History

Congress Sessions IV

10th Session

MADRAS 1894

Alfred Webb in his presidential address said, ‘I was nurtured in the conflict against slavery. My country is the world! My countrymen are all mankind. I am a friend of civil and religious liberty all over the world. I hate tyranny and repression.’ Expressing shock at the economic situation in India he added, ‘The mean annual income per head in the UK is above Rs. 500 while in India it is Rs. 20. I regret that in India, the expense on army is much more than on education.’

Important resolutions were adopted, protesting against Excise duty, on cotton manufacture in India in the interests of Lancashire, and the levy of cost of Punitive Police force quartered in disturbed areas. Lack of freedom of the Press was strongly condemned. The usual resolutions on the prevailing poverty, India Council, public services, recruitment to the judicial services, and liberalisation of education were passed.

The President
ALFRED WEBB

Popular leader of the Irish and stalwart of the Irish freedom movement. Member of the House of Commons. W. C. Bonnerjee and Dadabhai Naoroji enlisted his support for the Congress. Active member of the British Committee till his death in 1908.

 

11th Session

POONA 1895

Surendranath Banerjee in his presidential address eloquently described the popularity of the Congress, ‘It is enshrined in the hearts of the educated community of India - it excites their deepest reverence, stirs their most earnest enthusiasm.’

The usual resolutions were reiterated and previous resolutions confirmed. Solemn protest against the disabilities imposed on Indian settlers in South Africa. The issue of indifference of the government towards victims of the famine in 1895-96 was vociferously raised by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He carried on an agitation to protest against the government and to infuse courage into the suffering masses.

The President
SURENDRANATH BANERJEE (1848-1925)

Son of Durgacharan, a legendary figure in homeopathic treatment. Entered Indian Civil Service in 1871 but was dismissed after 3 years. Founder of Ripon College. First political leader to make extensive political tours throughout India. Visited England in 1880 as a member of Congress deputation. Member Bengal Legislative Council from 1893 to 1901. Popular orator, he was also President of the 1902 Ahmedabad Congress. Though a leader of the mass uprising that opposed the Bengal Partition, he disapproved of the Boycott movement. One of the Moderates in the Surat split of 1907. Left Congress in 1919 to join Liberal Federation. Supporter of Montague-Chelmsford reforms, he became Minister for Local Self-Government in 1919. Architect of the Calcutta Municipal Act in 1923. Defeated in the elections of 1923. Wrote ‘A Nation in Making’ which is an invaluable record of that period’s politics.

12th Session

CALCUTTA 1896

Plague spread in areas of the country for the first time. Famines broke out making 1896 a year of great disasters. In his presidential address Rahimatullah M. Sayani said, ‘The origin of the Congress was thus an epoch in the history of the country and with the establishment of a Congress, began a new era in the political history of the country. Keeping aloof from the Congress is not only undesirable but even merits censure.’ The Congress passed pertinent resolutions on the famine, plague and poverty prevailing in the country. However despite the grave situation, the Congress did not forget to congratulate Queen Victoria on her Diamond Jubilee.

The President
RAHIMATULLAH M. SAYANI (1846-1902)

Fought heavy odds to obtain higher education and passed M.A. L.L.B. Appointed Justice of the Peace and Fellow Bombay University. Elected to the Bombay Corporation in 1876 and became its President in 1888. Fellow Bombay University. Secretary Anjuman-I-Islam. Member Bombay Legislative Council in 1888. President Provincial Conference, Ahmedabad 1893. Elected to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1896 where he took notable part in Budget speeches.

 

13th Session

AMRAVATI 1897

Before the Session there was severe unrest and criticism of the government due to inept handling of the disasters. Mr. Rand head of the Plague Committee was public-enemy number one because of his offensive behaviour. Chaplekar assassinated Rand on the Queen’s birthday. Lokmanya Tilak was arrested and later sentenced to 18 month’s rigorous imprisonment. Natu Brothers were deported and Punitive Police was quartered in Poona. Law of Sedition was severely applied. To gag the Press, Committees were formed to control newspapers.

C. Sankaran Nair in his presidential address said, ‘India expects great things from us. The whole civilised world is watching the changes coming over us. Shall we be content to leave India as it is, or shall we go on and do all in our power to lift it to a higher level.’ The Congress duly protested the infringements on rights of the Press. Even after the President expressed sympathy on Tilak’s imprisonment, an attempt to pass a resolution on his release was defeated.

The President
C. SANKARAN NAIR (1857-1934)

Congress President at 40. Graduated from the Presidency College, Madras and went on to become a lawyer and journalist. Conducted Madras Review and Secretary Devasthanam Committee. Fellow of Madras University in 1889, following year nominated to Madras Legislative Council. Judge Madras High Court in 1908. Presided over National Social Conference in 1908. He was Education Member in Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1915 but resigned as a mark of protest against atrocities in the Punjab. Opposed Gandhiji and Non-Cooperation movement and wrote ‘Gandhi and Anarchy.’ In 1921, he was President of All Parties Conference. Co-operated with the unpopular Simon Commission.

14th Session

MADRAS 1898

Congress sent greetings to Lord Curzon on his appointment as Viceroy. Anand Mohan Bose gave an inspired presidential address stressing on the need for committed party-workers, ‘Time has come when if we are to reap the full fruits of our deliberations and to give living force to our resolutions we must have a standing organisation to carry on the work of the Congress from year’s beginning to year’s end, to carry on the work continuously, steadily, earnestly, sending agents and missionaries to different parts of the country, spreading information, awakening interest, issuing leaflets and pamphlets, educating the public mind, drawing attention to the many wants and grievances of the dumb masses. We must have men wholly devoted to this, if Congress is not to be a mere three-day affair.’ There were strong protests against newly established Press Committees. Same old resolutions passed.

The President
ANAND MOHAN BOSE (1846-1906)

Brilliant academician who later proceeded to England. President Cambridge Union. Set up successful practice and owned Tea Estate in Assam. Fellow Calcutta University 1877. Nominated Bengal Legislative Council in 1886. Founded City College, Calcutta. Secretary Indian Association from 1875-1885. Married sister of Scientist Jagdish Chander Bose and converted to Brahmo Samaj. President New Sardhana Samaj. Relentlessly worked for women-education. Rash Behari Ghosh in 1906 said, ‘To deep spiritual fervour, he joined a lofty patriotism, working as ever in the great Task Master’s eye. Indeed, in Anand Mohan Bose patriotism grew to the height of a religion.’

- Ashish Talwar