INDEX

S.No. Particulars Pg. No. 04 04 05 06 08 13 13 18 19

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Introduction Birth of the Indian National Congress Objectives of the Congress First Phase (1885-1905) Period of Moderates or Tea Party Politics or Political Mendicancy Second Phase (1905-1919) Extremist Phase or Radical Politics Third Phase (1919-1947) Gandhian Era Role of Congress in Freedom Struggle Conclusion Bibliography

INTRODUCTION Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major political party in India. Founded in 1885 by Womesh Chandra Bonerjee, Surendranath Banerjee, Manomohun Ghose, Allan Octavian Hume, William Wedderburn, Dadabhai Naoroji and Dinshaw Wacha, the Indian National Congress became the leader of the Indian Independence Movement, with over 15 million members and over 70 million participants in its struggle against British rule in India. Here, in this project I have concentrated on the time period of 1885 to 1947 i.e. from the birth of Congress to the achievement of its objective of Complete Independence. After independence in 1947, it became the nation's dominant political party, challenged for leadership only in more recent decades. In the 14th Lok Sabha (2004-2009), 145 members (out of 545), the largest contingent amongst all parties, serve in the house. The party is currently the chief member of the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition. It is the only party to get more than 100 million votes in the past two general elections (1999, 2004). BIRTH OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS It will not be correct to trace the genesis of the Indian National Congress to the efforts of a single individual like A.O. Hume or assume that it appeared as a sudden efflorescence. The various political organizations in different parts of India and the ferment of ideas had prepared the ground and the foundation of Indian National Congress in 1885 was only a visible embodiment of that nations awakening. The efforts of the Indian Association of Calcutta and its leader Surenderanath Banerjee in organizing the Indian National Conference deserve special mention. In December 1883 met the first Indian National Conference to which representatives drawn from all the major towns of India were invited. Shri Ananda Mohan Bose, the President, expressed the hope that the Conference would prove to be the first stage in the formation of a National Parliament. The second National Conference met at Calcutta during the X-mas week of 1885. However, the Indian National Conference was soon eclipsed by the more popular and more representative Indian National Congress. It was left to Mr. Hume, a retired official of the Government of India, to give a practical and definite shape to an organization of all-India character. W.C. Bannerjee popularized the view that the idea of the Indian National Congress was a product of Lord Dufferins brain, that he suggested it to Mr. Hume who undertook to work it out. Dufferins idea was to have a political organization through which the Government could ascertain the real wishes of the people and thus save the administration from any possible political outburst in the country. Lala Lajapat Rai maintained that the Indian National Congress was organized to serve as safety valve for the growing unrest in the country and strengthen the British Empire. The idea was, writes Lala Lajpat Rai, not only to save the British rule from any danger that threatened it but even to strengthen it.the redress of political grievances and political advance of India was only a by product and of secondary importance. Whatever might have been the motive of Lord Duffrein and Mr. Hume, it cannot be denied that Mr. Hume was a true liberal and deadly earnest about the necessity and desirability of the political organization. Mr. Humes open letter to the graduates of the Calcutta University is revealing. He wrote, Scattered individuals however capable and however well meaning, are powerless singly. What is needed is union, organization and well defined line of action and to secure this an association is required. Hume asked for fifty volunteers to join in a movement to promote the mental, moral, social and political regeneration of the public of India. Mr. Hume secured the sympathy and support of the Government official and public men in India and England for the Indian National Congress. Thus the movement was a child of both England and India. Recent researches have proved that Hume was an enlightened imperialist. He was alarmed at the growing gulf between the rulers and the ruled. Hume saw with considerable misgiving the establishment of the

Indian National Conference in 1883 by S.N. Banerjee, a dismissed government servant of advanced political views, who had done much to popularize the ideas and teachings of Italian nationalists like Mazzini and Garibaldi. Hume decided to bye pass this Indian National Conference and instead organize a loyal and innocuous political organization. And Hume did succeed in organizing the Indian National Congress and made it, at least in the beginning a forum for pro-British and anti-Russian propaganda. Thus, Mr. Allan Octavin Hume laid the foundation of Indian National Congress on 28th December, 1885, A.D. In 1885 met the first Indian National Congress at Bombay under the presidency of Shri Womesh Chandra Bannerjee, a prominent Bengalee Barrister and was attended by only seventy two delegates. The paucity of attendance was due to the fact that Surender Nath and other prominent leaders could not attend the Congress because of the simultaneous session of the Indian National Conference in Calcutta. As the two organizations had the same objects in view, the separate existence of the Indian National Conference was no longer necessary and so it merged itself into the National Congress. It was arranged that the Congress should meet every year during the Christmas week in some important town by turns. The importance of the formation of the first national political organization in India was expressed only after a week in of the session in the Indian Mirror of Calcutta thus: The first National Congress at Bombay forms an important chapter in the history of British rule in India. The day on which it opened will form a red-letter day in the annals of the national progress of the Native races. It is the nucleus of the future parliament of our country and will lead to good of inconceivable magnitude for our compatriots. If we were asked what was the proudest day in our life, we should unhesitatingly say it was the day in which we, for the first time, met all our brothers of Madras, Bombay, the North-Western Provinces and the Punjab, under the roof of the Gokul Das Tejpal College for the purpose of this National Congress. From the date of this Congress we may well count the more rapid development of national progress in India in future. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONGRESS The first session of the Indian National Congress was attended by prominent persons like Ferozshah Mehta, Dadabhai Nairoji, K.T. Telang, Dinshaw Wacha etc. While delivering the Presidential address, W.C. Banerjee, the President of the first session of the Indian National Congress laid down the following as the objectives of the Congress:

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)

(vi) (vii) (viii)

The promotion of personal intimacy and friendship amongst all the most earnest workers in our countrys cause in the various parts of the empire. The eradication of all possible race, creed or provincial prejudices amongst all the lovers of the country by direct friendly personal inter course and the fuller development and consolidation of those sentiments of national unity that took their origin in our beloved Ripons ever memorable reign. The authoritative record of the matured opinions of the educated classes in India on some of the most important and pressing social questions of the day. The determinations of the method by which during the next twelve months it is desirable for the native politicians to labor in public interest. To discuss important problems facing by the country. To decide the activities that the Indian leaders should take up. To formulate popular demands and place them before the government. To organize and train public opinion in the country.

