Learn about the formation of Indian National Congress in 1885, A.O. Hume, W.C. Bonnerjee, leaders, objectives and its role in India’s freedom movement.
Formation of Indian National Congress
The formation of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885 was a landmark event in the history of India’s national movement. It provided an organized political platform where educated Indians from different regions could discuss common political, economic and social concerns. Over time, the Congress developed from a moderate political organization into the principal force leading India’s struggle for independence.
The establishment of the Congress was closely connected with the growth of political awareness, modern education, the expansion of the press and increasing dissatisfaction with British colonial policies. Although its early leaders demanded constitutional reforms rather than complete independence, the organization eventually became the central force of the Indian freedom struggle.
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Background to the Formation of the Congress
Several developments during the nineteenth century created the conditions for the emergence of an all-India political organization.
The spread of Western education introduced educated Indians to ideas such as liberty, equality, democracy, nationalism and representative government. Indian intellectuals increasingly began questioning discriminatory colonial policies and demanding greater participation in administration.
The growth of newspapers and journals also helped create political awareness. Publications discussed economic exploitation, administrative problems and racial discrimination, allowing political ideas to spread beyond individual cities and regions.
Several political associations had already emerged before the Congress. These included the Brahmo Samaj, the Indian Association, the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, the Madras Mahajan Sabha and the Bombay Presidency Association. Although these organizations operated mainly at regional levels, they helped develop the idea of organized political action.
Economic criticism of British rule also became increasingly influential. Thinkers such as Dadabhai Naoroji highlighted the economic exploitation of India through the Drain of Wealth theory. Such arguments strengthened the growing belief that Indians needed a common political platform to express their grievances.
Role of A.O. Hume
Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, played an important role in establishing the Indian National Congress. Hume believed that educated Indians needed an organized political platform through which they could communicate their demands to the colonial government.
Hume corresponded with Indian political leaders and worked toward bringing representatives from different parts of India together. His efforts contributed significantly to the establishment of an organization with an all-India character.
The exact interpretation of Hume’s motivation has been debated by historians. One explanation, often associated with the idea of a “Safety Valve,” suggests that the Congress was intended to provide an organized and peaceful outlet for growing political dissatisfaction. However, the Congress cannot be understood merely as a British-created safety mechanism. Indian political awakening, the work of earlier associations and the growing sense of nationalism were equally important factors in its emergence.
First Session of the Indian National Congress
The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay in December 1885. It took place at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College.
The session was originally expected to be held in Poona, but an outbreak of cholera led to the venue being shifted to Bombay.
Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee) presided over the first session. Around 72 delegates participated, representing different parts of India.
The gathering was significant because it brought politically active Indians from different regions together on a common platform. The delegates discussed issues affecting Indians as a whole rather than focusing only on regional concerns.
Among the important early leaders associated with the Congress were Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee, Dinshaw Wacha, Mahadev Govind Ranade and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Their ideas helped shape the early political character of the organization.
Objectives of the Early Congress
The early Congress did not initially demand complete independence from British rule. Its approach was largely constitutional and moderate.
Its major objectives included:
- Increasing Indian representation in legislative councils.
- Expanding opportunities for Indians in government services.
- Demanding reforms in the administrative system.
- Promoting civil rights and freedom of expression.
- Reducing excessive military and administrative expenditure.
- Drawing attention to India’s economic problems.
- Creating political unity among Indians.
- Developing public opinion through peaceful and constitutional methods.
The early Congress leaders believed that political reforms could be achieved through petitions, resolutions, public meetings and discussions with the British authorities.
The Moderate Phase of the Congress
The period from 1885 to 1905 is generally associated with the Moderate Phase of the Indian National Congress. Moderate leaders believed in constitutional methods. They had faith, at least initially, that the British Parliament and liberal opinion in Britain could respond positively to reasonable Indian demands.
Their methods included:
- Petitions and representations
- Resolutions
- Public meetings
- Constitutional agitation
- Memoranda to British authorities
- Political education and awareness
The Moderates played an important role in developing the foundations of Indian nationalism. They exposed the economic consequences of colonial rule and created a common political vocabulary among educated Indians.
Economic Critique of British Rule
One of the most important contributions of the early Congress was its economic criticism of colonialism.
Dadabhai Naoroji argued that wealth was continuously being transferred from India to Britain without adequate economic returns to India. This became known as the Drain of Wealth theory.
Other nationalist thinkers also criticized high land revenue, discriminatory economic policies, military expenditure and the destruction of indigenous industries.
The economic critique helped Indians understand that poverty and underdevelopment were not simply natural conditions but were connected to the structure of colonial rule.
Importance of the Formation of the Congress
The creation of the Indian National Congress was a turning point because it transformed scattered political activities into a broader national movement.
1. Creation of an All-India Political Platform
The Congress provided a common forum for political workers from different provinces, languages and communities.
2. Growth of National Consciousness
It encouraged Indians to think beyond regional and local interests and develop a broader sense of Indian nationalism.
3. Training Ground for Political Leadership
The organization produced generations of political leaders who later played important roles in the freedom struggle.
4. Exposure of Colonial Policies
Congress leaders systematically criticized British economic and administrative policies and helped educate the public about their consequences.
5. Foundation for the Freedom Movement
Although the early Congress demanded limited constitutional reforms, it gradually became the principal organization of the Indian national movement.
From Moderate Politics to Mass Nationalism
The character of the Congress changed significantly in the twentieth century. The Partition of Bengal in 1905 strengthened nationalist politics and contributed to the rise of the Swadeshi and Boycott movements.
The organization later witnessed differences between the Moderates and the Extremists, particularly over political methods and the pace of nationalist action. The Surat Split of 1907 reflected these tensions.
Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress was transformed into a mass organization. Movements such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement brought millions of Indians into the national struggle.
Thus, the organization that began in 1885 as a platform largely dominated by educated political leaders eventually became the principal vehicle of India’s mass struggle against colonial rule.
Summary
The formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 marked the beginning of a new phase in India’s political history. Its creation was the result of several factors, including the spread of modern education, the growth of the press, the emergence of political associations, economic criticism of colonialism and increasing national consciousness. A.O. Hume played an important organizational role, while Indian leaders such as W.C. Bonnerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji and others gave the organization its political direction.
The early Congress adopted moderate and constitutional methods, but its importance extended far beyond its initial demands. Over the following decades, the Congress evolved into a mass nationalist organization and became central to India’s struggle for independence.
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