INSIGHT UPSC QUIZ

GS History Modern India
Q.

"They did not have much faith in the masses. All the divisions in the Indian society first had to be united into a nation, before they could enter into politics. They were criticized as a 'microscopic minority' only representing the upper class educated intelligentsia" In the statement 'They' refer to which of the following?

Explanation:
  • The Early Nationalists, also known as the Moderates, were a group of political leaders in India active between 1885 and 1905.
  • The methods used by the Moderates of passing resolutions and sending petitions were seen as inadequate by critics who argued that they depended on the generosity of the British instead of relying on their own strength and challenging the imperialist might. They failed to realise that British and Indian interests clashed with each other and that Britain was using India's resources to increase its wealth. The Early Nationalists failed to draw the masses into the mainstream of the national movement such that their area of influence remained limited to urban educated Indians. In particular, their leadership comprised only members of professional groups such as lawyers, doctors, journalists and teachers.
  • In 1887, Dufferin attacked the Early Nationalists in a speech and ridiculed it as representing only a microscopic minority of the people. British officials criticised the Nationalists and branded its leader as "disloyal babus" and "violent villains".

Thus, Option C is Correct.

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