Safety Valve Theory

The Safety Valve theory of formation of Indian National Congress revolves around the myth that the Congress was founded by A.O.Hume, a retired British Civil Servant, under the alledged guidance of Viceroy Dufferin in 1885. According to this theory, Lord Dufferin wanted to create an organisation to provide a safe, peaceful and constitutional stage or safety valve for lowering the discontent among the masses that might lead to a violent revolution even larger than the Revolt of 1857. This theory was first advanced by Lala Lajpat Rai to attack the moderates in the Congress. The theory has since been disproved and does not have merit.

Many people have speculated what would have happened if Indian National Congress was not setup by AO Hume in 1885. It is believed that there could have been a possible rebellion and freedom could have been secured, while others desist this and say that mass organisation which Indian National Congress provided was essential to truly secure Independence.

Liberals/ Moderates v. Radical Members of the Indian Freedom Struggle

• The liberals embraced the safety valve theory as it affirmed that their work prevented violence which would have come with a mass armed rebellion for freedom.
• The radicals use it to blame Congress as an organisation which was compromised from the very beginning and hence delayed the inevitable freedom. Hence they brand Congress as an anti national organisation.
• The leftists use it to prove that the Congress was created to safeguard the capitalist and British interests and was not setup for the interest of the masses.

• Lala Lajpat Rai said that INC was started by the British to ensure longevity of the British Empire instead of freedom for Indians.
• R. Palme Dutt believed that Congress was created to channelise the mass discontent so that no real revolution can happen.
• RS Chief M.S.Golwalkar used the Safety Valve theory to say that the INC was actually an anti-national organisation as it was not created in interest of Indian freedom.
• Liberals, on the other hand look at Safety Valve Theory favourably. They say that INC creation avoided unnecessary bloodbath which would have come with a typical mass movement. It was supported by C.F.Andrews and Girija Mukherjee.
• Womesh Chandra Bannerjee speculated that Lord Duffering setup INC to be like an opposition party to the British Rule, knowing fully well that this party would never have any powers.

• Indians Already Organising: Congress was formed when existing organisations were cropping up in various parts of the country to demand reform in governance like the British Indian Association, East Indian Association, Indian Association of Calcutta etc. Infact many pre-Congress associations in Bengal, Bombay and Madras Presidencies were doing political work already.
• Hume wanted to form a Political Association: Discussions of Hume with Indian leaders were related to forming a political association and not a mere social one.
• Duffering Distanced from Hume: After the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885, Lord Dufferin distanced himself from Hume.

Hence, the Indian National Congress was not a safety valve. Even if there was participation of British Civil Servants, it does not point to a plan for making the organisation for nefarious purposes.

According to the Safety Valve Theory, the British saw the political situation in the country as leading to another rebellion along the same lines of the Revolt of 1857 and they wanted to avoid such a situation. They desired to provide a forum for people to discuss their political issues. This theory has now been abandoned. However, the contribution of the British in establishing the first all-India political front in which the majority of the people were Hindus cannot be overlooked. Muslims initially reacted negatively to Congress, but there were active leaders from the community, such as Badruddin Taybji.

the Safety Valve Theory has been discarded in contemporary times, it is important to accept the contribution of the Britishers in creating the first ever pan-Indian political platform which is the Indian National Congress. The British authorities’ decision to support the establishment of the Congress, under the leadership of A.O. Hume, allowed for the mobilisation and organisation of Indians various social groups. INC was crucial in the fight for independence and shaping modern India.