The moderate leaders of the National Movement _________.

Correct option is D

The correct answer is mobilized public opinion against the economic ruin of the country.

The moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress, such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Surendranath Banerjee, played a pivotal role in the early stages of the Indian National Movement. Their main approach was to work within the constitutional framework of British rule, hoping to achieve reforms through dialogue and persuasion. These leaders are often associated with the "politics of prayers", which involved making petitions and appeals to the British government.

One of the primary concerns of the moderate leaders was the economic exploitation of India under British rule. They sought to mobilize public opinion against policies that led to the economic ruin of the country, such as heavy taxation, the drain of wealth from India to Britain, and the destruction of Indian industries due to unfair trade practices. Dadabhai Naoroji, in particular, highlighted this through his famous theory of the "Drain of Wealth," which argued that Britain was exploiting India’s resources without providing equivalent returns.

While moderates believed in reform and cooperation with the British, they were highly critical of the economic consequences of colonial policies. They used the platform of the Indian National Congress to raise awareness about the economic ruin caused by colonialism and advocated for policies that would benefit the Indian economy and uplift the masses.

Information Booster:

·       Moderate leaders believed in constitutional reforms and peaceful negotiations with the British government.

·       They were deeply concerned about the economic exploitation of India, particularly in terms of trade policies, taxation, and the drain of wealth.

·       Leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale emphasized the need to mobilize public opinion against the destructive economic policies of the British.

·       They used the platform of the Indian National Congress to present the grievances of the Indian people and sought to educate the public on the impact of British rule on the Indian economy.

·       Though their methods were peaceful, they laid the groundwork for later, more radical phases of the freedom struggle.

Additional Knowledge:

·       Economic Drain: The moderate leaders believed that the British were draining India’s resources. Dadabhai Naoroji famously presented this idea in his book "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India." He argued that the wealth extracted from India was leading to widespread poverty in the country.

·       Politics of Prayers: The moderates relied on petitions and prayers, appealing to the British sense of justice. However, this method was criticized by the extremists within the Indian National Congress, who felt that more direct action was needed.

·       Self-Reliance: Although the extremists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai emphasized self-reliance, the moderates focused more on achieving reforms through cooperation with the British rather than focusing heavily on self-reliance at this stage.

·       British Respect for Indian Demands: Moderates initially believed in the British sense of justice and sought reforms through peaceful means. It was the extremist leaders later who felt that the British had no respect for the just demands of Indians.