Major Differences
Criteria | Moderates | Radicals |
---|---|---|
Beliefs | Believed in gradual and constitutional reforms within the framework of British rule | Advocated for a more radical approach towards independence, including the use of non-violent civil disobedience |
Methods | Worked within the legal framework and used petitions, meetings, and speeches to push for reforms | Advocated for boycotts, strikes, and non-cooperation with British authorities to exert pressure |
Leadership | Led by prominent figures like Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Pherozeshah Mehta | Led by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal |
Goals | Aimed to secure greater representation and rights for Indians within the British system, but not necessarily independence | Demanded complete independence and self-rule for India |
Support Base | Mainly composed of educated and wealthy Indians who had benefited from British rule | Attracted support from a wider range of people, including the working classes, farmers, and students |
Impact | Laid the groundwork for India’s eventual independence by raising awareness and pushing for reforms | Galvanized the independence movement and helped to mobilize the masses towards a more radical approach |
How was the Politics of the Radicals within the Congress different from that of the Moderates?
The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885, played a pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule. The Congress had members with different ideologies and strategies to achieve their goals. Among them, the radicals and moderates had distinct approaches towards achieving self-government or Swaraj. In this article, we will explore how the politics of radicals differed from that of moderates within the Indian National Congress.