Indian nationalists were aware of the fact that you AO Hume was an enlightened imperialist. They knew that AO Hume wanted to use them for the safety of the British Indian empire. But still, they join hands with him because they wanted to use AO Hume as a protective shield or lightning conductor for the safety of Congress. The Theory of Lightning conductor was given by Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
The Indian leaders were aware of the fact that if the pan-Indian platform was established under the leadership of some Indian nationalists, then the British won’t let it survive.
They wanted to keep AO Hume in front because he was a white British man. So that nascent Congress could be protected from British depression. Under lightning conductor theory, Gokhale explains the need for an English founder of INC.
History is leaving evidence of the fact that AO Hume could never use Congress as a safety valve, but Indians could use AO Hume as a Lightning conductor successfully.
FAQ related to Theory of Lightning Conductor
Q1. Who gave the Lightning conductor theory?
Ans. The lightning conductor theory was given by Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Q2. Who was Gopal Krishna Gokhale?
Ans. Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915) was a moderate leader of the Indian National Congress (INC). He was nicknamed “Professor to Order”. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was known as the “Diamond of India”. He was the founder of the Servants of India Society (1905). Gandhiji considers him as his political Guru.