Indian National Congress

Reasons for its formation

• The political awakening that had begun in 1860 and 1870 moved towards the maturity in the date 1870 and early 1880. The politically matured intellectuals broke the shackles of narrow group and regional interests and projected themselves as representatives of national interests

• It is generally believed that the reactionary measures of Lord Lytton such as the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, the Arms Act and the racial arrogance of the British culminating in their agitation aver the Ilbert Bill hastened the process which ultimately led to the foundation of the Indian National Congress

• The young educated class had participated in various political associations created necessary enthusiasm among them which led to situation where some centralised organization was needed

• Regional organization in Bombay ,Bengal and some other areas also led in development of new political ideologies focusing towards nationalism

• Economic, social and other policies of bruisers were also some of the other reasons

Background

• Allen Octavian Hume, the retired British officer, took the initiative to establish the political organization which will represent the Indians. Hume along with other liberal leader worked towards the establishment of national organization

• In 1883 he addressed on open letter to the graduate of the country to channelize their efforts in establishing all representative organization for the country. He founded the Indian National Union for this purpose

The first session of the congress

Facts

• Hume obtained permission from the then-Viceroy of India, Lord Dufferin, for the first session. It was supposed to be held in Poona, but it was moved to Bombay due to a cholera outbreak in Poona.

• The first session of the Indian National Congress was held on 28 to 30 December 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay

• 72 delegates attended the first session of the Congress and they represented different corners of the country

• W.C. Banerjee was elected as the president of the session

• W.C. Banerjee expressed loyalty to the British rule. He praised England for the blessing of modern education and expected that the government should increase the scope for the people. Dadabhai Naoroji observed that England was the parent of free democratic government. Thus, the first batch of leaders of Congress had strong faith in British rule

• Annie Beasant was the first female President of the Indian National Congress

• Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress.

• Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress.

• Rahimtulla Sayani was the second Muslim President of the Indian National Congress.

• George Yule was the first European President of the Indian National Congress.

• Dadhabhai Naoroji was the first Parsi President of the Indian National Congress.

• Sankaran Narayan was the first & the only Keralite President of the Indian National Congress Session

Some of agendas that were taken up and passed in 1^st session

• Abolition of the Indian Council of the Secretary of State for India

• Appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of Indian administration

• Creation of Legislative Councils for the North-West Province and Oudh and the Punjab, and the creation of a Standing Committee in the House of Commons to consider formal protests from Councils

• Introduction of simultaneous Public Service Examinations in England and India and rising of the age of candidates

• Reduction of military expenditure

Sessions of INC

Safety valve theory

• The theory states that, as the atmosphere of revolutionary awakening was increasing among the Indians, the English Government wanted to vent this out using a safety valve without making much damage to the Government itself and that was why Congress was started by an English man. Also, it was said that the command to start this had come from a person no less than that of Lord Dufferin himself.

• The moderates argued that the Congress would act as a lightning conductor as it was started by an English man against his own Government.

• It has been argued that Lord Dufferin and A.O Hume wanted to start a political organization like Congress because of the reports which clearly indicated the feelings of Indian people and the impending danger to the English Government.

• Many historians like extremist Lala Lajpat Rai, RSS chief MS Gowalkar and many others believed that Congress was started by A.O.Hume and others in the official direction of Lord dufferin

• To infer, the safety valve theory of the formation of Indian National Congress is not true and is not based on facts.

Lightening conductor theory

• According to this theory if Hume and other English liberals hoped to use the Congress as a safety-valve, the Congress leaders hoped to use Hume as a lightening conductor. And as later developments show, it was the congress leaders whose hopes were fulfilled.

• G.K Gokhale was in favor of this Theory