Indian National Congress History

The Indian National Congress was formed by Allen Octavian Hume in December 1885, with its first session taking place at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay. The congress was the brainchild of Hume, who was keen on fostering Indian participation in government and advocating for national issues.

Dadabhai Naoroji, a prominent Congress leader, calculated India's national income and poverty line for the first time. His calculations highlighted the economic drain from India to Britain, a key factor in shaping the Congress's agenda.

The Ilbert Bill, introduced in 1884 by Lord Ripon, aimed to give senior Indian magistrates the authority to preside over cases involving British subjects in India. However, the proposal faced strong opposition from British officials, leading to a backlash against the bill.

The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, established in 1870 by M.G. Ranade, played a crucial role in advocating for social reform within the Indian community, particularly focusing on issues like education, women's rights, and economic upliftment.

Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian to become a member of the British Parliament and was a prominent advocate for India's independence. He used the term 'Swaraj' in his writings and speeches, which gained widespread popularity within the Indian nationalist movement.

The Indian National Association, founded in 1876 by Surendranath Banerjea and Anand Mohan Bose, was one of the early nationalist organizations that advocated for increased Indian representation in government and the implementation of reforms.

The Madras Mahajan Sabha, established in 1884, was a key platform for discussing and advocating for social and political reforms in the Madras Presidency. It played a significant role in shaping the nationalist movement in the region.

The Indian League, established in 1875 by Sisir Kumar Ghosh, was an early nationalist association that aimed to increase Indian representation in government and promote national consciousness. It played a role in the early stages of the nationalist movement.

A theory proposed by Lala Lajpat Rai in Young India magazine that compared British rule to a safety valve, suggesting it was necessary to prevent the country from exploding due to unrest and dissatisfaction.

A theory proposed by Gopal Krishna Gokhale that compared British rule to a lightning conductor, suggesting it was protecting India from external threats, like other European powers.

The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1885 in Bombay with Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee as the president. 72 delegates attended.

The Congress session in 1886 was held in Calcutta under the presidency of Dadabhai Naoroji. It marked a significant increase in the number of delegates, with 434 attending.

The 1906 Congress session in Calcutta was notable for the passing of four resolutions: Swaraj (self-rule), Swadeshi (promotion of Indian goods), Boycott (of British goods), and National Education (establishment of Indian institutions).

The 1907 Surat session of the Indian National Congress was marked by a split between the Moderates and the Extremists. The Moderates favored a gradual and constitutional approach to achieving independence, while the Extremists advocated for more active and assertive methods.

The 1911 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress witnessed the first public performance of the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

The 1916 Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress saw the reunification of the Moderates and the Extremists, marking a significant step towards unity in the movement.

William Bentinck, the first Governor-General of India, implemented social and legal reforms in India between 1828 and 1835. These reforms included the abolition of Sati, a practice where a widow was expected to immolate herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. He also worked towards the suppression of Thuggee, a criminal cult that practiced robbery and murder, and abolished Circuit Courts.

Lord Dalhousie, serving as the Governor-General from 1848 to 1856, introduced the Doctrine of Lapse. This policy annexed states to the British East India Company if they did not have a male heir. During his period, the first railway line in India was inaugurated in 1853 from Bombay to Thane. He also passed the Widow Remarriage Act in 1856, to allow widows to remarry, challenging a traditional restriction.

The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was a legislation enacted by the Governor-General, Lord Lytton, in British India. It was aimed at restricting the freedom of the Indian press, specifically focusing on newspapers written in local languages. This law gave the government the power to censor and control the content published in these newspapers, raising concerns about press freedom and freedom of expression.

Lord Ripon, known as the 'Father of Local Self Government,' served as the Governor-General from 1880 to 1884. During his tenure, he promoted the development of local self-governance in India. He also emphasized the importance of education through the Hunter Commission (1882), which studied the state of education in India. In addition, he passed the Factory Act in 1881 to regulate working conditions in factories and protect the welfare of workers.