History
Congress
Sessions III
5th
Session BOMBAY1889
1889
delegates attended as the Congress returned to Bombay. It
was also known as the Bradlaugh session as Charles Bradlaugh,
Member of Parliament, attended. The number of delegates
from each Congress circle was limited to 5 per million.
In his presidential address, Sir William Wedderburn said,
‘I have been in the service of the people of India and have
eaten their salt and I hope to devote to their services
what still remains to me of active life.’ Demand was raised
for simultaneous holding of examinations of all Civil branches
for the Public Service in India. At the sessions’ end, addresses
were presented to Bradlaugh on behalf of all parts of India.
In his address, Bradlaugh assured the Congress, ‘For whom
should I work, if not for the people? Born of the people,
trusted by the people, I will die of the people and I know
no geographical or race limitations.’
The President
SIR
WILLIAM WEDDERBURN
(1836-1918)
Member
of the Indian Civil Services. He came from a family which
had excelled in the ICS. He wrote, ‘I can say that I always
regard this [I. C. S.] a profession, which was also a profession
of my choice, the noblest career open to youthful talent.
Associated with A. O. Hume in his efforts to channelise
‘Indian political discontent.’ Officiated as Chief Secretary
of the Bombay Government from 1886-1887. Prominent historian
Shri BR Nanda writes, ‘Unlike most of his colleagues in
the Indian Civil Service, he did not give the leaders of
educated India a wide berth. He helped Pherozeshah Mehta
become a Justice of the Peace. In Poona, he made friends
with Ranade, and in Bombay, with Dadabhai Naoroji. He was
present at the first meeting of the Indian National Congress
held in the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay, in
1885. The following year when he officiated as the Chief
Secretary to the Government of Bombay, an Indian paper wrote:
‘Sir William Wedderburn’s presence in the secretariat will
be a guarantee that the popular side of the question will
not be unrepresented.’ Such a close association with Indian
opinion was not calculated to make him a permanent favourite
of the government.’
He
was a prominent member of British Committee of the Indian
National Congress. Often had to spend from his own pocket
to carry on the Congress’ propaganda in England. In 1903
when there was general demoralisation due to the repressive
policies adopted by Lord Curzon, he took the initiative
and published a series of articles titled, ‘A Call to Arms.’
These articles were meant to encourage Congressmen and advised
that they should not give up their struggle but wait for
the change of ministries in England. For seven years since
his return to England, he acted as the Congress spokesman
in Parliament. In 1910 he got re-elected President of the
Indian National Congress at Allahabad. Toured the length
and breadth of India propagating the Congress’ cause. Also
wrote a number of books. In the 1908 session after the Morley-Minto
reforms were introduced Gokhale said of him, ‘William Wedderburn
has laboured for the Indian cause during the last twenty
years and along with other members of the British Committee
deserves the thanks of the Congress on this happy occasion.’
6th
Session CALCUTTA 1890
Pherozeshah
Mehta gave a rousing speech, ‘To my mind a Parsi is a true
Parsi, a Mohammedan or a Hindu is a better Mohammedan or
Hindu, the more he is attached to the land which gave him
birth, the more he is bound in brotherly relations and attached
to all the children of the soil.’
The Congress ratified resolutions passed by the previous
Congress sessions. A resolution was passed that the 1892
Congress be held in London. A deputation led by Surendranath
Banerjee and Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was to go to London
to put forth the Congress demands. The extension of the
permanent land revenue settlement to all portions of the
country was demanded. The Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor
of Bengal returned the visitor’s tickets sent to him and
wrote that the Government of India prohibited presence of
government servants at such meetings.
The President
SIR
PHEROZESHAH MEHTA (1845-1915)
Went
to England and called to bar. Founder President of Bombay
Presidency Association. Served the Bombay Municipal Corporation.
Member, Bombay Legislative Council in 1886. Elected to the
Imperial Legislative Council in 1893. Knighted in 1902.
Visited England for Congress propaganda. Vice Chancellor
of Bombay University and founded the Central Bank of India
in 1911. Chintamani wrote, ‘Great as a speaker, he was the
greatest debater India had yet produced.’ G. P. Pillai wrote
in 1899, ‘Eloquent in speech. Excelling in debate, he is
one of those who could easily persuade his audience to his
own belief by the magic of his voice and the charm of his
delivery.’
7th
Session NAGPUR 1891
P.
Anand Charlu in his presidential address said, ‘We, as the
pioneers of the movement, may attain little more than satisfaction
of upholding what is right and protesting against what is
wrong; but succeeding generations will reap the fruits of
our labours and will cherish with fond remembrance the names
of those who had the courage and humanity, the singleness
of purpose and the self-sacrificing devotion to duty, to
work for the benefit of posterity in spite of calumny and
persecution and great personal loss.’
Due to General Elections in England, the proposed London
session was postponed. Eradication of the pitiable condition
of the starving millions was declared to be the prime cause
of the Congress. In the adoption of a landmark resolution
it was decided that annual sessions of the Congress should
continue till the necessary reforms had been achieved. Apart
from the usual resolutions, new ones on Salt tax and excise
policy were passed.
The President
PUNAPPAKAM ANAND CHARLU
(1843-1908)
First
Congress President from Southern India. Born in the district
of Chittor, he was a founder member of the Congress. Member
of the Imperial Legislative Council from 1895-1903. Championed
for the freedom of speech. Condemned the Indian Council
in his writings and speeches. Brought out a journal called
‘Vyjyanti’. Vociferous orator, plucky fighter and notable
personality of the Congress till his death. G. P. Pillai
wrote of him, ‘He is diminutive in appearance, but when
he appears on the platform, he swells and develops into
importance.’
8th
Session ALLAHABAD 1892
The
newly incepted India Councils Act of 1892 was accepted but
criticised, as it did not give the right of election to
the people of India. The usual resolutions were passed and
an appeal was made to the government to investigate hardships
faced by the people of Peninsular India and the hilly tracts
of the Punjab due to Forest Laws.
The President
WOMESH CHANDRA BONNERJEE
(1844-1906)
9th
Session LAHORE 1893
First
session in the Punjab, which had, till then not much political
consciousness. In his presidential address, Dadabhai Naoroji
said, ‘Whether I am Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Parsi or
any other creed. I am above all of India. Our country is
India.’
There
was unprecedented enthusiasm as the President focussed attention
on poverty in India. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in a memorable
speech brought attention of the Congress to the issue of
growing poverty in India’s villages.
The President
DADABHAI NAOROJI
(1825-1917)
- Ashish Talwar
