What were Objectives and Weaknesses of Indian National Movement Till 1905?

Indian National Movement up to 1905 was mainly dominated mainly by the moderate leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Wyomesh Chander Bannerjee, Pheroze Shah Mehta, Dinshaw Wacha, S.N. Banerjee, etc.

During this period, main objectives of the Indian National Movement were:

• To develop political agitations within the limits of law and by constitutional methods.
• To make the British Government aware of the Indian condition because they believe that the Britishers were and wanted to be just to the Indians.
• To build up public opinion in the country amongst people.
• To present public demand to the Government through resolutions, petitions, meetings, etc. and arouse consciousness and national spirit.
• To persuade the British Government and build up Britain’s public opinion in favour of India.

They believed that time was not ripe to directly challenge the British rule so they attempted to educate and unite people. They established a British Committee of the Indian National Congress in London and also started a journal titled ‘India’.

Basic Weaknesses:

• The moderate leaders had no faith in the mass-movement and they could not popularise the ideas to the grassroots level.
• The movement was confined only to the educated class and illiterate Indians, who formed majority, were not able to participate in it.
• It was thought that the British rule was in India’s interest at that time.
• It was wrongly believed that the British Government wanted to be just to Indians and would consider to their demands gradually.

The aim was to transform the colonial rule to a national rule.

Topics: GS-I: Modern Indian History & Freedom Struggle