Indian National Congress

The formation of the Indian National Congress marked a significant milestone in India's struggle for freedom. It provided a unified platform for Indians to articulate their grievances, mobilize public opinion, and challenge colonial hegemony. Over the years, the Congress evolved into a powerful political force, leading mass movements, participating in legislative processes, and ultimately playing a pivotal role in India's independence in 1947.

The seeds of the Indian National Congress were sown during the late 19th century, amidst growing discontentment with British colonial policies and a burgeoning desire for self-governance among Indian intellectuals and social reformers. Inspired by the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice, prominent leaders such as Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, Dinshaw Wacha, and Surendranath Banerjee envisioned a platform for Indians to articulate their socio-economic and political concerns.

The Indian National Congress (INC) stands as a cornerstone in the history of India's freedom struggle, marking the inception of organized political activism against British colonial rule. Established in 1885, the INC served as a unifying platform for Indian leaders from diverse backgrounds to collectively voice their grievances and advocate for nationalistic aspirations.

The Indian Association played a vital role as a forerunner to the Indian National Congress, establishing the foundation for systematic political engagement and setting the stage for India's eventual fight for independence.

• It was a prominent political organization established in 1876 by stalwart leaders like Surendranath Banerjee, Ananda Mohan Bose, and others in Calcutta. It emerged in response to the injustices and discriminatory policies of British colonial rule, aiming to advocate for the rights and interests of Indian citizens.
• The Indian Association played a pivotal role in fostering nationalistic sentiments and mobilizing public opinion against British imperialism through various means such as public meetings, petitions, and publications. It also focused on promoting education, social reforms, and cultural revival among Indians.
• It sponsored an all India conference which first took place in Calcutta on December 28 to 30, 1883.
• Another conference was held in 1885. Over 100 delegates attended it from different parts of the country
• It was thus a forerunner of the Indian National Congress as an all-India nationalist organisation and later merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886.

• The concept materialized into the Indian National Congress through the endeavors of A.O. Hume, a retired English civil servant.
• On December 28, 1885, the Indian National Congress was officially founded during a momentous session at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay . Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee presided over the inaugural session, uniting 72 delegates representing diverse regions and communities across India.

• Rise in political consciousness: Many Indians felt the need for a national organization to represent their interests to the foreign British rule.
• Perception of regional organizations: Regional organizations were perceived as narrow in scope, prompting the need for a national-level organization.
• Emergence of a sense of nationhood: The introduction of the press facilitated the emergence of a sense of nationhood among Indians.
• Discontent with British rule: Economic distress, famines, and frequent wars led to growing discontent with British rule by the late 19th century.
• Inspiration from global national movements: The emergence of independent nations from colonial empires, such as in South America, inspired Indians to seek political autonomy.
• Safety valve theory: The Safety Valve Theory suggests that the British encouraged the formation of the Indian National Congress as a means to manage Indian grievances.

The Indian National Congress outlined several key objectives, including:

• Promoting unity and solidarity among Indians of all creeds and backgrounds.
• Advocating for constitutional reforms to secure civil liberties and political rights for Indians.
• Creating political leadership to represent the Indian interests to British rule
• Striving for the attainment of self-governance and eventual independence from British rule through peaceful and constitutional means.
• To put forward the popular demands of the Indians before the government.

Early Indian Freedom struggle saw 2 key phases: the first led by the moderates and the second by the extremists. Moderates believed that maintaining political ties with Britain was beneficial for India at that time, and they refrained from directly challenging British rule.

Idea and Methods of Moderates: The Moderates' approach, often termed as "Passive Resistance," involved methods such as prayer, petitioning, persuasion, and philanthropy. They embraced Western ideals of liberalism, democracy, equity, and freedom. Moderates were optimistic about the British sense of justice and believed in the possibility of discussing Indian grievances with them. In terms of economic reforms, Indian leaders advocated for anti-imperialist policies.

• Constitutional
  • Self rule within the imperial framework
  • Abolition of India Council
  • Elections to be introduced for the legislatures
  • Two Indian members in the Viceroy Executive Council
  • Expand the size and powers of legislative councils and local bodies.
  • Separate the judiciary from the executive.
  • Freedom of speech, expression and associations
• Administrative
  • Hold ICS (Indian Civil Services) exam simultaneously in England and in India
  • Indianisation of Higher Services
  • Maximum age of ICS should be increased from 19 to 23.
• Military
  • Reduce spending on the army.
  • Appointment of Indians in commissioned ranks.
• Economic
  • Introduction of Permanent Settlement System to other parts of India
  • Reduce land revenue, protect peasants from unjust landlords.
  • Abolish salt tax and sugar duty.
  • Development through Indian capital: They said that investment by foreigners has led to drain of wealth.

• Moderates within the Congress facilitated the enactment of the Council Act 1892.
• Drain of Wealth: They contributed to the development of the concept of economic drain resulting from British revenue policies.
• Early Nationalism: The efforts of moderates planted the seeds of nationalism.
• Their work laid the groundwork for the freedom struggle.
• Moderates played a pivotal role in consolidating the Indian National Congress as a pan-Indian political organization.

• Elitist Representation:
  • Composed mainly of western-educated elites like the Bhadralok in Bengal.
  • Failed to connect with backward regions and underprivileged groups.
• Perceived as Hindu Party:
  • The perception of the INC as a Hindu party led to the creation of the Muslim League, causing division.
• Neglect of social issues:
  • The INC could have gained support among women and mill workers, but it failed to champion mining, factory, and labor reform bills in Bombay due to lobbying from industrialist members and donors.
• Elitist demands:
  • Demands like raising the upper age limit for civil service exams and expanding legislative councils, was perceived as elitist.
  • Ordinary masses struggled to see how these demands would benefit them.
• Failure to address British exploitation:
  • Moderates didn't take a tough stance against the exploitative nature of British rule, leading to rising support for extremists.

Extremists placed their trust in the potential of the masses and sought to actively engage them in nationalist politics. Furthermore, they advocated for self-sufficiency as a means to combat foreign domination, actively promoting the Swadeshi movement and advocating the boycott of foreign goods.

• Extremists drew inspiration from ancient Indian ideals, the lives of figures like Shivaji and other Indian kings, as well as the events of the 1857 war.
• They adopted a radical approach and endorsed militant methods in their nationalist activities.
• Extremists unequivocally demanded Swaraj: Tilak was the first leader who wanted ‘Sampoorna Swaraj’.
• By promoting Swadeshi and advocating the boycott of foreign goods, they aimed to undermine British economic dominance.
• Unlike the Moderates, who had faith in British justice, Extremists were vocal in their opposition to British rule.

• Swadeshi Movement Success: Extremist leaders achieved success by leading the resistance against the Bengal partition and promoting the Swadeshi movement, emphasizing indigenous goods over foreign products.
• National Council of Education: Extremists contributed to the establishment of the National Council of Education, fostering nationalist principles in education and promoting Indian identity among the youth.
• Foundation of Later Movements: Extremist leaders like Lokamanya Tilak laid the groundwork for later national movements by advocating non-cooperation with the British government.
• Mass Mobilization: Extremists effectively mobilized the masses, demonstrating widespread support and participation in nationalist activities.
• Promotion of Indianization: Extremists emphasized Indian cultural values and traditions, expressing dissatisfaction with increasing Westernization of Indian society.

• Internal Conflict within Congress: Extremist leaders faced conflicts within the Congress, leading to inconsistency in their approach towards nationalist goals.
• Lack of Cohesion Among Leaders: Extremist leaders lacked cohesion and held differing perceptions, hampering unified decision-making and strategy implementation.
• Religious-Political Integration: Some leaders, like Tilak, intertwined religious celebrations like Ganesha festivals with political agendas, leading to social reactionary responses and undermining the movement's secular nature.
• Isolated struggles-: Extremist movements failed to unify into a nationwide movement, resulting in fragmented and isolated struggles across different regions.
• Government Crackdown: Government repression, including arrests of leaders like Tilak, stifled extremist activities and fragmented the movement further.

The Indian National Congress emerged as a symbol of India's collective aspirations for freedom, equality, and justice. Its formation not only laid the foundation for organized political activism in India but also inspired generations of leaders and citizens to strive for a democratic and independent nation. As we commemorate the founding of the Indian National Congress, we honor the resilience, vision, and sacrifices of those who embarked on the journey towards India's emancipation from colonial rule.