Ideological Foundations of the Indian National Congress: The Role of Early Leaders

From its inception, the INC was marked by different ideological underpinnings that shaped its leaders’ visions and strategies. Understanding the complexities of these ideologies provides insight into the INC’s evolution over time. Dadabhai Naoroji, the “Grand Old Man of India,” championed economic nationalism with his drain theory, exposing British exploitation. Alongside him, W.C. Bonnerjee, Pherozeshah Mehta, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale played pivotal roles in shaping the Indian National Congress and advocating for gradual reform and autonomy.

Early Leaders

Dadabhai Naoroji: Known as the “Grand Old Man of India,” Naoroji laid the foundation for economic nationalism. His drain theory in his work “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India” highlighted the economic exploitation of India by the British. He sought fiscal autonomy for India and promoted the idea of “Swaraj” (self-rule) as a means of economic restitution. 

• Naoroji believed in constitutional methods of agitation and worked towards building a rapport with British political circles to gain their support for Indian autonomy.

• W.C. Bonnerjee: As the first president of the INC, Bonnerjee was instrumental in shaping the organisation’s early approach. He advocated for a balance between loyalty to the British Crown and the pursuit of political and administrative reforms. 
  • His vision for India was gradual autonomy through constitutional reforms, and he emphasised collaboration with liberal British factions to achieve these goals.
• Pherozeshah Mehta: Often called the “Lion of Bombay,” Mehta was a significant figure in the formation of the INC. He was a moderate leader who believed in gradual reforms through constitutional means. 
  • He opposed any form of agitation that could lead to violence and stressed the importance of building a stable platform for civil rights in India through legal and bureaucratic reform.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale: As an influential and respected member of the INC, Gokhale advocated moderate and constitutional methods of agitation and gradual reform. In addition to his political activities, Gokhale’s deep concern with social reform led him to found the Servants of India Society (1905), whose members took vows of poverty and lifelong service to the underprivileged. 
  • He opposed the ill-treatment of untouchables, or low-caste Hindus, and also took up the cause of impoverished Indians living in South Africa.

Milestones of the Indian National Congress: Paving the Path to Independence

Table 10.1: Important Congress Sessions

Indian National Congress: Was It a Safety Valve?

The foundation of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885 marked a seminal event in modern Indian history. Its establishment is sometimes described under the ‘safety valve’ theory, a controversial and intriguing aspect that has sparked debates among historians, and scholars.

Safety Valve Theory

The theory originated from William Wedderbum’s biography of Hume published in 1913. Wedderburn, another ex-civil servant, wrote that in 1878 Hume had come across seven volumes of secret reports which showed that there had been seething discontent among the lower classes and a conspiracy to overthrow British rule by force. He became disturbed, met Lord Dufferin, and together they decided to establish an organization with educated Indians.

Thus, The ‘safety valve’ theory postulates that the INC was created under the British initiative to provide a controlled platform for the Indian elite to express their grievances. This, in turn, would diffuse larger and potentially more dangerous forms of rebellion. The British, according to this theory, considered it a precautionary measure to prevent a repeat of revolts similar to the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.

Arguments Supporting the Safety Valve Theory

• Involvement of A.O. Hume: Hume’s central role in the formation of the INC is cited as a key argument. As a former British civil servant, his initiative in mobilizing Indian leaders raised suspicions regarding his intentions and the British government’s role.
• Lord Dufferin’s Endorsement: The Viceroy at the time, Lord Dufferin, had somewhat endorsed the formation of a single platform where Indian political demands could be aggregated. 
  • His benign stance towards the INC’s establishment, unusual for the colonial administration, is seen as supporting the safety valve notion.
• According to Bipan Chandra, the early Congressmen employed Hume as a “lightning conductor,” or as a means of igniting nationalistic impulses, even while doing so under the pretense of a “safety valve.”

Arguments against the Safety Valve Theory

• Indian Initiative: Prominent leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Dinshaw Wacha, and Pherozeshah Mehta were instrumental in the INC’s formation, indicating that the Congress was not merely a British construct. 
• Hume’s Convictions: A.O. Hume is considered by some historians to be a liberal imperialist who disagreed with certain policies of the British government in India. 
  • His involvement may have been driven by personal convictions rather than directives from the colonial administration.
• Lack of Direct Evidence: There’s no categorical evidence in official records to prove that the INC was set up as a ‘safety valve’. Most arguments are based on circumstantial evidence and interpretations. The opening up of Lord Dufferin’s private papers in the late 1950s cleared up the confusion by exploding the myth of Dufferin’s sponsorship of the Congress or Hume.
  • Soon after the formation of the Congress, Dufferin was openly castigating Congress for its dubious motives. 
  • In 1888, he criticized it for representing a “microscopic minority”.
• Marxist historian’s ‘conspiracy theory’ was an offspring of the ‘safety valve’ notion. For example, R.P. Dutt opined that the Indian National Congress was born out of a conspiracy to abort a popular uprising in India and the bourgeois leaders were a party to it.

Lightning Conductor Theory

The Indian National Congress in its early career was never a radical organisation, as the culture of open opposition to the government had not yet taken root. W. C. Bonnerjee, the president of the first Congress, made it clear at the very outset that Congress was not “a nest of conspirators and did loyalists”; they were “thoroughly loyal and consistent well-wishers of the British Government”.

This explains why the founders of the Congress had to involve A.O. Hume in their project as his association would assuage official suspicion. 

• Role of A.O. Hume in the Formation of the Indian National Congress: In 1913, Gopal Krishna Gokhale offered a unique insight into the founding of the INC, highlighting the restrictive political climate of the era. 
  • He believed that the British authorities wouldn’t have tolerated such a revolutionary movement had it been initiated by an Indian. 
  • Therefore, the role of starting the INC fell to A.O. Hume, a retired British official seen as neutral by the authorities. 
• Dual Purpose of the INC: Gokhale suggested that while Hume may have viewed the INC as a way to manage and control political discussions in India (a ‘safety valve’), the Indian leaders involved had bigger plans. 
  • They used this opportunity as a ‘lightning conductor’ to spark and channel widespread nationalist feelings. 
  • This clever approach formed the basis of a long-term freedom movement, eventually leading India to independence.
• Bipan Chandra reinforced Gokhle’s assertion when he said “If Hume and other English liberals hoped to use Congress as a safety valve, the Congress leaders hoped to use Hume as a lightning conductor”.

Conclusion

The Indian National Congress (INC) was established in 1885 and played a significant role in India’s fight for freedom, influenced by the diverse ideologies of its founding members. Key leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, who promoted economic nationalism, as well as moderate figures like W.C. Bonnerjee and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, played crucial roles in leading the INC during a pivotal period. This opening delves into the core beliefs and significant achievements of the INC, emphasizing the intricate reasons for its establishment and growth.

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