Central Idea

On December 28, 1885, the Indian National Congress (INC) was established, marking the beginning of a significant journey in Indian politics.
The INC’s journey from influencing British policy to leading India’s nationalist movement, dominating post-independence politics, and its current decline offers a rich political narrative.

Indian National Congress: Inception in 1885

Founding by AO Hume: Allan Octavian Hume, an English bureaucrat, founded the INC to advocate for greater self-governance in India.
First Session: The inaugural session in Bombay saw 72 reformers, journalists, and lawyers unite, aiming not for independence but to influence British policies favorably for Indians.
Safety Valve Theory: The INC initially served as a platform for Indians to express grievances, seeking to unify diverse population segments and regenerate the nation across various dimensions.

Early Challenges: The Congress faced criticism from both the British and Indians; the former for disrupting the status quo and the latter for its passive resistance approach.
Composition and Critique: Dominated by educated, upper-class individuals, the INC was often seen as too moderate and not sufficiently representative of all Indians.
Internal Divisions: By 1906, ideological differences led to a split between the moderates (Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendranath Banerjea) and the extremists (Bal Gangadhar Tilak), particularly over responses to the Bengal Partition.

Reunification and Transformation: The INC, under Gandhi’s influence from 1915, transformed into a mass movement, focusing on social issues like caste discrimination and poverty.
Diverse Membership: Despite its Hindu upper-caste dominance, the party included members from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Purna Swaraj Declaration: At the 1929 Lahore session, the INC, under Jawaharlal Nehru’s presidency, committed to complete independence, a goal achieved in 1947 but marred by Partition.

Electoral Success: The INC’s legacy and organizational strength led to victories in the first six general elections.
Policy Direction: Under Nehru, the party promoted secularism, socialist economics, and non-aligned foreign policy.
Internal Power Struggles: Post-Nehru, internal conflicts emerged, notably between Indira Gandhi and the party’s old guard, leading to a split into Congress (R) and Congress (O).

Electoral Setbacks: The Emergency period (1975-77) led to the INC’s first national electoral defeat in 1977.
Fluctuating Fortunes: While it regained power, the 1989 loss marked the end of its dominance, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as a strong alternative.
Recent Struggles: The INC’s significant reduction in parliamentary strength in the 2014 and 2016 elections underscores its ongoing decline.

1896, Calcutta: Presided over by Rahimtulla M. Sayani, where the national song “Vande Mataram” was sung for the first time.
1906, Calcutta: Presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji, where the goal of Swaraj (self-rule) was formally adopted.
1917, Calcutta: Annie Besant became the first woman president of the INC.
1924, Belgaum: The only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.
1937, Faizpur: The first session held in a rural area, reflecting the INC’s commitment to rural issues and agrarian reform.
1938, Haripura: Subhas Chandra Bose elected as President, which marked a shift towards a more radical approach in the freedom struggle.
1940, Ramgarh: Last session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi; emphasized on individual Satyagraha.
1955, Avadi (Madras): Adoption of the ‘Avadi Resolution’ which called for a socialist pattern of society.
1964, Bhubaneswar: First session after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, marking a new era in the party’s leadership.