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{{Other uses|Moderate Party (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Indian National Congress
| colorcode =
| leader = [[Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee|W.C. Bonnerjee]]<ref name="Indian National Congress">{{cite web| title=Indian National Congress UK| url=http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/indian-national-congress}}</ref> [[Rash Behari Ghosh]] 
 Moderates 
[[Surendranath Banerjee]] R. C. Dutt [[Dadabhai Naoroji]] [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]] [[Pherozeshah Mehta]] [[Mahadev Govind Ranade]] P. R. Naidu [[S. Subramanian Iyer]] Ananda Charlu [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] [[A.O. Hume]] [[William Wedderburn]]
| foundation = {{Start date|1885}}
| ideology = Regain [[Self-government]] without violation
| headquarters =
| country = India
| name_native =
| party_logo =
| founder = [[Allan Octavian Hume|A.O. Hume]]<ref>{{cite web
|url =http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/73b4862g?display=all
|title =Theosophy and the Origins of the Indian National Congress
|last =Bevir
|first =Marks
|date =9 February 2013
|publisher =[[University of California, Berkeley]]
|access-date=1 January 2003
}}</ref>
| dissolution = {{End date|1907}}
| position =
| slogan =
| newspaper = ''{{lang|hi|Dharma Marg Darshak}}'' (magazine)
| predecessor = [[Zamindari Association|Landholders' Society]]
| student_wing =
| youth_wing =
| membership =
| successor = [[Assertive Nationalism in India|Assertive Nationalists]]
| colors =
}}

The '''Early Nationalists''',<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Ralhan |editor-first=Om Prakash |title=Encyclopedia of Political Parties – India – Pakistan – Bangladesh – National – Regional – Local |volume=23. Moderate phrase in India |location=New Delhi |publisher=Anmol Publications |year=1995 |pages=29–36 |quote=The phase from 1885 to 1905 is known as the period of the Early Nationalists.}}</ref> also known as the '''Moderates''',<ref>{{cite book |first=Robin J. |last=Porter |chapter=Imperial India, 1858–1914 |title=Oxford History of the British Empire: The Nineteenth Century |year=2001 |pages=345, 434}}</ref> were a group of [[political leaders]] in India active between 1885 and 1907. Their emergence marked the beginning of the organised national movement in India. Some of the important moderate leaders were Pherozeshah Mehta and Dadabhai Naoroji.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Burke| first1=S. M. |first2=Salim |last2=Al-Din |title=The British Raj in India: An Historical Review |location =USA |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |pages =325–332 |quote=One of the most distinguishing features of the second half of the 19th century was the birth of national awakening in India. It originated from the concepts of nationalism and right of self-determination initiated by the French Revolution, the socio-religious reform movement, the spread of western education and the reaction of Indians to British Raj. The political awareness generated by these trends gave birth to various political associations. This trend culminated in the establishment of the Early Nationalists in 1885, which was the starting point of the organised national movement in India |date=1997| isbn =978-0195-7773-45}}</ref> With members of the group drawn from educated middle-class professionals including lawyers, teachers and government officials, many of them were educated in England.

They are known as "Early Nationalists" because they believed in demanding reforms while adopting [[constitutional]] and peaceful means to achieve their aims.<ref name="TotalModerates">{{cite book |title=History & Civics |first1=Dolly Ellen |last1=Sequeira |first2=S. Irudaya |last2=Raj |year=2009 |pages=27, 35–41, 45|publisher=Morning Star Publishers|isbn=978-8131-7033-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A History of India|location=New Delhi|first=Burton|last=Stein|date=21 September 2023 |author-link=Burton Stein|publisher=Oxford University Press|volume=I|pages=254–255|isbn=978-0-19-565446-2|quote=Avoiding confrontations, the early Congress leaders were patient, moderate and conciliatory in their demands}}</ref> The Early Nationalists had full faith in the British sense of justice, fair play, honesty, and integrity while they believed that [[British rule]] was a boon for India.<ref name="TotalModerates2">{{cite book |title=History & Civics PART II |first=D. N. |last=Kundra |pages=91, 93, 98–106, 111|year=2012 |publisher=Goyal Brothers Prakashan}}</ref> The Early Nationalists were staunch believers in open-minded and moderate politics.<ref name="Politics of Moderates">{{cite journal| title=Rewriting Histories of Nationalism; The politics of "Moderate Nationalism" in India |first=Sanjay |last=Seth |pages=102, 115 |year=1999 |journal=The American Historical Review |volume=104 |issue=1 |jstor=2650182 |doi=10.2307/2650182 }} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="Ludden">{{cite book |first=David |last=Ludden |title=India and South Asia: a Short history |year=2002 |pages=135–197}}</ref>