The Congress was an All India Institution and had the support and cooperation of the Hindus, Muslims, Parsees, Sikhs, Christians, Anglo Indians and Europeans. W.C. Banerjee was an Indian Christian. Its next President was

Dadabhai Nairoji who was a Parsee. The third President Badruddin Tayabji was a Muslim. The fourth and the fifth Presidents were George Mool and William Baderburn who were Britishers.

FIRST PHASE (1885-1905) PERIOD OF MODERATES or TEA PARTY POLITICS or POLITICAL MENDICANCY The history of the first 20 years of the Congress is very important. Several demands of Congress were accepted by the government. The meetings, sessions and activities of the Congress brought about a unity in the country and the people started demanding share in the administration. All this proved to be the foundation stone of freedom. The early Congress leaders planted a sapling of freedom, watered it and made it grow! Thus, they laid an ordinary but the right foundation. The national leaders like Dadabhai Nairoji, P.M. Mehta, D.E. Wacha, W.C. Banerjee, S.N. Banerjee who dominated the Congress policies during this period were staunch believers in liberalism and moderate politics and came to be labeled as Moderates to distinguish them from the neo nationalists of early 20th century who were referred to as extremist. The Moderate leaders explained their political outlook as a happy combination of liberalism and moderation. Believers in the spirit of liberalism, they worked to procure for Indians freedom from race and creed prejudices, equality between man and man, equality before law, extension of civil liberties, extension of representative institutions etc. As to their methods M.G. Ranade explained, Moderation implies the conditions of never vainly aspiring after the impossible or after too remote ideals, but fairness. Thus, the Moderate leaders were convinced believers in the policy of gradualism and constitutionalism. During this period, the Congress was dominated by the affluent middle class intelligentsia, men of legal, medical, engineering, literary pursuits and journalists. The ideas and methods of this middle class held the field and governed the character of national struggle. The educated middle class was enamored of titles and services and by its training and culture had isolated itself from the masses. The delegates to the Congress session were mostly drawn from the cities and had hardly any real contact with the masses. Sir Ferozshah Mehta once explained: The Congress was indeed not the voice of the masses, but it was the duty of their compatriots to interpret their grievances and offer suggestions for their redress. The Congress had been founded by A.O. Hume after consultations with Lord Dufferin. The congress leaders were full of admiration for British history and culture and spoke of the British connection as providential. It was their cardinal faith that British rule in India was in the interest of the Indians. As such, they looked upon the British Government not as an antagonist but as an ally; in the course of time, they believed, Britain would help them to acquire the capacity to govern themselves in accordance with the highest standards of the West. In 1886, Dadabhai Naoroji presiding over the Calcutta session of the Congress dwelt at length on the Blessings of the British Rule and his remarks were cheered by the audience. Mr. Home moved a resolution for three times three cheers for Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen Empress and a further resolution for long life of the Queen. Anand Mohan Bose as Congress President declared, The educated classes are the friends and not the foes of the England- her natural and necessary allies in the great work that lies before her. Thus it was generally believed that the chief obstacle in the path of Indias progress was not British colonial rule but the social and economic backwardness of the Indian people and the reactionary role of the Anglo Indian bureaucracy. The Moderate leaders stood for the maintenance, rather strengthening of the British Empire. This approach was the outcome of their apprehension that anarchy and disorder would reappear in India if British Government were superseded. In their eyes, British rule was the embodiment of Peace and Order in the country and such British rule was indispensable in India for a long time to come. Gokhale explained this viewpoint when he said, Whatever the short comings of bureaucracy and however intolerable at times the insolence of the individual Englishman. They alone stand to-day in the country for order, and without continued order, no real progress is possible for our people. It is not difficult at any time to create disorder in our country it was our position for centuries but it is not so easy to substitute another form of order for that which has been evolved in the course of a century. The Moderates sincerely believed that Indias progress could be possibly only under the supervision of the British. Hence, their loyalty to the British Crown. Badr-ud-din Tyabji, the third Congress

President declared that nowhere among the millions of Her Majestys subject in India were to be found more truly loyal, nay, more devoted friends of the British Empire than among these educated natives. Thus, the Moderates would do nothing to weaken the Empire. Loyalty to the Crown was their faith, one important article of their political religion. Most of the Congress leaders of the period believed that the British people were just, righteous and freedom loving. They were further convinced that the British people meant justice to be done to India. If Indians had certain grievances, these were only due to the reactionary policy the British bureaucracy in India or ignorance of the British people about these grievances. As such, the nationalist leaders believed that all they had to do was to prepare their case and present and plead it before the British Parliament and nation and their grievances would be redressed and justice done. As a natural corollary, the Congress leaders put great emphasis on Congress propaganda in England. A British Committee of Indian National Congress was set up in London, which published a weekly journal India to present Indias case before the British public. DadaBhai Naroji was never tried of telling the Congress leaders: Nothing is dearer to the heart of England and I speak from actual knowledge than Indias welfare; and, if we only speak out loud enough and persistently enough, to reach that busy heart, we shall not speak in vain. Thus, with a view to educating the English people about the real needs of India, in 1890 a decision was taken to hold a session of the Indian National Congress in London in 1892, but owing to the British elections of 1891 the proposal was postponed and afterwards never revived. During the period under review, the Congress demanded a few concessions and not freedom for the nation. True, Lokmanya Tilak used the word Swaraj or Self Government towards the last decade of the nineteenth century but it did not become popular nor did it figure in the official resolutions of the Congress. Presiding over the Poona Congress in 1895, Surendernath Banerjee declared that they had never asked for representative institutions of a modified character for the educated community who by the reason of their culture and enlightenment, their assimilation of English ideas and their familiarity with English methods of Government might be presumed to be qualified for such a boon. Congress resolutions generally demanded expansion of Legislative Councils with enlarged powers and more representation of Indians in the Secretary of States Council, Viceroys Executive Council and Governors Executive Council; more opportunities for Indians in the Civil Services; holding of simultaneous examinations in India as well as England; broadening of the basis of civil liberties; reduction of military expenditure and more expenditure on development of education; separation of judiciary from executive works in District Administration; enquiry into the backward economic and industrial condition of the country; improvement of the lot of Indians in South Africa and the Empire generally etc. These demands were always worded in prayerful and apologetic language and the Congress was wedded to the use of Constitutional methods. Official Attitude towards the Congress Despite its moderate methods and its emphasis on the loyalty to the British Crown, the Indian National Congress failed to evoke sympathetic response from the Government. In the beginning, however, the official attitude was of outward neutrality. It was in this spirit that Lord Dufferin gave a Garden Party to the delegates attending the second Congress Session (1886) at Calcutta, taking care to explain that the invitation was not to representatives of the Congress but to distinguished visitors of the capital. In 1887, the Governor of Madras gave facilities to the organizers of the third session of the Congress at Madras. However, the official attitude stiffened after 1887. The publication of Congress pamphlets like A Tamil Congress Catechism, A conversation between Moulvi Farrukh-ud-in and one Ram Buksh of Kambakhtpur which condemned despotic system of Government and absentee landlordism brought about the open hostility of Government. The officials encouraged reactionary elements like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Raja Saheb Prasad of Denares to organize the United Indian Patriotic Association to counter Congress and dubbed it as representing only a microscopic minority and Congress demands as a big jump into the unknown. In 1890 Government employees were forbidden from participating in its deliberations or attending its meetings. Lord Curzon was more categorical in his pronouncements when he said that the Congress was tottering to its fall and one of his greatest ambitions in India was to assist it to a peaceful demise.

