The Origins of the Indian National Congress: In the late nineteenth century, during British rule in India, an important chain of events began unfolding that would eventually shape the country’s political future. At the center of this story was Allan Octavian Hume, a British district officer whose relationship with the then Viceroy, Lord Lytton, was far from cordial. Their differences were not merely administrative but deeply personal, eventually leading to Hume’s demotion.
Although angered by this decision, Hume did not resign from his post. He continued serving and, unlike many British officials who returned to England after retirement, he chose to remain in India. This decision marked the beginning of his deeper involvement in Indian public life.
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Table of Contents
A Vision for Political Representation
By 1883, Hume had begun to reflect seriously on India’s condition under colonial rule. He reached out to educated Indians by writing an open letter addressed to university graduates. In this letter, he invited influential individuals from across the country to come together and form a national-level political organization. The purpose was clear: Indians needed a collective platform through which they could present their concerns and demands to the British government.
This idea was well received among the educated class. It resonated with a growing desire for political participation and representation, something that had been largely absent under British rule.
The First Steps Toward Formation
In December 1884, Hume organized a meeting with 17 political leaders from different parts of India. During this gathering, it was decided that a larger conference would be held on 28 December 1885 in Pune. The aim was to bring together more representatives and formally establish a national political body.
However, due to an outbreak of disease in Pune, the venue was shifted to Mumbai. The historic meeting eventually took place at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College. A total of 72 educated individuals attended the session, including 69 Indians and a few British participants, among them Hume himself.
On that day, 28 December 1885, the Indian National Congress was officially formed.
The Early Approach: Prayer, Protest, Petition
In its initial phase, the Congress adopted a moderate approach summarized as “Prayer, Protest, and Petition.” The idea was to work within the constitutional framework and peacefully present demands to the British authorities. It was also decided that the Congress would hold annual sessions every December, rotating across different regions of India. Each session would be named after the city in which it was held, a tradition that helped expand its reach across the country.
Another significant decision was related to leadership. Instead of having a permanent president, the Congress would elect a new president each year through voting. This ensured rotation in leadership and representation from different parts of India.
The Moderates and Their Beliefs
The early leaders of the Congress came to be known as moderates. They believed that the British were not inherently unjust but lacked understanding of Indian conditions due to cultural and geographical differences. According to them, if Indian issues were explained properly, the British government would respond positively.
However, this belief would later be challenged as time passed and their efforts failed to bring substantial change.
The “Safety Valve” Theory
Alongside the conventional narrative of the Congress’s formation, another perspective emerged. According to this theory, Hume was not acting independently but in coordination with British authorities, particularly Lord Dufferin. The argument suggests that the British anticipated the possibility of a large-scale uprising if Indians united politically.
To prevent such a scenario, they allegedly supported the creation of a controlled political platform. This would allow them to monitor Indian sentiments and manage dissent before it turned into rebellion.
This idea was famously described by Lala Lajpat Rai in 1916, who referred to the Congress as a “safety valve.” It acts as the mechanism in a pressure cooker that releases excess steam to prevent an explosion. According to this view, the Congress was meant to channel public frustration in a controlled manner.
Even William Wedderburn, a close associate of Hume and a two-time Congress president, wrote in 1913 that the British had intentionally supported the formation of the Congress to maintain control over the political situation.
Growing Discontent and Changing Realities
Despite regular meetings and demands raised by moderate leaders, the British government showed little willingness to make meaningful changes. In fact, several new laws were introduced that further restricted rights rather than expanding them.
The situation worsened between 1896 and 1900 when severe famine struck India, leading to the deaths of over nine million people. These tragic events exposed the limitations of the moderate approach and created dissatisfaction among younger leaders within the Congress.
The Rise of Assertive Leadership
A new group began to emerge within the Congress that questioned the effectiveness of petitions and peaceful appeals. Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai argued that such methods were not influencing British policies in any meaningful way.
This group, later known as the extremists, did not necessarily advocate violence but believed that stronger and more assertive actions were necessary. They felt that relying solely on constitutional methods was insufficient and that a more forceful approach was needed to achieve real change.
The Origins of the Indian National Congress: A Movement in Transition
The formation of the Indian National Congress marked the beginning of organized political activity in India. What started as a platform for dialogue gradually evolved into a powerful movement for independence. The early debates between moderates and extremists reflected a deeper shift in strategy, one that would continue to shape India’s struggle against colonial rule in the decades to come.
This period was not just about the creation of a political party, but about the awakening of a nation finding its voice.
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