Their successors, the "Assertives", existed from 1905 to 1919 and were followed by nationalists of the [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhian era]], which existed from 1919 until [[Partition of India|Indian Independence]] in 1947.

== Origins of the name "Moderates" ==
[[File:1st INC1885.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The first session of the Early Nationalists of India in 1885]]
Focusing on demands for reform, the Early Nationalists adopted a constitutional and peaceful approach to achieve their objectives. They remained friendly towards the British Empire but believed that Indians should have a proper and legitimate role in the government of the country. Although they asked for constitutional and other reforms within the framework of British rule, they had full faith in that nation's sense of justice and fair play.<ref name="IndianHistory">{{cite book
| last1=Bhattacharya| first1=D. C.
| first2=K. K.| last2=Ghai |year=2009|pages= 55, 60–61, 88, 92 |title=Indian History |publisher=Dayal publishers}}</ref> They further believed that continuation of the British connection with India was in the interests of both countries. At an early stage, the nationalists considered their association with England an advantage by considering British rule had done much good by removing various anomalies. Influenced by [[Western philosophy|western thought]], culture, education, literature and history, the demands of the early nationalists were not considered extreme but of a relatively moderate nature.<ref name="TotalModerates" /><ref name="TotalModerates2" />

== Methodology ==
[[File:HumeWedderburnNaoroji.jpg|thumb|left|upright| The founder of Early Nationalism [[A. O. Hume]] (left) with [[William Wedderburn|Sir William Wedderburn]] (right) and [[Dadabhai Naoroji]]]]
The Early Nationalists believed in patience and conciliation rather than confrontation, adopting orderly progress and [[constitutional]] means to realise their aims. To educate the people, to arouse political consciousness, and to create powerful public opinion in favour of their demands they organised annual sessions. Processions and meetings were held, speeches delivered and discussions held on various economic, social and political questions. Following these discussions, resolutions were adopted. They also drafted petitions and memorandums before submitting them to the government.
The Early Nationalists wanted to convey their feelings to the government, so as to gradually bring the authorities around to their viewpoint. To influence the British government and to enlighten the British public and its political leaders, the Early Nationalists sent deputations of leading Indian leaders to England. In 1889, a British Committee of the [[Indian National Congress]] was founded and followed by a journal called ''India'' started by the Committee in 1890.<ref name="Ludden" />

== Achievements ==
[[Image:A O Hume.jpg|thumb|[[A. O. Hume]], the founder of [[Indian National Congress]] (Moderates)]]
In spite of their role as the most progressive force of the time, the Early Nationalists received widespread criticism over their lack of success. They were treated with contempt by the colonial administration and their demands were not fulfilled.<ref>{{cite book |last=James |first=Lawrence |title=Raj: The Making and unmaking of British India |publisher=St. Martin's Griffin |volume=I |year=2000 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/raj00lawr/page/323 323–324] |isbn=0312263821 |url=https://archive.org/details/raj00lawr/page/323 }}</ref>

