The role and goal of the liberals in National Movement of India: 

The period from 1885 to 1905 is known as the liberal age of the Indian National Movement. Dadabhai Naoroji, Ranade, Ferozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Anand Mohan Ghosh and Wyomesh Chandra Banerjee, were the chief liberal leaders. The liberals adopted the policy of faith and co-operation with the British rule and tried to get political rights for Indians though appeal, memorandum, delegations and representations.

They believed that British administration is essential for India. There had been growth, reform and development of education and in means of communications on account of the British rule. They did not want confrontation with the British government on any ground. They did not believe in violence and did not want to adopt revolutionary means to reach their goal.

They believed that putting pressure on the British government by use of force would cause the same reaction by the British government and they would start behaving cruelly with Indian people. The goal of the liberals was to establish self-rule.Their goal of self – rule was limited to self – rule by Indians under the domain of British imperialism.

The Role and Goal of the Extremists: 

During the liberal age, there were some events and incidents which ignited Indians against the British rulers and they lost faith in their sense of justice. They began to think that Swaraj cannot be attained by request, but by violent struggle against the foreign rulers. The way to get freedom through struggle is known as the extremist movement. The extremist leaders provided leadership to the Indian national movement from 1906 to 1919.

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Lala Lajpat Rai. Aurobindo Ghosh, Bipin Chandra Pal were major extremist leaders. The goal of the extremists was to attain complete independence by adopting the means of swadeshi movement and the boycott movement which created among public a new wave of self – dependence, self – confidence and spirit of nationalism. The extremists were always ready for sacrifice and suffering. They always kept the feeling of non – co – operation towards the Britishers. They believed that freedom cannot be received in charity, but it is attained by the use of power.

The Role of Revolutionaries: 

The role of the revolutionaries started after 1922. Subhash Chand Bose, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Sardar Bhagat Singh, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Kundan Bose, Batukeshwar Dutt, Lala Hardaval, Ram Prasad Bismil, Sukh Dev, Ashfaqualla Khan, Shyam Krishan ji Verma and Raj guru, etc. were the chief leaders among revolutionaries. These revolutionaries were patriotic from the core of their heart. They did not believe in peaceful struggle and wanted to destroy the British administration completely by means of violence and force. Their main goal was to end the foreign rule through a big revolution and to establish a free democracy.

Role and Objectives of Mahatma Gandhi: Gandhi’s role and goal comprised the last phase of Indian national movement. This phase was connected with revolutionary movement along with the followers of Gandhian principles. This phase of Gandhian movement started from 1922.

Mahatma Gandhi played the most significant role in Indian National Movement from the year 1919 onwards. Since them he remained the focal point of the Indian National Movement. So, the period from 1919 to 15 Aug 1947 is known as the Gandhian period in Indian National Movement.

During this period, Gandhiji conducted three major movements: 

• Non – co – operation movement 
• Civil disobedience movement
• Quit India movement.

He made Indian National Movement a mass movement under his leadership. People from various groups of Indian society began to participate in Indian National Movement. They adopted the way of non – violent revolution and tried to achieve by non – violent means, the goal of national freedom.

He launched constructive programmes such as khadi programme, swadeshi movement, abolition of intoxication (nashabandi), Harijan welfare, elevation of women, encouragement to domestic industry, Hindu – Muslim unity, basic education. He wanted to attain freedom by means of truth, non-violence, peace and was finally successful in attaining his goal.