Assessment of the policies of the Moderates The achievements of this periods were decried by the Radical otherwise called Extremist leaders of the early twentieth century. The policy of the Moderates or the Old Guard was criticized as Political Mendicancy. Lala Lajpat Rai wrote: It was at best an opportunist movement. It opened opportunities for treacheries and hypocrites. It enabled some people to trade in the name of patriotism. A big charge against the Moderates was their loyalty to the Crown. It may be mentioned that the Moderate leaders believed that India lacked some of the essential elements, which constituted a nation and British rule kept them together. As such, they did not see any alternative to British rule in India in the near future. Their patriotism, therefore, demanded that they should be loyal to the British raj, for any termination of British rule was likely to be harmful to Indian national interests. B.C. Pal, then a moderate leader, said in 1887, I am loyal to the British Government because with me loyalty to the British Government is identical with loyalty to my own people and my own country I am loyal to the British Government, because I love self government. In all fairness, it must be said that men like Dadabhai Naoroji, Sir Feroz Shah Mehta, Sir Dinshah Wacha, Gopal Krishna Gokhle, Surender Nath Banerjee etc. were the most progressive elements in Indian society and true patriots. They desired all round progress and modernization of India social reform, modern education, industrial and economic development of India. They earnestly wished the betterment of Indian society and worked to lessen the harshness of British rule. Their main achievement was the appointment of a Public Service Commission in 1886 that caused disappointment and the enactment of the Indian Councils Act of 1892 that did not modify the basic constitution. Further, their efforts resulted in a resolution of the House of Commons (1893) for simultaneous examination for the I.C.S. in London and India and appointment of the Welby Commission on Indian Expenditure (1895). In addition, they did a lot of spadework. Their methods the use of prayers, press and protests brought about political maturity. Perhaps, the greatest service of the Moderates was rendered when they assessed the economic impact of British rule on India. They focused public attention on the fact of Indian poverty and explained that this poverty was largely due to the colonial exploitation of Indias economic resources by Britain. The Drain Theory popularized by Dadabhai Naroji, Wacha, Dutt and others was an open indictment of Britains economic role in India. The Extremist leaders to malign and spit British rule in India used this Drain Theory as a convenient stick. SECOND PHASE (1905-1919) EXTREMIST PHASE or RADICAL POLITICS The closing decade of the 19th century and early years of the 20th century witnessed the emergence of a new and younger group within the Indian National Congress that was sharply critical of the ideology and method of the old leadership. These angry young man advocated the adoption of Swaraj as the goal of the Congress to be achieved by more self reliant and independent methods. The new group came to be called the Extremist Party in contrast to the older one that began to be referred as the Moderate Party. The process of split in the Congress Party began when Lokmanya Tilak clashed with the Moderates over the question of Social Reform. In July 1895, Tilak and his group ousted Ranade and Gokhle from the control of Poorna Sarvjanik Sabha. Gokhle organized a separate political association called The Deccan Sabha. There was no love lost between Tilak and Gokhle. Tilak outmaneuvered Gokhle from national politics over the apology affair and Gokhle was labeled a Kacha reed i.e. spineless fellow who could be brow beaten by the Government. Tilak was made of a different stuff than most of the Congress leaders. He was forthright in his criticism of the Government and its policies and was prepared to make sacrifices to get wrong redressed. He was the first Congress leader to suffer several terms of imprisonment for the sake of the country. As early as 1882, for criticizing in strong language the treatment meted out to the Maharaja of Kolhapur, the Government tried and sentenced Tilak to four months imprisonment. Again, in 1897, Tilak was charged with exciting feelings of