In spite of such criticism, the Early Nationalists did achieve some of their goals. They created a national awakening among the people that made Indians conscious of the bonds of common political, economic, and cultural interests that united them. They also trained people in politics by popularising the ideas of democracy, civil liberties, secularism and nationalism . The Early Nationalists did pioneering work by exposing the true nature of British rule in India. They made the people realise the economic content and character of [[British Empire|British colonialism]]. In doing so, they weakened the foundations of British rule in India. Their political and economic programmes established the idea that India must be ruled in the interest of the Indians. The efforts of the Early Nationalists also led to the implementation of various social reforms such as the appointment of a Public Service Commission. A resolution of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] (1893) allowing for simultaneous examination for the [[Indian Civil Service (British India)|Indian Civil Service]] in London and India. Appointment of the [[Welby Commission]] on Indian Expenditure (1895). They also passed the [[Indian Councils Act 1892]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Making of India: A Historical Survey |first=Ranbir |last=Vohra |publisher=M. E. Sharpe |year=2001 |page=[https://archive.org/details/makingofindiahis00vohr/page/56 56]|isbn=9780765607126 |url=https://archive.org/details/makingofindiahis00vohr|url-access=registration }}</ref>

These achievements served as the basis for nationalist movements in later years by extremist leaders.<ref name="Books2">{{cite book| last=Guha| first=Ramachandra| title=India after Gandhi:The History of the World's largest Democracy| quote=The achievements by the early Congress leaders urged the development and basic foundation of the extremist leaders.| pages=98–99}}</ref>

== Objectives ==
The Early Nationalists wanted certain political and economic reforms with the view to unify the people of India.

=== Constitutional reforms ===
Believing that India should eventually move towards democratic [[self-government]], the Early Nationalists wanted a larger share in the governing of India. They did not seek immediate attainment of their goal as they feared that the government would suppress their activities. Instead they aimed at winning freedom through a gradual process.<ref name="Jim" />

Their constitutional demands were:
# Abolition of the [[India Council]] Act.
# Expansion of the legislative council and [[Legislative Assemblies]], both Central and Provincial.
# Increase in the membership of Indians by including some members elected by local bodies like chambers of commerce, universities, etc. in these councils and by giving greater powers to them. They demanded Indian control over the public purse and raised the slogan "No taxation without representation".
# By the beginning of the 20th century, they demanded for [[Swaraj]] (self-rule) within the [[British Empire]] similar to the self-governing colonies in Canada and Australia.
# Adequate representation of Indians in the executive council of the [[Viceroy]] and those of the governors.<ref name="IndianHistory" />
#Reformation and expansion of the legislative councils created by the act of 1861. They demanded an increase in the membership of these councils and all legislative and financial matters including the Budget should be submitted to these councils.
#The members of the legislative councils to be directly elected by the people of India.
#A complete separation of the executive and judicial branches of administration.
#Complete self government modelled on self governing British colonies like Australia and Canada.

=== Administrative reforms ===
The Moderates made the following demands in the administrative sphere:
# Demand for simultaneous [[Indian Civil Service]] examinations in England and India.
# Complete separation of the executive and the judiciary. They made this demand to protect Indians from arbitrary acts by the police and the bureaucracy.
# Increase in the powers of the municipal bodies and reduction of official control over them.
# Repeal of the [[Arms Act, 1959|Arms Act]] and [[License Act]].
# Wider employment of Indians in the higher grades of administrative services.
# Spread of primary education among the masses.
# Improvement of the police system to make it honest, efficient and popular.<ref name="IndianHistory" />

=== Defence of civil rights ===
The Early Nationalists defended [[civil rights]] whenever the British government tried to curtail them. Their struggle for freedom became an integral part of the national movement from the very beginning. In 1897, [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak|Tilak]] and many other leaders were arrested and tried for making provocative speeches.<ref name="TotalModerates2" /><ref name="IndianHistory" /> The Early Nationalists demanded the Abolition of the [[Preventive Detention Act]] and restoration of individual liberties and right to assemble and to form associations. They also wanted the Removal of the restrictions imposed by the British Government on the freedom of speech, and the freedom of the press.<ref name="TotalModerates2" />

== Criticism ==
The methods used by the Early Nationalists 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 directly challenging colonial rule. Some historians have argued that the Early Nationalists misunderstood the British government and believed the fundamentally diametric interests of both the colonial administration and the nationalist movement could be resolved in favor of the latter.<ref name="TotalModerates" /><ref name="TotalModerates2" /> 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,<ref>{{cite web| title=Lawyers are drawn for the formation of Moderates| url=http://www.barcouncilofindia.org/about/about-the-legal-profession/lawyers-in-the-indian-freedom-movement/}}</ref> doctors, journalists and teachers.

