Indian national congress history

The contribution of the Indian National Congress was important in liberating the motherland from British rule. In India's freedom struggle, many important political institutions, parties, organization was fought against the British in various ways. But the Indian National Congress opposed the British rule through various movements from 1885 until India's independence. The establishment of the Indian National Congress was an important event in the history of India.

The reason for the establishment

Historians differ on how the Indian National Congress was founded.Based on the information provided by historians, the establishment of Congress is divided into two parts.
NO.1:- Some historians believe that the Indian leadership wanted to create an all-India political institution to oppose the British rule. The British did not have any reason behind the establishment of this institution. Building a larger movement by uniting various political organizations spread across the country.
NO.2:- Many historians believe that the British contributed to the formation of the Indian National Congress. Because to stop the various mass movements developed in the country. The National Congress did not agitate for the independence of the country. Gave more importance so that the British could rule in the India. Safety valve theory comes from the idea of helping the British governor in India. Lala Lajpat Rai said in Young India published in 1916 that "The Congress was started more with the object of saving the British Empire from danger than with that of winning political liberty for India. The interests of the British Empire were primary and those of India only secondary." Also Marxist Pandit Rajni Pam Dutta,C.F. Andrews, Girija Mukherji, S, R, Mehrotra etc. scholars believe in safety valve theory.

Modern research has disproved the safety valve theory. Various theories suggest that Hume and Dufferin did not establish the Indian National Congress. Indian leaders founded the Indian National Congress. Hume only helped. Here Hume was secondary.

Establishment of Indian National Congress

opinion-1

All the reasons given by Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya behind the establishment of Congress are as follows. 'History of the Indian National Congress' book written by Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya and said that The history of Congress is mysterious. He mentioned several reasons behind this establishment.

1. In 1877 a ceremony was held to honor Queen Victoria. This ceremony was attended by some leaders from various regions of India. It is believed that the plan to form the Indian National Congress came about this time.
2. In 1883, the International Exhibition was organized in Calcutta. G. Subrahmanya Iyer mention about the International Exhibition. G. Subrahmanya Iyer was a member of the first session of the Indian National Congress.
3. The establish plan to form the Indian National Congress came from a meeting of the "Theosophical Society" in 1884. Meeting of the "Theosophical Society" was held at Madras. In this meeting 17 members meet in secret meeting and planning the established of Congress. This can be learned from the writings of "Smt Annie Besant".

opinion-2

Some scholars believe that the Indian National Congress was not formed by the Delhi Durbar of 1877, the International Exhibition of 1884, or the Theosophical Society etc. Dr. Rameshchandra Majumdar refutes the opinion above views. All the arguments he gave behind this are as follows.

1. Surendranath Banerjee's autobiography is "A Nation in making". Based on this book, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar said that Surendranath was not present at the Theosophical Society conference held in Madras. Because Surendranath wrote in his autobiography that he was busy with other work in Calcutta at that time. Surendranath Bandopadhyay's name is found among the 17 present members of the Theosophical Society conference in the book written by Mrs Besant. Also many of the 17 members name writing by Mrs. Annie Besant were not present in Madras at that time. Hume's name is not mentioned among the 17 members written by Mrs. Annie Besant. Again written by Mrs. Annie Besant most of the 17 members were not present at the inauguration ceremony of the Indian National Congress. Therefore it is considered that the information mentioned in the book written by Mrs. Annie Besant is not correct.
2. The Delhi Durbar, International Exhibition in Calcutta in 1883 inspired Surendranath. But Pattabhi Sitaramayya takes no mention the name of Surendranath in his composed book.

Role of Surendranath

Surendranath role in the formation of the Indian National Congress. Ambika Charan Majumdar was one of the presidents of the Indian National Congress. He mention "National Conference" of Surendranath. Ambika Charan Majumdar believes that the "National Congress" was built from the "National Conference" held in 1883 AD. An important point to note, after the second session of the "National Conference" was concluded, in 1885 the first session of the "National Congress" began on the next day. And the minutes of the "National Conference" were taken from Surendranath. The recommendations of the "National Congress" of 1885 were very similar to those of the "National Convention". This is why it is believed that the plan to create a "National Congress" came from the "National Conference".

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1. When Lord Ripon time to say goodbye from Calcutta in 1884, leaders from various provinces of India came to bid him farewell. And from here the formation of an all-India political institution was discussed.
2. Dr. Nandalal Chattopadhyay said that "The Congress was founded in fact as a precautionary move against an apprehended Russian invasion of India". In reality this argument is not correct.
3. Many consider "Dadabhai Naoroji" as the founder of the National Congress. Dinshaw Wacha was an important contemporary leader. He said that "The idea of the National Congress originated with Hume, and not with Dadabhai Naoroji".

Role of Hume

Allan Octavian Hume was an important English civil servant. He played a major role in the establishment of the Indian National Congress. Because at this time the lower class people of the country were fed up with the oppression of the British rule. So the lower classes people of the country can revolt at any time. It is planned to separate the educated society so that the educated people of the country cannot form a strong movement in support of this rebellion. For this, in the interest of the British government, with the help of some educated people, the Indian National Congress was formed by Hume. Hume himself said that "A safety valve for the escape of great and growing forces, generated by our own action, was urgently needed and no more efficacious safety valve, than our Congress Movement could possibly be devised". Hume was the founder of the Indian National Congress. This is the doctrine accepted some scholars, like Umesh Chandra Banerjee, William Wedderburn, Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Rajni Pam Dutt.

opinion-6

Many consider Barlat Dufferin as the founder of the National Congress.

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Before the establishment of Congress, various movements were formed in different parts of the country. Farmer revolts, extra interest rates, famine, inflation, discriminatory tariff policies, rising prices of daily necessities angered the people of many countries. Arms Act, Mother Tongue Newspaper Act, Ilbert Bill, Civil Service Examination etc, made the educated society of the country anti-English. Besides, an all-India organization was needed to present various demands to the British. So, The leadership of British India had long wanted to form an all-India political organization.

First session of Indian National Congress

The first session of the Indian National Congress was held under the chairmanship of Umesh Chandra Banerjee. The established date was 28/12/1885. The place was Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College Hall in Bombay city. The first session was organized with only 72 delegates. At the end of the session, nine proposals were sent to the British government.