New Delhi: At present, the Indian National Congress is trying to find a solid footing in the political arena of our country after an improved show in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. While it can be said that the Congress is in a bit of a dilapidated condition right now, there is no denying the fact that the grand-old party played a key role in the Indian freedom struggle, and was at the forefront among all the parties present in India at that time.
With notable leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, the party has a rich history. It was on this day 139 years ago that the Congress was founded, and it changed the course of modern Indian history and politics. In this article, we will take a look at how and why the party was founded and who played the pivotal roles in it.
The beginning of the journey of the Indian National Congress
The role of Allan Octavian Hume
It was in the late 1870s, over a decade after the 1857 Indian Rebellion that Indians began to make concerted efforts to establish a pan-Indian organisation with the aim to strive for nationalist politics. The key role in this was played by a retired British Civil Servant named Allan Octavian Hume who was known for his pro-India activities.
In an open letter to Calcutta University graduates, he stated his idea of forming a body which would represent the interests of the Indians in front of the British colonial government in the country. The body would ensure that educated Indians would have a greater share in the government and there would be a platform between for political and civic dialogue between the British Raj and them
The first session of Congress
Hume contacted prominent Indian leaders and issued a notice for the first meeting of the group in Poona. However, there was a cholera outbreak in Poona and the venue of the meeting was moved to Mumbai. From December 28 to December 31, 1885, the Indian National Congress’ first session was held in Mumbai at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College.
Hume was the General Secretary, while Umesh Chandra Banerjee became Congress’ first president. A total of 72 delegates attended the first session with the majority being lawyers, representing India’s each province. Among the notable people who attended the meeting were Dadabhai Naoroji, Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Dinshaw Wacha, Behramji Malabari, and Gooty Kesava Pillai.
Interestingly, no woman attended the first Congress session. During the first session, the Indian delegates presented 9 resolutions to the British authorities. According to Hume, while the British maintained peace in India, they did not solve the economic problems of the country. In its early years, the Congress was divided into its approach towards protesting against British colonial government. But in the 20th century, they became the foremost party in India in our freedom struggle against the British rule.
The Indian National Congress (INC), founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, initially aimed for greater Indian participation in the British Raj. Its first session, held in Mumbai, prominent leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji and Pherozeshah Mehta advocated for resolutions addressing economic issues and political representation. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
