Indian National Congress

Indian National Congress was established in 1885 by A O Hume.

Allan Octavian Hume was originally from Scotland.
He joined Bengal Civil Services in 1849.
He retired from Civil Services in 1882.
He established All India Organization in 1885 in the form of Indian National
Congress.
In 1889, he established Congress Parliamentarian Committee in London.
Lord Dufferin was the Viceroy of India during the foundation of Indian
National Congress.

Important INC Sessions

In the year 1885, W C Banerji held the First session in Bombay in Gokuldas
Tejpal Sanskrit College.
The main demands of the Congress in the first session were,
1. Holding civil services exams simultaneously in England and India.
2. Reduction of military and administrative expenditure.

In 1886, Dadabhai Naoroji held the Second session in Calcutta.He was the first
Parsi President of Indian National Congress.

In 1887, Badruddhin Tyabji held the Third session in Madras. He was the first
nominated Muslim president of Indian National Congress.

In 1888, Allahabad, George Yule became the first British president of the INC.
In 1889, William Wedderburn became the president of INC.
In 1890, Calcutta, Firoz Shah Mehta was the president of INC.
Kadambini Ganguly was the first woman graduate from Calcutta university to
address in that session.

In 1896, Calcutta, Rehmatullah Sayani was the

president of INC. Vande Mataram song was for the first
time sung in this session.

In 1905 INC Session happened at Banaras. Gopalkrishna Gokhale was the

president.
Congress decided to launch the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement against the
Partition of Bengal.

In 1906, Calcutta, Dadabhai Naoroji was the president. He made four resolutions
to console the extremists.
1. Swadeshi
2. Swaraj
3. Boycott
4. National Education
In 1907, Surat, Rash Bihari Ghosh was the president.
Surat split happened because of the differences between the moderates and
the extremists. The extremists wanted to spread Swadeshi and Boycott
movement all over India. Moderates, however wanted to confine Swadeshi
and Boycott movement to Bengal only. This was mainly responsible for the
split between moderates and extremists.

In 1907, Allahabad, Rash Bihari Ghosh was the president.

In 1911, Calcutta, B N Dhar was the president of INC.

“Jana Gana Mana “was sung for the first time in this session.

In 1916, Lucknow, Ambika Charan Majumdar was the president.

Re-union of Congress and Muslim League happened in this session.
Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak were responsible for the reunion of Congress
and Muslim League.

In 1917, Calcutta, Annie Besant became the first woman president of INC.

In 1920, Nagpur, Vijaya Raghavachari was the President.

Mahatma Gandhiji passed the resolution for Non-Cooperation Movement in this
session.

In 1920, Calcutta Special Session, Lala Lajpat Rai was the President.
All India Trade Union Congress was formed.
The first session of AITUC was held in Bombay. Lala Lajpat Rai was its first
president.

In 1922 ,Gaya Session, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das was the President.

Mahatma Gandhi Ji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chowri
Choura incident.
After the withdrawal of NCM there was split in the Congress.
Motilal Nehru and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das established Swaraj Party in the
1922 Gaya Session.

In 1924, Belgaum Session, Mahatma Gandhiji was the president.

He passed the resolution for the abolition of untouchability and Hindu-Muslim
unity.

In 1927, Madras, M A Ansari was the president.

“Go Back Simon” agitation was passed.

In 1929, Lahore, Jawaharlal Nehru was the president.

“Poorna Swarajya” or Complete Independence resolution was passed.
MK Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement in this INC session.

In 1931, Karachi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the president.

Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy Resolutions were passed.

In 1937, Faizpur, Maharashtra, Jawaharlal Nehru was the

president. Congress session was held in a small village for the
first time.

In 1938, Haripur, Subhas Chandra Bose was the president.

National Planning Commission was set up.

In 1939, Tripuri, Subhas Chandra Bose was the President.

He defeated MK Gandhi’s nominee Pattabhi Siddaramaiah. There was
misunderstanding between MK Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose in this session.
Bose resigned from the Tripuri Session and founded a separate party, The Forward
Block”. After his resignation Rajendra Prasad was appointed as the president.

In 1940, Ramgarh session of INC, Moulana Abul Kalam Azad was the president.
MK Gandhi decided to launch Individual Satyagraha against the”August Offer”.

In 1946, Meerut, JD Kripalani was the president of INC when India got
independence.
Safety valve theory of A O Hume
A O Hume established the Indian National Congress. He established INC during the
time of Lord Dufferin to serve as a safety valve. There were various opinions among
the nationalist leaders about the foundation of INC.
According to Pattabhi Siddaramaiah, ”The foundation of INC was shrouded with
mystery”.
According to Aurobindo Ghosh, ”Congress is a begging institute “.
The early nationalists or moderates were using constitutional methods to achieve
independence for India.
According to Bipin Chandra Pal, ”Congress is playing with a bubble”.

