The Moderate Ideology Program and Methods
The moderates belief in constitutional methods and wanted to achieve their goal through legal and peaceful means. They sent petition to British parliament and use press to raise their demand. They engage in dialogue and diplomacy with the British officials believing that they could bring about gradual change through precaution and negotiations. The moderate organize meetings and conference to mobilize public opinion and get support for their causes. These gathering help to spread nationalist ideas and develop a sense of collective identity. They utilize the press effectively to spread their views criticized colonial policies and educated the masses about their rights and responsibilities. Moderate supported the spread of modern idea of government and modern education they believed that education was the key to empower Indians and prepare them for demanding for better form of government. They emphasis the need for enlightenment and rational thinking and they encourage the Indians to adopt the modern values and practices. The moderates showed believed in the British sense of justice. They showed allegiance to Britishers and also faith in their mission regarding the upliftment of Indians. They believed that Britishers could be persecuted for reforms for India. The basic task of moderate was to formulate demand present in to the government and put pressure upon the government to acknowledge them by convincing the government about the fairness of the demand. Congress under moderates laid great emphasis upon the propaganda upon Indian grievances in England. The moderate leaders highlighted the Indian demand in England e.g. Dada Bhai Naroji had spent a significant time of his active political life in popularizing India's case in England. In 1889, congress formed a separate committee in London to raise awareness about the Indian issue in Britain, influence the British public opinion, present the Indian perspective in Britain and counter misinformation about Indian governance. The first chairperson of committee was William Wedderburn and first secretary was William Digby. This committee started publishing information about to shape the British understanding of Indian problems.