898, Lord Elgin II, the Viceroy of India (1894-99), threatened the Indians saying, "India was conquered by the sword and by the sword it shall be held."

With reference to the given picture, answer the following questions :

(a) Identify and name the person.

(b) Mention the economic theory emphasised by him.

(c) Name the book written by him and highlight its theme.

Answer

(a) The person shown in the given picture is Dadabhai Naroji.

(b) Dadabhai Naroji gave the famous 'Drain of Wealth' theory and his views on Indian economy.

(c) The book written by him is 'Poverty and un-British Rule in India.' The theme of this book is 'Drain of Wealth' theory. This book exposed how the British Rule and its costly administration was a heavy drain on the poor resources of India. It revealed the basic cause of India's poverty.

Read the passage given below and answer the following questions.

In his book 'Poverty and un-British Rule in India,' he asserted that the British Rule and its costly administration was a heavy drain on the poor resources of India. He revealed the basic cause of India's poverty and exposed the exploitation of the Indian people through his writings. He vividly showed as to how the wealth of India was being drained to England and how the Indian economy was being ruined.

(a) Who wrote the book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?

(b) What is the theme of the book?

(c) Explain his contribution to the national movement.

Answer

(a) Dadabhai Naroji wrote the book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'

(b) The theme of this book is 'Drain of Wealth' theory. This book exposed how the British Rule and its costly administration was a heavy drain on the poor resources of India. It revealed the basic cause of India's poverty.

(c) The contributions made by Dadabhai Naroji are given below:

1. He was among one of the founder members of the Indian National Congress.
2. He gave the famous 'Drain' theory and his views on Indian economy.
3. He started a magazine Dharma Marg Darshak and the Rast Goftar (Truth Teller), an Anglo-Gujarati newspaper in 1854.
4. He founded the East India Association in London in 1866.
5. He was in favour of appointing the educated Indians to high posts.
6. He started movements against the Vernacular Press Act and the atrocious treatment of the Zamindars with the poor peasants.
7. Swaraj was the key-note of his presidential address at Calcutta Session in 1906. He demanded Swaraj, for the first time.
8. Four resolutions on self-government, boycott, swadeshi and national education were passed by the Congress under his presidentship.