disaffection to the British Government and sent to jail for 18 months R.I. At the Congress session at Amraoti (Dec.1897) the supporters of Tilak made an attempt to push a resolution demanding the release of Tilak. The Moderate leaders who controlled the Congress did not permit it. Similarly, the moderates foiled the attempt of martyrdom at the Congress session at Madras (Dec. 1898). At the Lucknow seesion of the Congress (Dec. 1899) , Tilaks attempt to move a resolution condemning Governor Sandhursts administration of Bombay was also blocked by the Moderates on the plea that the matter was of provincial interest and could not be discussed at the National Congress. It was because of ideological differences with Tilak and his group that the Moderate leaders were determined to keep Tilak and Congressmen of his line of thinking out of all positions of power and responsibility in the Congress and never gave him a chance to become the Congress President. Causes for the rise of Extremism The dissatisfaction with the working of the Congress had been expressed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee when he described the Congressmen as place hunting politicians. Aurbindo Ghosh wrote a series of articles during 1893-94 entitled New Lamps for Old wherein he described the Congress as being out of contact with the proletariat, its character as unnational and its work as failure and added: Yet more appalling was the general timidity of the Congress, its glossing of hard names, its disinclinations to tell the direct truth, its fear of too deeply displeasing our masters. He thought that the Congress was dying of consumption. Among the causes and circumstances that helped in the growth of Extremism the following deserve special mention : 1. Recognition of the true nature of British Rule The efforts of the early nationalist leaders paved the way for the development of the next stage of nationalist movement. By their painstaking studies and writings, the early nationalist leaders had exposed the true nature of British rule in India. They conclusively proved by elaborate statistical data that British rule and its policies were responsible for the economic ruin of India and her deepening poverty. Dadabhai Naoroji, for example, exposed the exploitative nature of British rule in India and proved that Britain was bleeding India white and the constant drain of wealth from India was directly responsible for Indias economic miseries. He characterized British rule in India as a constant and continuous plunder. Nationalist leaders like Anand Charlu, R.N. Mudholkar, G.K. Gokhle, Wacha, Madan Mohan Malviya too exposed the exploitative nature of British rule in India. The second session of the Congress (Calcutta 1886) brought a resolution on increasing poverty of India and this resolution was affirmed year after year at subsequent Congress sessions. The poverty verging on starvation of fifty millions of the population was described by the Congress as due to the most extravagant civil and military administration, mounting Home Charges, discriminating tariff policy (evident from the frequent changes in the Cotton Duties, Sugar Duties etc.), shortsighted land revenue policy, indifference to technical and industrial development of India and exclusion of the sons of the soil from a share in the Higher and Minor services. Scholarly writings of nationalist leaders like Ranades Essays in Indian Economics (1898), Dadabhai Naorojis Indian Poverty and un-British Rule in India (1901), R.C. Dutts Economic History of India (1901) were the arsenals from which the new leaders shot their arrows at the British rule in India. Thus the Extremist ideology was a natural and logical next step in the development of Indian political thinking. 2. Reaction to increasing westernization The new leadership felt the stranglehold of excessive Westernization in Indian life, thought and politics Western Civilization was eroding the values of Indian culture and civilization and the merger of Indian national identity in the British Empire was being attempted. The intellectual and emotional inspiration of the new leadership was Indian. They drew inspiration from Indian spiritual heritage, they appealed to heroes of Indian history and hoped to revive the glories of ancient India. The writings of Bankim, Vivekananda and Swami Dayanand appealed to their imaginations. Though Bankim, in the beginning, had written in the Bengali and on Bengal (Anandpath, published in 1880), by 1886 he had emerged an Indian and dreamed of a united India under the leadership of a superman like Lord Krishna. He saw in Lord Krishna a Karamyogin i.e. a man of action who fought evil and stood for righteousness. He saw in Lord Krishna a good soldier, a clever strategist and a

successful empire builder. At Kurukshetra war Lord Krishna deliberately worked for the destruction of the petty states and for the emergence of dharmaraja. Bankims main mantra was Service to the motherland. Vivekanand, a great vedantist, gave a new confidence to the Indians in Indias past heritage, exhorted his compatriots to realize the value of their rich cultural heritage, gave a feeling of self confidence to the youth and gave them a mission to conquer the West with Indias spirituality. Swami Dayanand exploded the myth of Western superiority. By referring to Indias rich civilization in Vedic ages, when Europe was steeped in ignorance, Dayanand gave a new confidence to the Hindus and undermined the current belief in the superiority of the White races over the Black. His political message was India for the Indians. 3. Dissatisfaction with the achievement of the Congress The younger elements within the Congress were dissatisfied with the achievements of the Congress during the first 15-20 years and were disgusted with the cold and reactionary attitude of the Government. They had lost all faith in the British sense of justice and fairplay. They were strongly critical of the methods of peaceful and constitutional agitation, popularly nicknamed of 3Ps Petition, Prayer and Protests and described these methods as political mendicancy. They became impatient with the slow, almost negligible achievements during the first fifteen years and advocated the adoption of European revolutionary methods to meet European imperialism. On his return from England in 1905, Lala Lajpat Rai told his countrymen that the democracy was too busy with its own affairs to do anything worthwhile for India, that the British press was not likely to champion their aspirations and that it was very difficult to get a hearing in England. He exhorted the people that if they really cared for their country, they would have to strike a blow for freedom themselves, and they should be prepared to give unmistakable proof of their earnestness. The younger generation of Congressmen (also called Nationalist or Extremists) had nothing but disgust for the Old Guard. According to them the only political religion of the Congress was loyalty to the Crown; their only political aim was to improve their chances of getting seats in the central/provincial legislatures or judicial services or acquiring titles etc.; their only political activity was excessive speechyfying and attending Congress session towards December-end every year. The Moderate leaders were accused of limiting the membership of the Congress to the middle class for fear of losing their leadership if the masses joined the movement. Thus, the Moderates were alleged of trading in the name of patriotism. Tilak described the Congress as Congress of flatters and Congress session a holiday recreation while Lajapat Rai dubbed Congress meeting the annual national festival of educated Indians. Both Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai believed that the Congress had no constructive activity. Tilak affirmed: We will not achieve any success in our labors if we croak once a year like a frog 4. Deteriorating economic condition of India Famine and Plague The economic miseries of the closing years of the 20th century provided a congenial environment for the growth of extremism in Indian National activities. The terrible famines of 1896-97 and 1899-1900 coupled with the bubonic plague, which broke out in Maharashtra, took a heavy toll of life. The government relief machinery was inadequate, slow moving and badly organized. Tilak criticized the callous and over bearing Govt. Plague Commissioners who caused more harm than good. He thundered that fear and anxiety was the cause of the disease and that plague is less cruel to us than the official measures. Riots broke out in the Deccan and the Government tried to stifle public opinion and suppress lawlessness. These events revealed to the Indians their plight of utter helplessness. Even recurring famines were attributed to the antinational policy followed by the Government. In his presidential speech in 1903 Lal Mohan Ghose referred to the Durbar of 1903 and said that Nothing could seem more heartless than the spectacle of a great Government imposing the heaviest taxation upon the poorest population in the world, and then lavishly spending the money so obtained over fire-works amd pompous pageants, while millions of the poor were dying of starvation. 5. Contemporary International Influences

