Question

Which of the following was not an objective of the Indian National Congress when it was founded in 1885?

• A. The growth and consolidation of a spirit of national unity.
• B. The achievement of complete independence from British rule.
• C. The articulation of popular demands and their submission to the British authorities.
• D. The fostering of cordial relations among nationalist workers from various regions of the country.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The achievement of complete independence from British rule.

The Early Phase of Indian National Congress (1885)

• The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in December 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay.
• The pioneer behind the formation of INC was a retired British civil servant, Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume).
• The first president of the Congress was Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee), and the first session was attended by 72 delegates.

Initial Objectives of the INC

• Promotion of National Unity: Eradicating all possible prejudices of race, creed, or province and fostering a spirit of national unity among patriotic workers.
• Presentation of Popular Demands: Formulating and presenting popular demands before the British government through peaceful and constitutional means.
• Public Opinion: Training and organizing public opinion in the country.
• Friendly Relations: Developing and consolidating sentiments of national unity.

Why Complete Independence Was Not the Initial Goal

• During the early phase (1885–1905), known as the Moderate Phase, the leaders believed in the basic justice of the British rule and sought reforms rather than severance of ties.
• Their demands were limited to administrative and constitutional reforms, such as increasing Indian representation in legislative councils and holding Civil Services examinations in India.
• The demand for Swaraj (Self-rule within the British Empire) was first raised from the INC platform by Dadabhai Naoroji in the Calcutta Session of 1906.
• The goal of Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) was officially adopted much later at the Lahore Session of the Congress in 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru.