📌 Topic 02 of 6 · Chapter 14 · Indian National Movement (1857–1920)
Formation of INC & Moderate Phase
A.O. Hume, W.C. Bonnerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Gokhale — INC formation and Moderate phase (1885–1905).
🏛️ Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)
- Founded by A.O. Hume (Allan Octavian Hume) — retired British civil servant
- First session: Bombay, December 1885
- First president: W.C. Bonnerjee (Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee) — lawyer from Calcutta
- Initially supported by British — Hume wanted INC to be a “safety valve” for Indian discontent
- First Indian president: Dadabhai Naoroji (1886)
- 72 delegates attended the first session
⭐ “Safety Valve” Theory: A.O. Hume founded INC partly to provide a “safety valve” for Indian discontent — a platform where educated Indians could express grievances peacefully, preventing violent revolution. However, INC gradually became a vehicle for Indian nationalism and independence. The “safety valve” theory is debated by historians.
🏛️ Moderate Phase (1885–1905)
Key Leaders:
| Leader | Region | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Dadabhai Naoroji | Bombay/London | “Grand Old Man of India”; Drain of Wealth theory; first Indian MP in British Parliament (1892) |
| Gopal Krishna Gokhale | Maharashtra | Moderate leader; Servants of India Society (1905); Gandhi’s political mentor |
| Pherozeshah Mehta | Bombay | “Uncrowned King of Bombay”; moderate leader |
| Surendranath Banerjee | Bengal | “Nation Maker”; founded Indian Association (1876); moderate leader |
| M.G. Ranade | Maharashtra | Social reformer; Prarthana Samaj; economic nationalist |
Methods of Moderates:
- “3 Ps” — Petition, Prayer, Protest
- Constitutional agitation — working within the British system
- Petitions to British Parliament and Indian Legislative Councils
- Memorials to the Viceroy
- Speeches and newspaper articles
Demands of Moderates:
- More Indians in civil services (ICS)
- Expansion of legislative councils
- Reduction of military expenditure
- Separation of judicial and executive functions
- Free press
Criticism of Moderates:
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak called them “political mendicants” — begging from the British
- Their methods were too slow and ineffective
- They represented only the educated elite — not the masses
- They had faith in British justice — which was misplaced
Achievement of Moderates:
- Educated Indians about their rights and the nature of British rule
- Created political consciousness among the educated class
- Laid the foundation for the nationalist movement
- Indian Councils Act (1892) — some concessions to Indian demands
📝 Exam Tip:
• INC founded = 1885 = A.O. Hume = first session Bombay = W.C. Bonnerjee = first president
• Dadabhai Naoroji = first Indian president of INC (1886) = “Grand Old Man of India”
• Moderate methods = “3 Ps” = Petition, Prayer, Protest
• Gokhale = Servants of India Society (1905) = Gandhi’s political mentor
• Tilak called Moderates = “political mendicants”
• INC founded = 1885 = A.O. Hume = first session Bombay = W.C. Bonnerjee = first president
• Dadabhai Naoroji = first Indian president of INC (1886) = “Grand Old Man of India”
• Moderate methods = “3 Ps” = Petition, Prayer, Protest
• Gokhale = Servants of India Society (1905) = Gandhi’s political mentor
• Tilak called Moderates = “political mendicants”