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Events outside India exercised a powerful influence on the younger generation. The humiliating treatment meted out to Indians in British colonies created anti-British feelings. Further, nationalist movements in Egypt, Persia, Turkey and Russia gave Indians new hopes and new aspirations. Indian nationalists gained more confidence and drew inspiration from Abyssinias repulsion of the Italian army (1896) and Japans thumping victory over Russia (1905). If Japan could become a great power on its own, what but for the British grip was holding India back. The spell of European invincibility was broken. 6. Curzons reactionary policies Curzons seven-year rule in India, which was full of missions, omissions and commissions created a sharp reaction in the Indian mind. Curzon refused to recognize that India was a nation and characterized their activity as the letting off of gas. He insulted Indian Intelligentsia and talked very low of Indian character; at the Calcutta University Convocation, Curzon said, Undoubtedly truth took a high place in the codes of the West before it had been similarly honoured in the East, where craftiness and diplomatic wile have always been held in high repute. The Calcutta Corporation Act, the official Secrets Act and the Indian Universities Act created great resentment in India. The Delhi Durbar held in 1903, coming at a time when India had not fully recovered from devastating effects of the famine 1899-1900 was interpreted as a pompous pageant to a starving population. 7. The Partition of Bengal The worst and most hated aspect of Curzons administration was the partition of Bengal into two provinces of Bengal and Eastern Bengal and Assam in 1905. The reactionary measures of Lord Curzon had already irritated the people. The partition of Bengal in 1905 added fuel to fire. The people of Bengal felt they have been humiliated, insulted and tricked. The partition of Bengal was considered as a subtle attack on the growing solidarity of Bengal Nationalism. It was a Machiavellian devise to divide the people on the basis of religion and to put the Muslims against the Hindus. The partition forced in teeth of Bengali opposition and protests from the Indian National Congress showed the contemptuous disregard Curzon and the home authorities had for Indian public opinion. 16 th October 1905 was declared as a day of protest throughout the country. The tying of Rakhis, observation of fasts, boycott of foreign good, hurtals were important measures observed by Extremists. Tilak declared from the stage of the Congress Swaraj is my birth right ; I will have it. Our motto is self reliance and not mendicancy. The utter disregard Curzon showed for public opinion gave ample evidence, if any evidence was still needed, that the Moderates policy of 3Ps was barren of results. 8. Dissatisfaction with the India Councils Act of 1892 The new Act of 1892 did not satisfy even the moderates. It did not give anything substantial to the Indians. The people now increasingly felt that the policy of appeals and prayers had yielded nothing. The Objectives and Methods of Extremist Group The extremist group was organized under the leadership of the trio- Lal, Bal and Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal). Tilak gave the slogan of the new group. It was explained by Gokhle when he said, we are not beggars and our policy is not mendicancy. We are ambassadors of our people at a foreign court to watch and guard the interests of our country and get as much for her as we can. The new leadership sought to create in the people a passionate love for liberty accompanied by a spirit of sacrifice and a readiness to suffer for the cause of the country. They strove to root out from the people minds the omnipotence of the ruler and instead give them self-reliance and confidence in their own strength. B.C. Pal explained: untrained in the crooks ways of civilized diplomacy they had believed what their rulers had said, either of themselves or on their subjects as gospel truth. They had been told that people were weak and the government was strong. They had been told India stood on a lower plane of humanity and Englands mission was to civilize the semi barbarous natives. The Nationalist school took it upon themselves to expose hollowness of these pretensions. They commenced to make what are called counter-passes in hypnotism and at once woke the people to a sense of their own strength and an appreciation of their own culture.

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The extremist advocated boycott of foreign goods, Swadeshi and National Education. The Swadeshi Movement was designed to encourage house industry and provide the people with more opportunities for work and employment. Soon it was discovered that economic boycott might prove a powerful weapon against economic exploitations by the foreigners. It proved a most effective weapon for injuring British interests in India. It was believed the newly rising Indian manufacturing class would liberally provide funds for the Congress and thus strengthen it. Lala Lajpat Rai summed up: we desire to turn our faces away from Government House and turn then to huts of the people. This is the psychology, this is the ethics and this is the spiritual significance of the boycott movement. A National Scheme of Education was to replace the boycott of Government Controlled Universities and Colleges. The extremists encouraged Co-operative organizations; Voluntary Associations were set up for rural sanitation, preventive police duties, regulation of fairs and pilgrim gatherings for providing relief during famines and national calamities. Arbitration Committees were set up to decide civil and non-cognizable disputes. The Surat Session of Congress 1907 In the Surat Session of the Congress in 1907 there was an open drift between the two groups and the Moderates were able to secure majority and the other group Extremist get separated from the Congress and did not stop its movement. The Extremists were regarded as great danger to their existence by British. They were arrested and imprisoned. For dealing with them, sections 124A, 153A were added in IPC by the British. Morley Minto Reforms 1909 Morley Minto Reforms were introduced in 1909 during the period when Lord Minto was the Governor General of India. The reform envisaged a separate electrorate for Muslims besides other constitutional measures. The Government thereby sought to create a drift within the Congress on the one hand by winning the support of Moderates and on other hand by winning the favour of Muslims against Hindus. To achieve the latter objective, the reform introduced the system of separate electrorate under which Muslims could only vote for Muslim candidates. This was done to encourage the notion that the political, economic and cultural interests of Hindus and Muslims were separate and not common. Indian political leaders were however dissatisfied by these reforms. The Lucknow Pact 1916 Tilak and Gokhle started to make efforts for making compromise with the Moderates. But the talks broke off on account of the insistence of Ferozshah Mehta. Mrs. Annie Besant joined the Congress in 1915. She introduced new ideas and a new outlook in the Congress politics.She took up the matter of reunion of the moderates and the extremists in right earnest. Her efforts bore fruit and the extremist joined the Congress again. Further, Indian Muslims were annoyed of the British attitude towards Turkey. So, they turned to the Congress. The annual session of both the parties were held at Lucknow in 1916. As a result, a pact was signed between the Congress and the Muslim League in 1916. It is known as Lucknow Pact. Both the parties agreed to form a united front to carry on struggle for the freedom of country. It was an important step towards HinduMuslim unity. The Home Rule Movement 1917 In 1915, Mrs. Annie Besant announced her decision to establish a Home Rule League on the model of Irish Home Rule Movement. It was to be auxiliary to the INC. In 1916, she set up a Home Rule League at Madras. Tilak organized his own Home Rule League at Poona. Both of them worked the unison and aimed at achievement of self-government. Mrs. Besant said, I am Indian tomtoms waking up all the sleepers so that they may wake and work for their motherland. India does not chaffer with the blood of her sons and the proud tears of her daughters in exchange for so much liberty, so much right. India claims the right as a Nation, to justice among the peoples of the Empire. India asked this before the war, India will ask for it during the war, India will ask for it after the war but not as a reward but as a right does she ask for it. The movement reached its zenith in 1917. The Government began to take stern measures against it. Looking the resistance, the Secretary of State for India made

