📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Founding of the INC & Sessions
- Precursors: Landholders' Society (1838), East India Association (Dadabhai Naoroji, London 1866), Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870), Indian Association (Surendranath Banerjea, 1876).
- INC founded on 28 December 1885 at Bombay (Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College); founder A.O. Hume; Viceroy Dufferin; 72 delegates.
- "Safety valve theory" — view that the Congress was an outlet for discontent.
| Year / place | President | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1885 Bombay | W.C. Bonnerjee | First session |
| 1886 Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | — |
| 1887 Madras | Badruddin Tyabji | First Muslim president |
| 1888 Allahabad | George Yule | First English president |
| 1905 Banaras | G.K. Gokhale | Support for Swadeshi |
| 1906 Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | "Swaraj" first used |
| 1907 Surat | Rash Behari Ghosh | Surat Split |
| 1916 Lucknow | A.C. Mazumdar | Lucknow Pact (Congress-League); moderates and extremists reunited |
| 1917 Calcutta | Annie Besant | First woman president |
📌 2. Moderates & Extremists
| Point | Moderates (1885–1905) | Extremists (1905–1920) |
|---|---|---|
| Leaders | Dadabhai Naoroji, Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjea | Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal), Aurobindo Ghosh |
| Method | Prayer, petition, protest (3P) | Boycott, swadeshi, national education |
| Goal | Reforms within British rule | Swaraj |
- Dadabhai Naoroji — "Grand Old Man of India"; drain of wealth theory — "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India".
- Tilak — "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it"; papers Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English); Ganapati (1893) and Shivaji festivals (1895); wrote "Gita Rahasya" in Mandalay jail.
📌 3. Partition, Swadeshi, League & Home Rule
- Partition of Bengal — announced July 1905, effective 16 October 1905 (Curzon); observed as day of mourning, Raksha Bandhan (Tagore). Swadeshi Movement launched (7 August 1905, Calcutta Town Hall — boycott resolution).
- Partition annulled in 1911 (Delhi Durbar, George V; Viceroy Hardinge); capital moved from Calcutta to Delhi (announced 1911).
- Muslim League — 30 December 1906, Dhaka; Aga Khan, Salimullah; preceded by the Simla Deputation (1906) to Minto.
- Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) — separate electorates for Muslims.
- Home Rule Leagues (1916) — Tilak (April 1916, Belgaum; Maharashtra, Karnataka, Central Provinces, Berar) and Annie Besant (September 1916, Madras; rest of India).
- Ghadar Party (1913, San Francisco) and revolutionary activity — see Chapter 19.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- First Muslim president Badruddin Tyabji (1887); first woman president Annie Besant (1917); first Indian woman president Sarojini Naidu (1925).
- Surat Split in 1907; reunion at Lucknow in 1916.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. When was the Indian National Congress founded? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The INC was founded in Bombay on 28 December 1885.
The INC was founded in Bombay on 28 December 1885.
Q2. Who was the first president of the Congress? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee presided over the first session (1885).
Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee presided over the first session (1885).
Q3. Who was Viceroy when the Congress was founded? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Lord Dufferin was Viceroy in 1885.
Lord Dufferin was Viceroy in 1885.
Q4. Who partitioned Bengal? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905.
Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905.
Q5. When was the Partition of Bengal annulled? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
It was annulled at the Delhi Durbar of 1911.
It was annulled at the Delhi Durbar of 1911.
Q6. Where was the Muslim League founded? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
It was founded at Dhaka on 30 December 1906.
It was founded at Dhaka on 30 December 1906.
Q7. When did the Surat Split take place? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Moderates and extremists split at the Surat session in 1907.
Moderates and extremists split at the Surat session in 1907.
Q8. Who propounded the 'drain of wealth theory'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Dadabhai Naoroji in 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'.
Dadabhai Naoroji in 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'.
Q9. Who was the first Muslim president of the Congress? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Badruddin Tyabji presided at Madras in 1887.
Badruddin Tyabji presided at Madras in 1887.
Q10. Who was the first woman president of the Congress? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Annie Besant (1917); Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman (1925).
Annie Besant (1917); Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman (1925).
Q11. At which session was the word 'Swaraj' first used by the Congress? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
At the 1906 Calcutta session under Dadabhai Naoroji.
At the 1906 Calcutta session under Dadabhai Naoroji.
Q12. The Lucknow Pact (1916) was between: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
In 1916 the Congress and League agreed on joint demands.
In 1916 the Congress and League agreed on joint demands.
Q13. Separate electorates for Muslims began with the: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 1909 Act introduced separate electorates.
The 1909 Act introduced separate electorates.
Q14. Who said 'Swaraj is my birthright'? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
This famous slogan is Tilak's.
This famous slogan is Tilak's.
Q15. Which newspapers did Tilak publish? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Tilak ran Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English).
Tilak ran Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English).
Q16. Where did Annie Besant found her Home Rule League (1916)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Besant founded hers at Madras (Adyar) in Sept 1916; Tilak's was at Belgaum.
Besant founded hers at Madras (Adyar) in Sept 1916; Tilak's was at Belgaum.
Q17. Who founded the Indian Association (1876)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose founded it in Calcutta.
Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose founded it in Calcutta.
Q18. In 'Lal-Bal-Pal', who is 'Pal'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
Q19. The method of the moderates was called: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Moderates believed in constitutional methods — prayer, petition, protest.
Moderates believed in constitutional methods — prayer, petition, protest.
Q20. Who was the first English president of the Congress? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
George Yule presided at Allahabad in 1888.
George Yule presided at Allahabad in 1888.