Foundation of the Indian National Congress (INC)

Overview

• The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885.
• It became the principal organisation leading India’s national movement.
• Played a crucial role in mobilising political awareness and nationalism.

Founder: A.O. Hume (retired British civil servant)
First Session: 28 December 1885
Place: Bombay (now Mumbai)
Venue: Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College

First President: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee

Delegates: 72 representatives from different parts of India.

Background of INC Formation

Before the INC, several regional political organisations emerged:

Important early political associations:

• Indian Association (1876) – Surendranath Banerjee
• Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870) – M.G. Ranade
• Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884)
• Bombay Presidency Association (1885)

These organisations created political awareness and nationalist sentiment.

Objectives of INC

1. Promote personal friendship and unity among Indians.
2. Remove prejudices based on caste, religion, and region.
3. Develop national unity.
4. Present opinions of educated Indians on public issues.
5. Formulate political programs for public welfare.

Participation in the Early Congress

Dominant groups:

• Educated middle class
• Lawyers
• Professionals

Groups largely absent:

• Princes and zamindars
• Peasants
• Artisans

Thus, the early Congress was often called a middle-class organisation.

Theories on the Foundation of INC

1. Safety Valve Theory

Proposed that the British allowed INC to act as a “safety valve” for Indian discontent.

Proponents:

• Lala Lajpat Rai
• Some British officials

Idea:

• Congress would release growing political frustration peacefully.

2. Conspiracy Theory

Proposed by Rajani Palme Dutt.

According to this theory:

• Congress was created to prevent a mass uprising against British rule.
• The British and Indian elite collaborated.

3. Lightning Conductor Theory

Proposed by Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

Idea:

• INC acted as a “lightning conductor” channelling nationalist energy.
• It helped organize political demands of Indians.

Modern historians believe this theory is more realistic.

Important INC Sessions

Year	Place	President	Outcome
1885	Bombay	W.C. Bonnerjee	First session of INC
1886	Calcutta	Dadabhai Naoroji	Formation of Provincial Congress Committees
1887	Madras	Badruddin Tyabji	First Muslim President
1888	Allahabad	George Yule	First English President
1905	Banaras	Gopal Krishna Gokhale	Opposition to Bengal Partition
1906	Calcutta	Dadabhai Naoroji	Goal of Swaraj declared
1907	Surat	Rash Behari Ghosh	Moderate–Extremist split
1916	Lucknow	A.C. Mazumdar	Lucknow Pact (Congress + Muslim League)
1917	Calcutta	Annie Besant	First woman president
1920	Calcutta (Special)	Lala Lajpat Rai	Non-Cooperation resolution
1920	Nagpur	C. Vijayaraghavachariar	Reorganization of Congress
1924	Belgaum	M.K. Gandhi	Only session chaired by Gandhi
1925	Kanpur	Sarojini Naidu	First Indian woman president
1929	Lahore	Jawaharlal Nehru	Purna Swaraj resolution
1931	Karachi	Vallabhbhai Patel	Fundamental Rights resolution
1937	Faizpur	Jawaharlal Nehru	First rural session
1938	Haripura	Subhas Chandra Bose	National Planning Committee
1939	Tripuri	Subhas Chandra Bose	Bose resigned after conflict
1946	Meerut	J.B. Kripalani	Accepted Cabinet Mission Plan

Significance of INC

1. Political Awakening

Created national political consciousness among Indians.

2. Platform for National Leaders

Leaders like:

• Dadabhai Naoroji
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Gandhi
• Nehru
• Patel

emerged through Congress.

3. Organised Freedom Movement

INC coordinated major movements:

• Swadeshi Movement
• Non-Cooperation Movement
• Civil Disobedience Movement
• Quit India Movement

4. Development of Democratic Culture

Promoted:

• Debate
• Elections
• Constitutional politics

Key Facts

Feature	Details
Founded	1885
Founder	A.O. Hume
First Session	Bombay
First President	W.C. Bonnerjee
Delegates	72
First Muslim President	Badruddin Tyabji
First English President	George Yule
First Woman President	Annie Besant
First Indian Woman President	Sarojini Naidu