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an announcement in 1917 promising responsible Govt. to the people of India by stages. Slowly and gradually, the movement died out. Mrs. Besant was elected the President of Congress in 1917. Mr. Montague visited the India the same year held talks his report published in 1918 and the Govt. of India Act was passed in 1919.

THIRD PHASE (1919-1947) GANDHIAN ERA The period was dominated by M.K. Gandhi who introduced new ideas into Indian politics. He depreciated the policy of violence and underground plots but preached open and active resistance to injustice. He advocated the adoption of Satyagrah i.e. insistence for the truth, non-violent and non-cooperation towards the government which did not look to the interests of the governed and was high handed and oppressive. He emphasized on social reforms. He worked for the upliftment of women. He gave untouchables the name of Harijans and by living himself among them and by eating with them, he tried to remove prejudices and hatred from the minds of common people. For the upliftment of the rural masses, he advocated the use of Khadi and adopted Charkha as the symbol of national movement. Further, he firmly believed that unless both the Hindus and the Muslims joined, India would never get freedom. He even laid down his life for the cause of Hindu Muslim unity. Gandhi ji used to explain his program for strengthening India by exhorting the people to practice five virtues spinning, removal of untouchability, sobriety (non-consumption of alcohol and opium), Hindu Muslims unity and equality for women. The object of Congress in this period was attainment of Swaraj by all legitimate means within the Empire if possible and without it if necessary. In 1930 came the univocal aim of Poorna Swaraj. The Congress organization was considerably strengthened and its constitution gained more democratic form. Its aim was an allround improvement of Indian society. During the Great World War (1914-1918) a big shock to Imperialism by advocating the principle of self-determination the Congress gave ample demonstration of loyalty. The events of the year 1919 greatly disillusioned Gandhi Ji and from a cooperator he became non- cooperator. The passing of Rowlatt Acts, the Jalliawala bagh tragedy and the Khilafat wrongs gave a new turn to the politics. ROLE OF CONGRESS IN FREEDOM STRUGGLE The Indian National movement was primarily a movement for freedom from alien domina-nation. The movement has been one comprehensive effort embracing all aspects of the life of the community. Here, we have only focused on INC's contribution to India's Freedom Struggle (i..e., prior to 1947). INC specially under the leadership of Gandhi Ji has played a vital role in getting freedom from the British rule. The important events wherein the INCs role and contribution in the freedom of our country can be appreciated are enlisted below Rowlatt Act 1919 During the viceroyalty of Lord Chelmsford, a sedition committee was appointed by government under Justice Rowlatt which made recommendations to curb seditious activities in India. The Rowlatt Act gave unbridled powers to the government to arrest and imprision suspects without trial. Gandhi Ji decided to fight against this Act and he gave a call for Satygraha on April 06, 1919. He was arrested two days later which led to further intensification of agitation in Delhi, Punjab and Ahmedabad. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre The arrest of Dr. Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal on April 10, 1919, under the Rowlatt Act in connection with Satyagrah caused unrest in Punjab. On April 13,1919 a public meeting was held in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar where thousands of people assembled. Before the starting of meeting, General ODyre ordered indiscriminate heavy firing causing death of hundreds of people and more than 1200 were wounded. This massacre was a turning point in Indo-British relations and inspired the people to provide more unrelenting fight for freedom. It gave strength to Gandhi Jis mission.