== Response from the colonial administration ==
[[File:Lord Dufferin.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|Lord Dufferin]]]]

In the beginning, the British colonial administration looked upon the actions of the Early Nationalists favourably, and expressed no animosity towards them. Furthermore, a few government officials attended the first session of the Early Nationalists and took part in its deliberations. The Nationalists were invited to a garden party held by the [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy of India]], [[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|Lord Dufferin]] in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] in 1886 and another hosted by the Governor of Chennai in 1887. Official attitudes soon changed; Lord Dufferin tried to divert the National Movement by suggesting to [[A. O. Hume|Allan Hume]] that the Early Nationalists should devote themselves to social rather than political affairs.<ref name="riddick2006">{{Cite book| title=The history of British India: a chronology| author=John F. Riddick| year=2006| pages=122 –123 and 55, 136| publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group| isbn=0-313-32280-5| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Es6x4u_g19UC}}</ref>

However, rather than emerging as a useful tool in the hands of the colonial administration, the Early Nationalists gradually became the focus of Indian nationalism.<ref name="TotalModerates" /> In 1887, Dufferin attacked the Early Nationalists in a speech and ridiculed it as representing only a microscopic minority of the Indian people. Colonial officials in India criticised the Nationalists and characterised its leaders as "disloyal babus" and "violent villains". The next year Lord Dufferin published the ''Report on the Conditions of the Lower Classes of Population in Bengal'' (known as the Dufferin Report), which highlighted the plight of the poor in [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]], which was then used by the Early Nationalists to counter the claim that British rule had been beneficial to the poorest members of Indian society.<ref name="Banglapedia">{{cite book |last=Islam |first=Sirajul |year=2012 |chapter=Dufferin, Lord |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dufferin,_Lord |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> Finally, in 1890 government employees were forbidden to participate in deliberations with the Early Nationalists or attend their meetings.<ref name="riddick2006" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Robb |first=Peter |title=A History of India|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofindia00pete|url-access=registration|edition=1st |year=2002 |publisher=Palgrave}}</ref>

== Failure ==
Some of the younger elements within the Indian National Congress were dissatisfied with the achievements of the Early Nationalists and vociferous critics of the methods of peaceful constitutional agitation that they promulgated.<ref name="Politics of Moderates" /> Young members advocated the adoption of European revolutionary methods to counter British colonial rule while mainstream Early Nationalists remained loyal to [[the Crown]], with their desire to regain self-government lacking conviction. The Early Nationalists failed to attain their objectives, giving rise to another group of leaders known as Assertive or Extremist Nationalists.<ref name="TotalModerates" /><ref name="TotalModerates2" /> The most prominent leaders of the Assertive Nationalists were [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]], [[Lala Lajpat Rai]] and [[Bipin Chandra Pal]], who are known collectively as the ''[[Lal-Bal-Pal]]'' trio.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ashalatha |first1=A. |first2=Pradeep |last2=Koropath |first3=Saritha |last3=Nambarathil | title = Social Science: Standard VIII Part 1 | chapter = Chapter 6 – Indian National Movement | publisher = Government of Kerala • Department of Education, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) | year = 2009 | pages = 72 | url = https://www.itschool.gov.in/pdf/Std_VIII/Social%20Science/SS_VIII_Engpart1.pdf | access-date = 13 October 2011}}</ref>

== Prominent leaders who fought for independence ==

=== Surendranath Banerjee ===
{{Main|Surendranath Banerjee}}
[[File:Surendranath Banerjee.jpg|100px|right|Surendranath Banerjee]]
To create an all-India political organisation, Banerjee convened the Indian National Conference in 1883 at [[Kolkata]]. Banerjee merged the Indian National Conference with the Indian National Congress in 1886 as both organisations had similar objectives. He presided over two sessions of the Congress in 1895 and 1902.<ref name="TotalModerates" />

