Eduqo
Modern Indian History›Ch 4: Rise of Nationalism›Foundation of INC and Moderates
Master A.O. Hume, the 1885 Bombay session, and early nationalist leaders
The Indian National Congress was founded in December 1885 at Bombay by A.O. Hume. The first session was presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee, marking the beginning of organized political opposition.
Smart Memory Hooks
| Detail | Fact | Exam Note |
|---|---|---|
| Founder | A.O. Hume | Retired ICS officer |
| First President | W.C. Bonnerjee | Presided Bombay session |
| Moderate Leaders | Naoroji, Mehta, Bannerjea | Believed in British justice |
A.O. Hume
(First General Secretary)
First General Secretary
A.O. Hume acted as the first general secretary of the INC.
W.C. Bonnerjee
(First President)
First President
W.C. Bonnerjee presided over the landmark 1885 Bombay session.
Moderates
(Constitutional Agitation)
Constitutional Agitation
Dadabhai Naoroji and Surendranath Banerjea led the Moderate faction.
Safety Valve
(Hume's Theory)
Hume's Theory
Lala Lajpat Rai later termed INC as a safety valve for British rule.
INC was founded in PuneINC was founded in Bombay
Venue was shifted from Pune to Bombay due to a cholera outbreak.
A.O. Hume was the first PresidentW.C. Bonnerjee was the first President
Hume was the founder and general secretary, not the president.
Moderates used aggressive strikesModerates used prayer and petition
Aggressive agitation and boycotts were introduced later by Extremists.
Q1.Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress in 1885?
Q2.Which of the following was a primary method used by the Moderate leaders of INC?