Tilak said,” The rights are not begged; they are claimed”.
He was the first to advocate Swaraj as the matter of birthright.

According to Lord Dufferin, ”Congress is a microscopic minority “.

According to Lord Curzon,”The Congress is tottering to its fall ;one of my great
ambitions in India is to see it’s demise”.
According to the British,”Congress consisted of disloyal babus, seditious brahmins
and violent villains”.
A O Hume under Lord Dufferin established INC to serve as a Safety Valve.

“The Theory of Safety Valve “was published in 1913 in the biography of A O Hume
written by William Wedderburn.
In order to prevent the discontent among the educated Indians and the British
government, A O Hume established INC there was growing discontent between the
British government and educated Indians after the 1857 revolt.
In the beginning, the INC served as a safety valve in strengthening the British
Empire in India but this safety valve theory was a myth according to some
nationalist leaders. A O Hume was very sympathetic towards Indians. In order to
fulfil the demands of Indians through All India Organization, he established the
INC the main aims and objectives of INC were,

1. Promotion of friendship among the countrymen.

2. Promotion and consolidation of national unity.
3. Promotion and consolidation of public opinion about Indian Nationalism.
4. Fulfilling the nationalist demands of the Indians.

The Stages of Indian Freedom Struggle

The Moderate Phase or The Early Nationalists (1885 – 1905)

They were called as Early Nationalists.

The first phase of the INC was dominated by the moderates.
1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
3. C Shankaran Nair
4. Surendra Nath Banerji
5. Firoz Shah Mehta
6. Madan Mohan Malviya
7. Badruddin Tyabji
8. W C Banerjee were the important moderate leaders. The demands of
the moderates were confined to
1. social and economic reforms
2. administrative reforms
3. constitutional reforms

The main demands of the moderates were :

1. Providing greater opportunities for Indians in Civil Services.

2. Holding civil services examinations simultaneously in India and London.
According to 1853 Charter Act, open competition was started for the civil
services examination. In
1864,Satyendranath Tagore, brother of Ravindranath Tagore was the first
Indian to pass the civil services exam.
3. From 1923 onwards, the civil services examinations were held
simultaneously in India and London.
4. Re-imposition of import duties on cotton goods from England.
5. Separation of judiciary from the executive.
6. Demand for swaraj within the British Empire.
7. The development of agricultural and financial institutions.
 8. Expansion of legislative council. Giving more and more opportunities to the
Indians in the Legislative Council. The 1892 Indian Councils Act was the
outcome of moderate method of education. They wanted to make entry into
the Legislative Council through direct elections but 1892 Indian Councils Act
introduced the system of indirect elections.
9. Reduction of military expenditure.
10. Reduction of civil and administrative expenditure.
11. Ending drain of wealth.
12. Promotion of education and health facilities.

Methods used by the Moderates:

In order to achieve independence for India, Moderates were using the
constitutional methods. The constitutional methods were,
1. Protest
2. Prayer and
3. Petition
They believed in non-violence and bloodless struggle. On rare cases they were using
Swadeshi and Boycott.

Important Moderate Leaders

(1) Dadabhai Naoroji :

He was also called as “The Grand Old Man of India”.

Thrice he presided the INC Sessions.
1. 1886 in Calcutta
2. 1893 in Lahore
3. 1906 in Calcutta
There was conflict between the Moderates and Extremists in relation to the
presidentship of 1906 Calcutta session of INC. Finally, the man liked by
both these groups became the president.
Dadabhai Naoroji made four resolutions in the Calcutta session.
1. Swadeshi
2. Swarajya
3. Boycott and
4. National Education
He was the first Indian to become member of British parliament. He
represented from the Liberal Party.
He published “Rast Goftar” and wrote “Voice of India”.
He established Jnana Prasaraka Girls High School in Mumbai for girls’
education.
He established East India Association in London in 1866 for Indian
Nationalism.
(2) Gopalkrishna Gokhale:

He was the political guru of Mahatma Gandhi.

He was also called as the Socrates of Maharashtra.
M G Ranade is also called as the Socrates of Maharashtra.
In 1905, he established “Servants of Indian Society” to train the missionaries
in Indian Nationalism. M G Ranade was the political guru of Gokhale.
He was associated with Deccan Education Society established by M G
Ranade. He advised Mahatma Gandhiji to tour all over India before starting
the Satyagraha.
He published a newspaper, “The Nation”.
He presided the 1905 Banaras Session where Congress decided to launch
the Swadeshi and Boycott against the Partition of Bengal.

(3) C Shankaran Nair:

He was the First Advocate General of Madras.

