HISTORY

Congress Sessions-VII

27th Session

BANKIPORE 1912

Ranganath Narsing Modholkar in his presidential address said, "The British rule is recognised by all rational and thoughtful persons to be a Providential dispensation, destined to contribute to the material, moral and political elevation of this land. It has brought about conditions which made a united India and an Indian nation possible."

A large number of Moderates attended. The Government’s indifference to the Congress demand for removal of defects in the reforms was severely criticised. Congress also demanded elected majority in the Imperial and Provincial Councils. Demanded an Executive Council in Punjab and once again criticised extension of separate electorates to local bodies. Expressed satisfaction at the recommendation by the Government of the necessity of introducing provincial autonomy.

 

The President

RANGANATH NARSING MODHOLKAR (1857-1921)

Moderate leader of the Congress. Born in Dhulia and Fellow of Elphinstone College in 1877. Practised law in Berar. Started Vaidarbha newspaper and also Berar Trading Co. Established Berar Sarvajanik Sabha in 1888 and also the first oil-pressing and ginning factory in Berar. Member of the Congress delegation to England in 1890. Organised branch of the Indian Famine Charitable Relief Fund in 1897. President of the C.P and Berar Provincial Conference in Raipur, 1897.

28th Session

KARACHI 1913

The Hindu-Muslim entente began from this session. Nawab Syed Mohammad in his presidential address said, "The Congress has from its very inception, set before itself the ideal of a united Indian nationality and has been consistently advocating the cause of the Indian people as a whole without being influenced by party or sectarian considerations incompatible with high ideal." The All India Muslim League had adopted goal of Self-Government. A resolution was passed for the union of self-government of the Muslim League and Congress. The status of Indians in South Africa was the major issue of discussion. Gandhiji had recently returned from South Africa and had related the story.

 

The President

NAWAB SYED MOHAMMAD BAHADUR (1869-1916)

Member of the Jagirdar Khan Bahadur family. Grandson of Shahzadi Shahrukh Begum, daughter of Sultan Yasin, the fourth son of Tipu Sultan. Sheriff of Madras in 1896. Became Nawab in 1897. Member Madras Legislative Council from 1900-1902. Joined Congress in 1894. Chairman of the Reception Committee for the Madras session in 1903. Member of the Imperial Legislative Council. Twice General Secretary of the Indian National Congress in 1915 and 1916 before his death in 1916.

29th Session

MADRAS 1914

In his presidential address Bhupendranath Basu said, "If English rule in India meant the canonisation of a bureaucracy, if it meant perpetual domination and tutelage, it would be a curse to civilisation, and a blot on humanity."

Congress supported the War in Europe and promised loyalty and help. Demanded that the higher ranks of the Army be opened for Indians, establishment of military education centres and repeal of the Arms Act. Demanded Self-Government and adoption of India Council reforms. Mrs. Annie Besant moved a strong resolution demanding that imports from those countries should be banned from which her people were banned.

 

The President

BHUPENDRANATH BASU (1869-1924)

Born in Krishnagar, Bengal. Educated at birthplace and then Calcutta. Staunch follower of Surendranath Banerjee. Started practising law in 1884. Captained volunteer corps for Calcutta Congress of 1886. Presided over Provincial Congress conference in Mymensing in 1905. Despite Moderate temperament strongly protested against Partition of Bengal. Member of the Bengal and Central Legislative Councils. Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University for 2 years. Member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India. Joined Liberation Federation.

30th Session

BOMBAY 1915

Sir S. P. Sinha in his presidential address said, "Had England taken as her motto India for the Indians, had she continued following the ideas of Elphinstone and Malcolm to consider her rule as temporary, she might without inconsistency grant to the national party gradual and increasing concessions which in time would give entire autonomy to the Indians, but that is not now her aim."