=== Gopal Krishna Gokhale ===
{{Main|Gopal Krishna Gokhale}}
[[File:GKGokhale.jpg|100px|right|Gopal Krishna Gokhale]]
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, known as "''The Political Guru of [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi"]]'' as he was the one who guided Mahatma Gandhi to travel around India in order to fight against the British, was one of the social and political leaders during the Indian Independence Movement against the British Empire in India. Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and founder of the Servants of India Society. Through the Society as well as the Congress and other legislative bodies he served in, Gokhale campaigned for Indian self-rule and also social reform. He was the leader of the moderate faction of the Congress party that advocated reforms by working with existing government institutions.

=== A. O. Hume ===
{{main|Allan Octavian Hume}}

While the Early Nationalists moved towards the formation of an all-India political body, Englishman [[Allan Octavian Hume|A. O. Hume]], a retiree from the [[Indian Civil Service]], saw the need for an organisation that would draw the government's attention to current administrative drawbacks and suggest the means to rectify them. In 1884 Hume, in consultation with the Indian leaders, laid the foundations of Indian National Union but it was postponed due to an outbreak of plague in [[Pune]]. Later on, at the suggestion of Dadabhai Naoroji, the name was changed to "[[Indian National Congress]]" and the foundation of the organisation laid on 28 December 1885.<ref name="riddick2006" />

=== Dadabhai Naoroji ===
{{main|Dadabhai Naoroji}}
[[File:Dadabhai Naoroji, 1892.jpg|100px|right|Dadabhai Naoroji in 1892.]]
[[Dadabhai Naoroji]], popularly known as the "Grand Old Man of India",<ref name="Dada" /> took an active part in the foundation of the Indian National Congress and was elected its president thrice, in 1886, 1893 and after the Moderate phase in 1906.<ref name="TotalModerates" /><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news| title=Story of the Congress – Three pivotal moments that shaped early nationalism in India |first=Mukul |last=Kesayan |date=29 May 2008 |publisher=The Telegraph |location=Calcutta |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050529/asp/opinion/story_4798753.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919080944/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050529/asp/opinion/story_4798753.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> He spent a major part of his life in Britain.He founded the London Indian Society which he used to create the awareness among the British people about the plight of the Indians. His book ''Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India'' explored how India was economically exploited by the British government.

== Sessions ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="left center" style="width:65%;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"|Year of session
! style="width:5%;"|Session
! style="width:20%;"|Place
! style="width:20%;"|Name of the president