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Khilalfat Movement The Caliph, Sultan of Turkey, was looked upon by the Muslims as their religious head. During the First World War, when the safety and welfare of Turkey was threatened by the British thereby weakening the Caliphs position, Indian Muslims adopted an anti-British attitude. Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali, the two brothers, launched an anti-British movement in 1920 for the restoration of Khilafat. It was supported by Gandhi ji and the INC, which paved the way for Hindu-Muslim Unity. Non-Cooperation Movement With the Congress support of Khilafat Movement, Hindu-Muslim unity was achieved which encouraged Gandhiji to launch his non-violent, non-corporation movement. At the Calcutta session in September 1920, the Congress resolved in favour of the movement and defined Swaraj as its ultimate aim. The movement envisaged- surrender of titles and honorary officers; resignation from nominated offices and posts in local bodies; refusal to attend govt. darbars and official functions and boycott of British courts by lawyers; refusal of general public to offer themselves for military and other government jobs; boycott of foreign goods etc. Gandhiji along with the Ali brothers of Khilafat movement undertook a nationwide tour addressing hundreds of meetings and a large number of political leaders. In the intial weeks, apart from educational boycott which was successful specially in Bengal, Punjab etc., boycott of law courts occur which saw major lawyers like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, Aruna Asaf Ali, Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel etc. giving up their lucrative practices in their fields. Another dramatic event during was the visit of the Prince of Wales. The day he landed in India (in Bombay on November 17, 1921) he was greeted with empty streets amd downed shutters wherever he went. The Non-Cooperation movement had other indirect effects even as it led to a Kisn Movement throughout the country, Akali movement in Punjab, strikes in steamer service and Assam-Bengal Railways and many other local movements. Chauri-Chaura Incident The Congress session held at Ahmedabad in December 1921 decided to launch a Civil Disobedience movement while reiterating its stand on the non-violent, non-cooperation movement of which Gandhi ji was appointed the leader. Before Gandhi ji could launch the Civil Disobedience Movement, a mob of countrymen at Chauri Chaura, a place near Gorakhpur in U.P., clashed with the police which opened fire. In retaliation the mob burnt the police station and killed 22 policemen. Thus, Gandhi ji called off the Civil Disobedience Movement on February 12, 1922. Despite this Gandhi ji was arrested and sentenced six years imprisonment. The Chauri Chaura incident convinced Gandhiji that the nation was not yet ready for the massdisobedience and he prevailed upon Congress Working Committee in Bardoli on February 02, 1922 to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement. Swaraj Party Gandhijis decision came in severe criticism from his colleagues like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das and N.C. Kelkar, who organized the Swaraj Party. The party was founded on January 01, 1923 as the CongressKhilafat-Swarajya Party. It proposed then an alternative programme of diverting the movement from widespread civil disobedience movement to restrictive on which would encourage its member to enter into legislative councils by contesting elections in order to wreck the legislature from within and to use moral pressure to compel the authority to concede to the popular demand for self-government. In the election in 1923 the Swaraj party captured 45 of the 145 seats. In provincial elections they secure few seats but in central provinces they secured as clear majority. They demanded the release of all the political prisoners, provincial autonomy, repealing of the repressive laws imposed by the British Government. However, after the death of C.R. Das in 1925 they drifted towards the policy of cooperation with the government which led to dissension and party broke up in 1926. Simon Commission

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The British Govt. appointed this commission in November 1927 to review the working of the diarchy system introduced by the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms and to report as to what extent the representative government could be introduced in India. Its all members were Europeans. Indian political leaders felt insulted and decided to boycott it. It was the INC that turned the boycott into a movement. As soon as Simon and his colleagues landed in Bombay on February 03, 1928, all the major cities and towns observed a complete Hartal, mass rallies, processions and black flag demonstration. Wherever the commission went, there were slogans Simon Go Back. While leading the demonstration, Lala Lajpat Rai was severly beaten in a police lathicharge and succumbed to his injuries. It was his death that Bhagat Singh and his comrades were seeking to avenge when they killed a white police official, Suanders, in December 1928. Lahore Session 1929 In December 1929, under the president ship of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the INC at its Lahore session resolved declaring Poorna Swaraj to be the goal of the national movement. It was Gandhiji again who was the decisive voice investing Nehru with the office of president in what was to be a critical year of mass struggle. On December 31, 1929, the newly adopted tricolour flag was unflurled and January 26 fixed as the Independence Day which was to be celebrated every year, pleading to the people not to submit to British rule any longer. Dandi March 1930 Also called the Salt Satyagraha. To achieve the goal of complete independence, Gandhi ji launched another civil disobedience movement. Along with 79 followers, Gandhi ji started his famous march from Sabarmati Ashram on March 20, 1930, for the small village Dandi to break the Salt Law. While Gandhi ji was marching to Dandi, Congress leaders and workers had been busy at various levels with the hard organization tasks of enrolling volunteers and members, forming grassroot congress committees, collecting funds, and touring villages and towns to spread nationalist messages. Preparations of launching the Salt Satyagrah were made, sites chosen, volunteers prepared and the logistic of battle worked out. By the time Gandhi ji reached Dandi, he had a whole nation, aroused and expectant, waiting for the final signal. On reaching the seashore on April 06, 1930, he broke the Salt Law by picking up salt from the seashore. Thus, he inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement, a movement that was to remain unsurpassed in the history of the Indian national movement for the countrywide mass participation it unleashed. This powerful movement sparked off patriotism even among the Indian soldiers in the Army. Gandhiji was arrested on May 05, 1930. This was followed by another round of boycott of foreign goods and it took the shape of nationwide civil disobedience movement in which ladies also participated. There was a massive protest on Gandhi jis arrest which was feed backed with lathi-charge, police firing etc. Round Table Conferences The First Round Table Conference 1930 It was held in London on November 12, 1930, to discuss the Simon Commission. The Commission has proposed self-government in the provinces and federation of British India and the princely states at the Centre. The representatives of the Muslim League, Liberals and other parties had assembled for the discussion of the commission report but in the absence of the premier political party i.e. INC, the first RTC had to be adjourned to January 02, 1931. Gandhi Irwin Pact 1931 Two moderate statesman, Sapru and Jayakar initiated efforts to bring about re-rapprochement between Gandhi ji and the government. Six meeting with Viceroy Irwin finally led to the signing of a pact between the two on March 05, 1931, whereby the Congress the movement and agreed to join the Second Round Table Conference on the terms of release of all political prisoners not convicted for violence, the remission of all -

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fines not yet collected, the return of confiscated land not yet sold to third parties and lenient treatment of all the government officers who had resigned. Gandhi ji and other leaders were released from jail. The Govt. also conceded the right to make the salt for consumption of villages along the coast and also the right to peaceful and non-aggressive picketing. The Second Round Table Conference 1931 It was held in London during the viceroyalty of Lord Willingdon and Gandhiji attended it on behalf of the INC. Nothing much was expected from the Conference for the imperialist political forces, which ultimately controlled the British Government in London, were opposed to any political or economic concessions being given to India which could lead the independence. However, it failed as Gandhi ji could not agree with British PM Ramsay Macdonald on his policy of communal representation and his refusal on the basic Indian demand for freedom. Poona Pact 1932 In August 1931, Ramsay Macdonald announced his award on communal representation. This as another expression of Divide and Rule policy. Gandhi ji was deeply grieved by this and underwent a fast in protest against this award since it aimed to divide India on communal basis. He staked his life to get the wards repudiated. According to the pact, the idea of separate electorate for the Depressed Classes was abandoned but seats reserved for them in provincial legislatures were increased from 71 in the Award to 147, and in Central Legislature to 81 percent of the total. Ultimately the fast ended with the Poona pact which annulled the award. The leaders of various groups and parties among Hindus, and BR Ambedkar on behalf of Harijans, signed the pact. This pact between Hindus and the depressed classes agreed upon a joint electorate. The Third Round Table Conference It was held in 1932 but proved fruitless since the national leaders were in prison. -

