Indian History and World History (Part-34)

Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume, a retired British officer.

Its first session was held on 28 December 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit Vidyalaya in Bombay. A total of 72 delegates participated in it.

The first session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by Vyomesh Chandra Banerjee and its first General Secretary was A.O. Hume himself.

important Indian National Congress sessions (Pre-Independence):

1. 1885, Bombay – First INC session, presided by W.C. Bonnerjee.

2. 1907, Surat – Congress split into Moderates and Extremists.

3. 1916, Lucknow – Lucknow Pact with Muslim League.

4. 1919, Amritsar – Protest against Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

5. 1920, Nagpur – Launch of Non-Cooperation Movement.

6. 1924, Belgaum – Only session presided over by Gandhi.

7. 1927, Madras – Demand for complete independence raised.

8. 1929, Lahore – Purna Swaraj declared; 26 Jan observed as Independence Day.

9. 1931, Karachi – Resolution on Fundamental Rights; Gandhi-Irwin Pact endorsed.

10. 1936, Lucknow – Congress adopted socialism.

11. 1938, Haripura – Bose formed National Planning Committee.

12. 1939, Tripuri – Bose-Gandhi rift; Bose resigned.

13. 1946, Meerut – Last session before independence; focus on power transfer.

Indian National Congress: 

Foundation and Early Phase (1885–1905)

1. Founded on: 28 December 1885 in Bombay
2. Founder: A.O. Hume (a retired British ICS officer)
3. First President: W.C. Bannerji
4. Purpose: Platform for dialogue between Indians and the British Government.
5. Dominated by Moderates who believed in peaceful reforms and petitions.

Badruddin Tyabji presided over the third session of the Congress held in Madras in 1887. He was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress.

The India Councils Act, of 1909 is also called the Morley-Minto Reforms. The foundation of communal elections was laid by this act.

summary of the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909):

1. Expanded legislative councils at both central and provincial levels.

2. Introduced indirect elections for the first time.

3. Separate electorates for Muslims were established.

4. Indians included in executive councils (e.g., S.P. Sinha joined Viceroy’s council).

5. Members could discuss budget, but had no voting rights.

6. Gave Indians limited role in legislation and administration.

The 19th session of the Indian National Congress was held in Madras in December 1903. It was presided over by Lal Mohan Ghosh.

The first split of the Indian National Congress into moderate and extremist factions took place in the year 1907 at the Surat session.

1. The extremists were led by Lokmanya Tilak, VO. Chidambaram Pillai and Sri Aurbindo Ghosh
2. The moderates were led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjee.

In 1907, in the 23rd session of the Indian National Congress at Surat, the Congress was split over the post of President into the Moderates and the Extremists.

The extremist faction wanted Lala Lajpat Rai to be the president and the moderate faction wanted the moderate Rash Behari Ghosh as its president.

Ultimately Rash Behari Ghosh succeeded in becoming the president.

In 1907, in the 23rd session of the Indian National Congress at Surat, the Congress was split over the post of President into the Moderates and the Extremists.

Surat Split (1907) – Brief Summary

• Took place in 1907 at Surat session of the Indian National Congress.

• Split between Moderates (Gokhale) and Extremists (Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal).

• Cause: Ideological differences and dispute over the INC presidency.

• Result: Congress split; Moderates retained control, Extremists walked out.

• It temporarily weakened the national movement.

The good relations between the Extremists and Moderates of the Indian National Congress were restored in the Lucknow Pact of 1916

Lucknow Pact (1916)

• It was an agreement between:

  1. Moderates and Extremists within the Indian National Congress (they reunited).

  2. Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League (to present joint political demands to the British).

Key Significance:

• Reunited the Congress factions after the 1907 Surat Split.

• Marked Hindu-Muslim unity in the national movement.

• A major step toward a united fight for self-government.

The Lucknow Pact of December 1916 was concluded on the basis of mutual consent between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.