Q. What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W. S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893? (UPSC Prelims 2011)
Answer:
To agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons
Notes: The correct answer is
[A]. In the late 19th century, supporters of Indian self-governance realized that to effect change in India, they needed to influence the seat of power in London—the British Parliament.
- Context of 1893: Sir William Wedderburn (a former President of the Indian National Congress) and W. S. Caine were "friends of India" within the British political system. They established the Indian Parliamentary Committee to create a structured lobby within the House of Commons.
- Primary Objective: The committee's goal was to ensure that Indian grievances and the demand for political reforms were regularly brought to the floor of the House. They aimed to pressure the British government to implement administrative and constitutional changes in India, such as increasing Indian representation in local councils.
- Membership: By 1893, the committee had grown significantly, consisting of nearly 125 Liberal members of Parliament who were sympathetic to the Indian National Congress's moderate demands.