He was the member of Viceroy’s Executive Council during 1920’s.
He wrote “Gandhi and Anarchy “.
Due to the efforts of C Shankaran Nair, Lord Chelmsford appointed the
Saddler Education Commission in 1917.
He was the only Indian member who was in favour of the Rowlatt Act.
Rowlatt Act means “Detention without trial for two years”. When Rowlatt Act
was implemented he was the member of Viceroy’s Executive Council. He
resigned from the membership of Viceroy’s Executive Council after the
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

(4) Madan Mohan Malviya:

He was born and educated in Allahabad.

He was an eminent parliamentarian by profession.
He published “Indian Union”, “Abhyudaya”, “Free Hindustan” newspapers.
He also published “The Leader”.
Annie Besant established The Central Hindu School at Varanasi.
It later became Banaras Hindu University with the efforts of Madan Mohan
Malviya.
On August 16th 1932, British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald made the
Communal Award.
It provided separate electorates for various communal groups including the
Harijans. Mahatma Gandhi was not in favour of providing separate
electorates for Harijans. He argued that Harijans are part of Hindu religion.
Ambedkar demanded for separate electorates during the Round Table
Conference. After the announcement of the Communal Award, Mahatma
Gandhi took fast unto death at Yerawada Jail in Pune. Due to the efforts of
Madan Mohan Malviya and M A Raja, Poona Pact was signed on September
24th 1932. It was signed between B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
(5) Surendra Nath Banerjee:

He passed the Indian Civil Services in 1871.

He is also called as” The Father of Indian Nationalism”.
He established “Indian Association” in 1876 at Calcutta.
He presided INC twice; In 1895, Poona Session of INC and in 1902,
Ahmedabad Session.
Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal on October 16th 1905.The partition of Bengal
was mainly responsible for the outbreak of Boycott and Swadeshi Movement.
In a special session of INC held at Calcutta Town Hall, Congress passed the
resolution for Swadeshi and Boycott Movement. The special session was
presided by Surendra Nath Banerjee.
He played major role during the Surat session of INC. The differences
between moderates and extremists exploded in the 1907 Surat session.
People hurled shoes and chairs during this session. An unidentified person
hurled a shoe on Surendra Nath Banerji.
He established “Indian Liberal Federation” in 1880.

(6) Firoz Shah Mehta :

He was the founder member of INC.

He presided the 1890, Calcutta Session of INC.
In 1885, he established “Bombay Presidency Association”.
He published “Bombay Chronicle”.

(7) Badruddin Tyabji:

He was the First Barrister in Bombay High Court.

He was the founder member of INC. He presided the 1887, Madras Session
of INC.
He was the first nominated Muslim president of INC.
He was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council in 1882.
He established Anjuman Islam Organization for the promotion of the
Muslims.

Causes for the Failure of the Moderates and Rise of Extremists:

The Extremists were called as the “Militant Nationalists”.
After the Partition of Bengal, the Extremist Movement became severe in India.
The major causes for the rise of extremists were:
 Growing consciousness among the Indians about the exploitative character
of the British.
The Moderates exposed the exploitative character of the British.
  Moderate method of agitation: To achieve independence moderates were
using constitutional methods. The other group thought that the
constitutional method is not sufficient to achieve independence for India.
 Growth of self-respect among the Indians: The extremists were influenced by
ancient Indian festivals and melas. For that purpose they started the Shivaji
and Ganapati festivals. They were the first to advocate Swaraj as a matter of
birthright.
 Influence of National Education: The Indian nationalists were greatly
influenced by National Education.To provide national education,Satish
Chandra Mukherjee established “Dawn Society”. Rabindranath Tagore
established “Shantiniketan”.
 The rise of Militant Nationalism in various parts of the country gave rise to
extremism. Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh led the Militant Nationalism from
Punjab,Aurobindo Ghosh and
Bipin Chandra Pal from Bengal, Chidambaram Pillai from Tamil Nadu ,T
Prakasham and Hari Sarvottam Rao from Andhra Pradesh, Bal Gangadhar
Tilak, ”The Father of Indian Unrest” represented from Maharashtra.
 International Events: Two International events gave rise to extremism.In
1905 Japan defeated Russia.In 1896, Ethiopian army defeated Italian army.
Indians were also influenced by the ideals of French Revolution.
 Immediate Cause : Partition of Bengal on October 16th 1905 by Lord Curzon
.Lord Risley was the Secretary of State for India during the partition of
Bengal.According to Risley,”Bengal united is a power and divided will pull it
in different ways “.In order to divide Hindu-Muslim unity he partitioned
Bengal. The divide and rule policy of the British was the immediate cause for
the rise of extremism.

The main achievements of the moderates were,

They created consciousness among the Indians about Indian Nationalism.

They exposed the exploitative character of the British government.
They believed in mass struggle.
The 1892 Indian Councils Act was the outcome of moderate method of
agitation.