Founder of Congress?
VerifiedAnswer: Allan Octavian Hume
Explanation:
Allan Octavian Hume is widely recognized as the founder of the Indian National Congress, which was established on December 28, 1885. Born in 1829 in England, Hume was a British civil servant who spent a significant part of his career in India, serving in various administrative positions under the British Raj.
Hume's vision for creating the Congress was initially quite different from what it eventually became. He believed that forming a political organization would provide a constitutional outlet for Indian grievances and help prevent potential revolutionary movements. His idea was to create a platform where educated Indians could voice their concerns in a peaceful and organized manner, acting as a bridge between the British government and the Indian people.
The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay (now Mumbai) at the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College. This historic meeting brought together 72 delegates from different parts of India, representing various regions and communities. Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee was chosen as the first President of the Congress, but the organizational groundwork and the very concept were Hume's contributions.
Interestingly, Hume had initially approached Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy of India, with his proposal. While the Viceroy was somewhat supportive of the idea, believing it would help the government understand Indian public opinion better, many British officials were skeptical about creating such an organization.
Hume worked closely with prominent Indian leaders and intellectuals of the time, including Dadabhai Naoroji, Dinshaw Wacha, and others, to establish the Congress. His role was crucial in the initial years as he helped organize meetings, corresponded with potential members across India, and provided the necessary administrative support to get the organization off the ground.
The early Congress had moderate goals, focusing primarily on administrative reforms, greater Indian representation in government services, and economic policies that would benefit India. However, over the decades, it evolved into the primary vehicle for India's independence movement, eventually leading the country to freedom under leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others.
It's fascinating to note that what began as Hume's attempt to create a controlled outlet for Indian political expression eventually became the most powerful force challenging British rule in India. The Congress transformed from a loyalist organization seeking reforms within the British system to a revolutionary movement demanding complete independence, something that Hume probably never envisioned when he founded it in 1885.
