Indian National Congress (C.11)

1. Establishment

1.1 Background and Formation

• Founded in 1885 at Bombay.
• Objective: To serve as a platform for political dialogue and to address grievances of the Indian people.
• Inspiration: British liberal ideas and the Lokmanya Tilak’s call for self-rule.
• Founding Members:
  • A.O. Hume – British civil servant and founder.
  • W.C. Bonnerjee – First Indian President of the Congress (1886).
• Initial Membership: Mostly educated Indians and British officials.
• Role: Initially a pressure group, later evolved into a political party.

1.2 Structure and Leadership

• Structure: Central organization with Annual Sessions.
• Leadership: Elected by members, with Presidents playing a key role.
• Key Figures:
  • A.O. Hume – Founder and key architect (1885).
  • W.C. Bonnerjee – First President (1885).
  • Dadabhai Naoroji – President (1886, 1893, 1906).
  • Gopal Krishna Gokhale – Moderate leader, President (1905).
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak – Extremist leader.
  • Mahatma Gandhi – Transformed Congress, President (1924).
  • Jawaharlal Nehru – President (1929, 1936, 1937); declared Purna Swaraj.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose – President (1938, 1939).

1.3 Objectives and Evolution

• Initial Objectives:
  • To promote self-governance.
  • To serve as a pressure group to influence British policy.
• Later Objectives:
  • To achieve self-rule (Swaraj).
  • To unite diverse communities under a common cause.
• Evolution:
  • From a moderate to a radical movement.
  • Shift from constitutional methods to mass mobilization.

2. Important Sessions

2.1 1885 Session (Founding Session)

• Venue: Bombay.
• Key Points:
  • First session of the Indian National Congress.
  • A.O. Hume was the President.
  • Dadabhai Naoroji was the General Secretary.
  • W.C. Bonnerjee was the Vice President.
• Significance:
  • Laid the foundation for nationalist movement.
  • Established the Congress as a political organization.

2.2 1890 Session

• Venue: Calcutta.
• Key Points:
  • Dadabhai Naoroji was the President.
  • W.C. Bonnerjee was the Vice President.
  • Key Resolution: Proposed self-government.
• Significance:
  • First time the demand for self-government was formally raised.

2.3 1905 Session

• Venue: Calcutta.
• Key Points:
  • Gopal Krishna Gokhale was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Supported the Partition of Bengal.
  • Formation of the Indian National Congress as a political party.
• Significance:
  • Marked the shift from moderate to radical phase.
  • Partition of Bengal led to the Swadeshi Movement.

2.4 1906 Session

• Venue: Lahore.
• Key Points:
  • Dadabhai Naoroji was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Demand for self-government.
  • Formation of the Muslim League.
• Significance:
  • Highlighted communal tensions.
  • Muslim League was formed as a separate political entity.

2.5 1907 Session

• Venue: Lahore.
• Key Points:
  • Rashbihari Bose was the President.
  • Split in Congress:
    • Moderates (led by Gokhale).
    • Radicals (led by Bipin Chandra Pal).
• Significance:
  • First split in Congress.
  • Moderates focused on constitutional methods.
  • Radicals advocated for mass mobilization.

2.6 1916 Session

• Venue: Lahore.
• Key Points:
  • C. R. Das was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Lucknow Pact between Congress and Muslim League.
  • Demand for self-government.
• Significance:
  • Lucknow Pact – First all-party agreement.
  • Safeguarded Muslim interests.
  • Unity between Congress and Muslim League.

2.7 1920 Session

• Venue: Calcutta.
• Key Points:
  • C. R. Das was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Non-Cooperation Movement.
  • Mahatma Gandhi was the President (1924).
• Significance:
  • Non-Cooperation Movement launched.
  • Gandhian methods adopted.
  • Mass mobilization began.

2.8 1929 Session

• Venue: Lahore.
• Key Points:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence).
  • 1st January 1930 declared as Independence Day.
• Significance:
  • Purna Swaraj declared.
  • Independence Day celebrated.
  • Gandhian influence strong.

2.9 1936 Session

• Venue: Lahore.
• Key Points:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Support for Cabinet Mission Plan.
• Significance:
  • Cabinet Mission Plan discussed.
  • Federal structure proposed.

2.10 1937 Session

• Venue: Calcutta.
• Key Points:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Support for Cabinet Mission Plan.
• Significance:
  • Cabinet Mission Plan endorsed.
  • Federal structure proposed.

2.11 1942 Session

• Venue: Bardoli.
• Key Points:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Quit India Movement.
• Significance:
  • Quit India Movement launched.
  • Mass protests and civil disobedience.
  • British rule under pressure.

2.12 1946 Session

• Venue: Madras.
• Key Points:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Support for Partition of India.
  • Formation of interim government.
• Significance:
  • Partition of India accepted.
  • Interim government formed.

2.13 1947 Session

• Venue: Delhi.
• Key Points:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was the President.
  • Key Resolution: Partition of India.
  • Formation of new states.
• Significance:
  • Partition of India finalised.
  • New states formed.
  • End of British rule.

3. Key Dates and Terms

4. Exam-Oriented Facts

• SSC, RRB Important Points:

  • Congress was founded in 1885.
  • First President: Dadabhai Naoroji.
  • First Indian President: W.C. Bonnerjee.
  • Purna Swaraj declared in 1929.
  • Quit India Movement started in 1942.
  • Partition of India accepted in 1947.
  • Lucknow Pact in 1916.
  • Congress split in 1907.
  • Congress and Muslim League unity in 1916.
  • Gandhi became President in 1924.

• Differences:

  • Moderates vs Radicals:
    • Moderates: Focused on constitutional methods.
    • Radicals: Advocated for mass mobilization.
  • Congress vs Muslim League:
    • Congress: Nationalist, secular.
    • Muslim League: Focused on Muslim interests.

• Key Figures:

  • Dadabhai Naoroji – First President.
  • W.C. Bonnerjee – First Indian President.
  • Gopal Krishna Gokhale – Leader of Moderates.
  • Mahatma Gandhi – Leader of Radicals.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru – President in 1929, 1936, 1937.

• Important Resolutions:

  • Self-government (1890).
  • Lucknow Pact (1916).
  • Purna Swaraj (1929).
  • Quit India Movement (1942).
  • Partition of India (1947).