|-
|1885
|1st
|[[Mumbai]]
|W. C. Banerjee<ref>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of Indian Biography|page=48| year=1906 |last=Buckland |first=C. E.|publisher=Swan Sonnenshein & Co.|location=London |url=https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buck#page/48/mode/1up}}</ref>
|-
|1886
|2nd
|[[Kolkata]]
|[[Dadabhai Naoroji]]<ref name="Dada">{{cite book|title=Dadabhai Naoroji:The Grand Old Man|author=S. R. Bakshi|publisher=Anmol Publications|year=1991|pages=12, 45|location=Delhi|isbn=81-7041-426-1}}</ref>
|-
|1887
|3rd
|[[Chennai]]
|[[Badruddin Tyabji|Justice Badruddin Tyabji]]<ref name="Presidents" />
|-
|1888
|4th
|[[Allahabad]]
|[[George Yule (businessman)|George Yule]]<ref name="Presidents">{{Cite web|url=http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/pastpresidents.htm |title=Past Presidents of Indian National Congress |publisher=Indian National Congress |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020115121118/http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/pastpresidents.htm |archive-date=15 January 2002 |df=dmy }}</ref>
|-
|1889
|5th
|[[Mumbai]]
|[[William Wedderburn|Sir William Wedderburn]]<ref>{{Cite IBD1915|wstitle= Wedderburn, Sir William |volume= 24.2|pages=460-461 |year=1915|short=}}</ref>
|-
|1890
|6th
|Kolkata
|[[Pherozeshah Mehta|Mr. Pherozeshah Mehta]]<ref>{{Cite web|year=2009|url=http://www.geocities.com/dakshina_kan_pa/art25/topleft.htm|title=Presidents of Indian National Congress|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026232349/http://www.geocities.com/dakshina_kan_pa/art25/topleft.htm|archive-date=26 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|-
|1891
|7th
|[[Nagpur]]
|P Ananda Charlu<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ananda Charlu the seventh congress president|url=http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/history/presidents/p_ananda_charlu.htm|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=9 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909111225/http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/history/presidents/p_ananda_charlu.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1892
|8th
|Allahabad
|W. C. Banerjee
|-
|1893
|9th
|[[Lahore]]
|Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji
|-
|1894
|10th
|Chennai
|[[Alfred Webb]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/history/presidents/alfred_webb.htm|title=Alfred Webb President – Madras, 1894|work=Past presidents of Indian National Congress|publisher=Indian National Congress|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=14 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514203942/http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/history/presidents/alfred_webb.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1895
|11th
|[[Poona]]
|Surendranath Banerjee<ref>{{Cite web|title=As congress president|url=http://www.aicc.org.in/surendranath_Banerjee.htm}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
|1896
|12th
|Kolkata
|Rahmatullah Sayani<ref>{{Cite web|title=President of congress|url=http://www.congress.org.in/new/past-president-detail.php?id=10|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928212120/http://www.congress.org.in/new/past-president-detail.php?id=10|archive-date=28 September 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
|-
|1897
|13th
|[[Amraoti]]
|M. C. Shankaran Nair<ref>{{Cite web|title=13th President of congress|url=http://www.congress.org.in/new/past-president-detail.php?id=11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906202647/http://www.congress.org.in/new/past-president-detail.php?id=11|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
|1898
|14th
|Chennai
|A. M. Bose<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ananda Mohan Bose|publisher=Britannica.com|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/74627/Ananda-Mohan-Bose}}</ref>
|-
|1899
|15th
|[[Lucknow]]
|[[Romesh Chunder Dutt#Politics|Romesh Chunder Dutt]]
|-
|1900
|16th
|Lahore
|N. G. Chandarverkar<ref>{{cite web |title= Former Justices |url= http://www.bombayhighcourt.nic.in/cjshow.php?auth=amdldGlkPTE0JnBhZ2Vubz0y |publisher=Bombay High Court, Bombay}}</ref>
|-
|1901
|17th
|Kolkata
|[[D. E. Wacha]]{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
|-
|1902
|18th
|[[Ahmedabad]]
|[[Surendranath Banerjee]]
|-
|1903
|19th
|Chennai
|[[Lalmohan Ghosh]]
|-
|1904
|20th
|Mumbai
|[[Henry John Stedman Cotton|Sir Henry Cotton]]
|-
|1905
|21st
|[[Banaras]]
|[[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]]<ref name="Jim">{{Cite book |author=Masselos |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Masselos |title=Indian Nationalism: An History |publisher=Sterling Publishers |year=1991 |location=[[Bangalore]] |pages=122–123, 125–129, 157–158}}</ref>
|-
|1906
|22nd
|Kolkata
|Dadabhai Naoroji
|}

== See also ==
* [[Surat Split]]
* [[History of the Indian National Congress]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |first=D. |last=Argov |title=Moderates and Extremists in the Indian Nationalist Movement, 1883–1920 |location=Bombay |year=1967}}
*{{cite book |title=Modern India: 1885–1947 |last=Sarkar |first=Sumit |author-link=Sumit Sarkar |year=1983 |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] |location=Madras |isbn=0-333-90425-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/modernindia1885100sark }}

[[Category:Political history of India]]

Early Nationalists - Revision history

Svetlanazrc at 14:52, 26 April 2026