INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC)
1. Context
The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885.
It began as a party which simply wanted to influence British policy in India, then transformed to be at the helm of India’s nationalist movement, before becoming a hegemonic force in post-independence India, and finally seeing a decline that is still ongoing today.
On the 139th Congress Foundation Day, we take a brief look at the history of the INC, and its evolution to becoming the party it is today
2. Founding of Indian National Congress (INC)
- The Indian National Congress (INC) was established by English bureaucrat Allan Octavian Hume, advocating for increased self-governance rather than outright independence for the Indian populace.
- On December 28, 1885, the inaugural session of the INC took place at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay, where 72 social reformers, journalists, and lawyers assembled.
- During its inception, the INC's primary goal was not the termination of colonial rule but rather influencing British policies in favor of Indians.
- Its purpose is often depicted as providing a means for Indians to voice their grievances and discontent, acting as a "safety valve."
- William Wedderburn, another founding member of the INC, articulated the movement's core objectives in his 1913 biography of Hume, emphasizing the amalgamation of India's diverse elements into a unified national entity, gradual rejuvenation across spiritual, moral, social, and political dimensions, and the strengthening of ties between England and India.
3. Important Indian National Congress Sessions with Presidents
| Year | Session | Location | President |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | First Session | Bombay (Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College) | Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee |
| 1886 | Second Session | Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji |
| 1887 | Third Session | Madras | Badruddin Tyabji |
| 1888 | Fourth Session | Allahabad | George Yule |
| 1889 | Fifth Session | Bombay | Sir William Wedderburn |
| 1890 | Sixth Session | Calcutta | Sir Dadabhai Naoroji |
| 1891 | Seventh Session | Nagpur | Pherozeshah Mehta |
| 1892 | Eighth Session | Allahabad | Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee |
| 1893 | Ninth Session | Lahore | Dadabhai Naoroji |
| 1894 | Tenth Session | Madras | Alfred Webb |
| 1895 | Eleventh Session | Poona | Surendranath Banerjee |
| 1896 | Twelfth Session | Calcutta | Rahimtulla M. Sayani |
| 1897 | Thirteenth Session | Amraoti | C. Sankaran Nair |
| 1898 | Fourteenth Session | Madras | Ananda Mohan Bose |
| 1899 | Fifteenth Session | Lucknow | Ramesh Chunder Dutt |
| 1900 | Sixteenth Session | Lahore | N.G. Chandavarkar |
4. Indian National Congress and National Movement
- Despite achieving some victories, the Congress faced a challenging situation. While its members frequently protested against the unjust treatment of Indians by the British, these protests were typically confined to prayers and formal requests.
- Consequently, the party encountered criticism from the British for disrupting the established order, while simultaneously receiving backlash from Indians who believed their efforts fell short.
- Notably, the Congress primarily comprised educated individuals from the upper class, many of whom had received education abroad. As British rule persisted and the party expanded into different regions, significant disagreements arose regarding its objectives and operational methods.
- These differences became evident in 1906, leading to a division between the moderates, led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjea, and the extremists, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- As their titles suggest, these groups held contrasting views on how to respond to the Bengal Partition of 1905. The moderates advocated maintaining a cordial relationship with the British, while the extremists endorsed boycotts and demonstrations.
- The party eventually reunited in 1915, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's emergence. Gandhi swiftly became the most influential figure, reshaping the party's politics entirely: from socializing with the British elite, the Congress transitioned into leading the most extensive mass movement in history.
- Under Gandhi's leadership, it evolved into a social movement addressing issues like abolishing caste discrimination, poverty, and ethnic divides. Although predominantly composed of upper-caste Hindu men, it included influential members from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, enhancing its appeal among the masses.
- During the 1929 Lahore session under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency, a protege of Gandhi, the Congress declared "Purna Swaraj" (complete independence) as its ultimate objective.
- Nehru proclaimed, "The British government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually…. Therefore…India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or complete independence."
- This aspiration was eventually realized in 1947, albeit alongside the challenging reality of Partition
5. Indian National Congress role Post Independent India
- The inheritance of the national movement's legacy and the Congress' robust organizational prowess secured its dominant position in early India, reflected in its consecutive victories in the initial six general elections.
- Led by Nehru, the party embraced secularism, adopted socialistic economic policies centered on state-driven industrialization, and pursued a non-aligned, non-confrontational foreign policy.
- However, despite its supremacy, internal party dynamics persisted. Nehru was succeeded by Shastri, whose sudden passing in 1966 led to a power struggle between the old guard of the Congress and Indira Gandhi.
- Indira, relatively inexperienced, was appointed Prime Minister by the old guard, including figures like Morarji Desai and K Kamaraj, initially with expectations of exerting significant influence. Nevertheless, Indira had her own vision, resulting in a division within the party — Congress (R) under Indira's leadership and Congress (O) led by Desai.
- Despite this rift, Indira's government endured and secured a resounding mandate, returning to power emphatically in 1971
6. Decline of Indian National Congress(INC)
- Following the period of the Emergency (1975-77), the Congress faced defeat in the 1977 general elections, marking its first national electoral setback.
- It reclaimed power within three years, retaining control until 1989, led initially by Indira (assassinated in 1984) and subsequently by her son Rajiv.
- The unexpected electoral defeat in 1989 was a significant blow to the party. Although remaining the largest single political entity, it fell short by 68 seats of securing a majority, resulting in a coalition government taking charge instead.
- This coalition persisted for a brief period, succeeded by another 5-year Congress administration under PV Narasimha Rao.
- However, the era of its dominance concluded. In the 1990s, the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as a national alternative to the Congress. Under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, this non-Congress government marked the first time in Indian history that a non-Congress administration lasted a full five-year term.
- Subsequently, the Congress returned to power from 2004 to 2014, but faced a significant decline, securing fewer than 50 seats in the 2014 and 2016 elections
7. Way forward
While the Congress has retained influence and remains a major political entity, its electoral fortunes have fluctuated in recent years, reflecting the changing political landscape of India. The party continues to be an integral part of India's political discourse, contributing to national debates and policies
Source: Indianexpress
