On a historic Monday, December 28, 1885, the political landscape of India was irrevocably changed. In the bustling city of Bombay, a gathering of 72 educated Indians from various provinces laid the foundation for what would become the nation's most prominent political force—the Indian National Congress. This seminal event, orchestrated by retired British civil servant Allan Octavian Hume, marked the formal beginning of organized political agitation for self-governance in colonial India.
The Historic First Session in Bombay
The inaugural session was convened at the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, located near the iconic Victoria Terminus. The meeting spanned three days, concluding on December 31, 1885. Presiding over this landmark assembly was Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee, a distinguished barrister from Calcutta. The delegates, though small in number, represented a significant cross-section of the educated Indian elite, including lawyers, teachers, and journalists, who shared a common vision for political reform.
The primary objective declared was not outright independence, but rather "the promotion of personal intimacy and friendship amongst all the more earnest workers in our country's cause." The founders aimed to create a platform for dialogue between educated Indians and the British Raj, focusing on constitutional methods to address grievances. Key figures present, besides Bonnerjee and Hume, included the eminent Dadabhai Naoroji, who would later become a central figure in the early nationalist movement.
Founding Principles and Early Resolutions
The Congress's formation was a direct response to growing Indian disillusionment with colonial policies. A.O. Hume, motivated by a desire to provide a safe outlet for rising political discontent, acted as the catalyst. The first session passed several key resolutions that set its initial moderate tone. These included demands for:
- The establishment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the Indian administration.
- The abolition of the Indian Council of the Secretary of State for India.
- Reforms in legislative councils to include more Indian representation.
- Holding the Indian Civil Service examinations simultaneously in England and India to allow greater Indian participation.
The Congress positioned itself as a loyal opposition, seeking greater inclusion within the British imperial system rather than its overthrow. Its methods were strictly constitutional, emphasizing petitions, debates, and peaceful persuasion.
The Lasting Legacy and Evolution
While modest in its initial demands, the founding of the Indian National Congress created an all-India political body for the first time. It provided a unified voice against colonial policies and became the nursery for future leaders of the independence movement. From its moderate beginnings under figures like Bonnerjee and Naoroji, the Congress would evolve dramatically over the decades.
The organization later transformed under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and others, adopting mass mobilization and civil disobedience as tools to ultimately achieve India's independence on August 15, 1947. The party formed the first government of independent India and has remained a dominant force in the country's democratic politics ever since.
The meeting in Bombay on that December day was more than just a conference; it was the birth of a democratic institution that would steer the destiny of a nation. The principles of debate, representation, and peaceful protest established in 1885 became ingrained in India's political DNA, influencing its journey from a colony to the world's largest democracy.
