Indian National Congress: Early Years and Evolution

• The Indian National Congress aimed to represent all of India
• During its early years, the Congress primarily sought to speak for the educated, professional, and commercial classes
• There was an effort to include more diverse groups as the independence movement evolved
• Mahatma Gandhi's leadership marked a shift towards incorporating peasants, artisans, and the urban poor
• The Congress party aimed to represent a unified Indian identity, despite internal social, religious, and economic differences

Early Congress

• Dominated by elites from urban areas
• Lawyers, doctors, teachers, and merchants were overrepresented
• Focused on issues important to these groups such as administrative reforms and Indian participation in governance
• Aimed to create a unified Indian identity

Evolution and Expansion

• Mahatma Gandhi transformed the Congress into a mass movement
• It embraced non-violent civil disobedience
• Large numbers of peasants, workers, and women joined
• Addressed issues that affected everyday people, such as land rights, fair wages, and social justice
• Aimed to represent a broader spectrum of Indian society

Challenges in Representation

• Internal divisions existed within the Congress based on ideology, caste, religion, and economic status
• Some groups felt marginalized despite the Congress's broad goals of representation
• The Muslim League emerged as a separate political entity
• The Muslim League argued that the Congress did not adequately represent the interests of Muslims
• The Hindu Mahasabha advocated for Hindu interests

Congress's Self-Image

• Congress believed it was the natural representative of the Indian people
• Claimed to embody the will of the nation
• Portrayed itself as a secular and inclusive organization
• Sought to unite India against colonial rule
• Emphasized common interests and a shared national identity

Post-Independence

• The Congress became the dominant political party
• Faced challenges in balancing the interests of diverse groups
• Issues such as caste-based discrimination, regional disparities, and economic inequality persisted
• Representational gaps continued to be a point of contention in Indian politics

The Indian National Congress initially represented the educated, professional, and commercial classes. Over time, it evolved to include peasants, artisans, and the urban poor, especially under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership. The party aimed to represent a unified Indian identity.