The period from 1885 to 1905 was dominated by the Early Nationalists. In this context, answer the following questions:

(a) To which section of society did they belong? What were their demands?

(b) What methods did they adopt?

(c) How did the Early Nationalists help in the growth of nationalism in India?

(a) The members of the early nationalists were drawn from the educated middle class consisting of professionals like lawyers, barristers, teachers and officials, who drew inspiration from Western thought. Many of them were educated in England and felt that the British intended to be just to Indians but they were unaware of the true state of affairs in India.

The demands of the Early Nationalists were as follows:

1. A larger share of Indians in the governance of the country
2. Reduction in taxes and government expenditure
3. Economic growth through trade protection
4. Indianisation of services
5. Complete separation of the executive and the judiciary
6. Employment of Indians in higher grades
7. Protection of civil rights

(b) The methods adopted by Early Nationalists were as follows:

1. The Early Nationalists believed in the policy of constitutional agitation within the legal framework, and slow orderly political progress.
2. To educate people in India in modern politics, to arouse national political consciousness and to create a united public opinion, they relied on the following methods:
   
   1. They held meetings where speeches were made and resolutions for popular demands were passed.
   2. They made use of the press to criticise government policies.
   3. They sent memorandums and petitions to government officials and the British Parliament. These petitions were carefully drafted with facts and arguments. Though these petitions were addressed to the government, their real aim was to educate the Indian people.
3. To influence the British government and the British public, they followed the following methods:
   
   1. They made use of three P's i.e. Petitions, Prayers and Protests. They sent petitions, requests and letters of protest to the British government to look into the problems of the Indians.
   2. A British Committee of the Indian National Congress was set up in London in 1889, which published a weekly journal, India, to present India's case before the British public.
   3. Deputations of Indian leaders were sent to Britain. These political leaders carried on active propaganda in Britain.

(c) The Early Nationalists helped in the growth of nationalism in India in the following ways-

1. Nationalists created national awakening among people that they belonged to one common country — India. This made Indians conscious of the bonds of common political, economic and cultural interests that united them.
2. They trained people in politics by popularising the ideas of democracy, civil liberties, secularism and nationalism.
3. They did pioneering work by exposing the true nature of the British rule in India. They made people realise the economic content and character of British imperialism. By doing so, they weakened the foundations of the British rule in India.
4. Their political and economic programmes established the truth that India must be ruled in the interest of the Indians.
5. The efforts of the Early Nationalists led to the following reforms:
   
   1. The appointment of a Public Service Commission in 1886
   2. A resolution of the House of Commons (1893) for simultaneous examination for the I.C.S. in London and India
   3. Appointment of the Welby Commission on Indian Expenditure (1895)
   4. The Indian Councils Act of 1892.

These achievements of the Early Nationalists served as a base for the national movement in later years.