Demanded Executive Council for the United Provinces. Demanded High Courts in Punjab, Burma and Central Provinces. A Committee was asked to frame programmes of work, education and propaganda. It was also authorised to confer with the All India Muslim League Council for the same purpose and to take the required measures. Framing of a new constitution was begun in order to accommodate the Extremists. Lokmanya Tilak responded to this by announcing the willingness of his Nationalist Party to re-enter the Congress.

 

The President

SIR SATYENDRA PRASANNA SINHA (1864-1928)

Born in Birbhum, Bengal. Ran away to England and completed his studies with the help of a scholarship. Called to the bar in 1886. On returning to India, set up practice in Calcutta. Advocate General of Bengal in 1908. First Indian to be made Law Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. Represented India at the War Conference in 1917 and 1918. Under Secretary of State and later became Lord Sinha of Raipur. Piloted the Government of India Bill through House of Lords. Member Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. First Indian to be appointed Governor. In 1921 became Governor of Bihar and Orissa.

 

31st Session

LUCKNOW 1916

Lokmanya Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Kharpade and other Extremist leaders participated and fraternised with Rash Behari Ghosh, Surendranath Banerjee and others. The Muslim League also held its session in Lucknow. Ambica Charan Majumdar in his presidential address welcomed the unity, "If the United Congress were buried at Surat it is reborn today at Lucknow, in the garden of Wajid Ali Shah." The Congress-League scheme for reforms was passed for the first time and sent to the Viceroy. For the first time Muslim League declared Self-Government to be its goal. The Congress-League scheme conceded separate electorates for Muslims and representational weightage for the minorities in legislatures. Where the Muslims were in minority, their number of allocated seats would be slightly more than their percentage of population, while in Muslim dominated Provinces like Bengal and Punjab they would get less than their due proportion of seats. Resolutions were passed against Defence of India Act and Regulation III Act, which sought to suppress Indian Nationalism. The Arms Act and Press Act were condemned while the Swadeshi movement was supported.

 

The President

HON. AMBICA CHARAN MAJUMDAR (1851-1922)

Began as a school-master and as a lawyer rose high in his profession. Rendered phenomenal service to Faridpore as member of the District Board and later as Chairman of the Municipality. Graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta in 1873. Started practising law from 1879. Great orator, he spoke at several Congress sessions. Agitated against Partition of Bengal. Member of Bengal Legislative Council for two terms. Wrote ‘Indian National Evolution’.

 

32nd Session

CALCUTTA 1917

Annie Besant declared, "Self-government is necessary to the self-respect and dignity of a people." Despite the Extremist domination of the Congress, a resolution declared, "deep loyal and profound attachment to the throne and resolve to stand by the Empire at all hazards and costs."

The release of Ali Brothers, Resolutions on military training, indentured labour, condemnation of the Rowlatt Committee, Press Act, Arms Act and disabilities of Indians in colonies and self-government. Tricolour flag introduced for the first time.

 

The President - SMT. ANNIE BESANT (1847-1933)

First Woman President of the Indian National Congress. Powerful force in Indian re-generation. Also great orator, writer and social-worker. After legal separation from husband in 1867, came under the influence of Charles Bradlaugh and appointed Vice-President National Secular Society. Became sub-editor National Reformer in 1877. Prosecuted for Knowlton Pamphlet. Founded Malthusian League and came in contact with Madame Blavatsky in 1882. Socialist leader who edited ‘Link’ in 1888. Joined Theosophical Society in 1889. Attended Labour Congress in Paris 1889. Visited Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893. Founder Hindu University Central College, Benares in 1904. President Theosophical Society in 1907. Headed Home Rule Agitation in 1913. Started a daily ‘New India’ and a weekly ‘Commonwealth’. Prohibited from entering Bombay and C.P, and interned at Ooty in June 1917. Supported Montague-Chelmsford Reforms and opposed Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation Movement. Strongly supported Independence resolution of the Madras Congress, 1927. Sarojini said of her, "Had it no been for her and her enthusiasm, one could not have seen Gandhiji leading the cause of Indian freedom today. It was Mrs. Besant who laid the foundation of modern India - she was a combination of Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati."

- Ashish Talwar