The Government Of India Act, 1935 The Simon Commission report submitted in 1930 formed the basis for the Government of India Act 1935. The Act introduced provincial autonomy, abolished diarchy in provinces and made ministers responsible to the legislative and federation at the centre. It was condemned by nearly all sections Indian public opinion and was rejected by the Congress. The Congress demanded instead, the convening of a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise to frame a constitution for an independent India. Yet, it contested the elections when the Constitution was introduced on April 01, 1937; and formed ministries, first in six provinces and then in another two. The Congress high command exercised a great hold upon ministries of each provinces. Demand For Pakistan 1942 The ideology of Iqbal, the vision of Rehmat Ali, and the fears of Muslims were united by the practical genius of Jinnah to bind Muslims together as never before during the British period and lead effect an act on political creation i.e. Pakistan. Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of British cabinet, visited India for asking the cooperation from Indians to let fight the British with Japanese advancing towards India as a result of World War promising in return to give dominion status to Indians after the war. As his proposal was rejected at large, the Cripps Mission ended in failure. Quit India Movement 1942-45 On August 08, 1942 the Congress in its meeting at Bombay passed a resolution known as Quit India Movement, whereby Gandhi ji asked the British to quit India and gave a call for Do or die to his countrymen. He was arrested next day, but the other leaders continued the revolutionary struggle. Violence spread throughout the country, several Govt. offices were destroyed and damaged and communication paralyzed. The movement was, however, crushed by the government.

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Gandhijis Fast He undertook a 21-day fast in jail. His condition deteriorated after 13 days and all hopes of his surviving were given up. But as a result of his moral strength and spiritual stamina, he survived and completed the fast. This was his answer to the Govt. who was constantly exhorting him to condemn the violence of the people in the Quit India Movement. He unequivocally held the Govt. responsible for the widespread violence. The popular response to the news of the fast was immediate and overwhelming. All over the country, there were hartals, demonstration, and strikes. The fast had done exactly what it had intended to. Public morale was raised, the anti-British feeling heightened, and an opportunity for the political activity provided. The Quit India Movement marked a new high in terms of popular participation in the national movement and sympathy with the national cause. As earlier, the students were at the forefront the struggle. Women also played a vital role. Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kriplani, Usha Mehta were among the important members of the small group participating in the agitation. Independence was no longer a matter of bargain now. After Quit India there could be no retreat. Cabinet Mission Plan On a declaration made by Lord Attlee on March 15, 1946, British Cabinet Mission visited India to make recommendations regarding constitutional reforms to be introduced in India. But it failed in bringing a satisfactory solution to the difficulties. The Mission envisaged the establishment of a Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution as well as an interim government. The Muslim League accepted the plan, while maintaining its strive for a separate State. The Congress also partially accepted the plan. Interim Government On September 02, 1946, an interim government was formed. Congress members led by Jawahar Lal Nehru joined it but the Muslim League did not as it withdrew its earlier acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan. Formation Of Constituent Assembly The Constituent Assembly met on December 09, 1946, and Dr. Rajender Prasad was elected its President. The Muslim League did not join it. Mountbatten Plan 1947 In March 1947, Lord Mountbatten replaced Lord Wavell. He announced his plan on June 03, 1947. it offered a key to the political and constitutional deadlock created by the refusal of the Muslim league to join the Constituent Assembly formed to frame the Constitution of India. Mountbattens formula was to divide India but retain maximum unity. The country would be partitioned but so would be Punjab and Bengal, so that the limited Pakistan that emerged out would meet both the Congress and the Leagues position to some extent. He laid down detailed principles for the partition of the country and speedy transfer of political powers in the form of dominion status to the newly formed dominions of India and Pakistan. Its acceptance by the Congress and the Muslim League resulted in the birth of Pakistan. The Indian Independence Act, 1947 The Bill containing the provisions of the Mountbatten Plan of June 03, 1947, was introduced in the Parliament and passed as the Indian Independence Act 1947. the Act laid measures for the partition of the country and speedy transfer of political powers to the new governments of India and Pakistan. The Act made India and Pakistan independent dominions. Bloodshed and violence marked the exodus of refugees. Lord Mounbatten was appointed the Governor -General of free India and M.A. Jinnah the first Governor- General of Pakistan. After independence, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel single heartedly dealt with the accession of all princely states. All states were merged into neighbouring provinces. Mahatma Gandhi undertook a fast for the

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sake of Muslim rights. On January 30, 1948, he was assassinated by Nathuram Vinayak Godse at the Birla House prayer meeting in Delhi. On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly passed the new Constitution of India. On the morning of January 26, 1950, India was proclaimed a republic and Dr. Rajender Prasad took over as the first president, Dr. Radha Krishnan as the Vice President and Pt Jawahar lal Nehru took over as the first Prime Minister. CONCLUSION The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in 1885 by A.O. Hume. It was the first political organization of its kind, which put the Indians on the forefront. Few organizations in the world have as long and illustrated history as the Indian National Congress (INC). Titans such as Gopalakrishna Gokhale, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gandhi ji and Bose served on its presidency. The Congress(I) as it is known today in India, remains as a very important political force- a phenomenon continued on by the Nehru/Gandhi family. Here, we have only focused on INC's contributions and roles during the period of 1885 to 1947. The movement for freedom struggle started in India with the inception of INC. However, it got full impetus only after the arrival of Gandhi Ji. He started non- cooperation and Khilaft movements in 1920 against the Rowlatt Act but had to be terminated due to outbreak of Chauri-Chaura incident. Thereafter, a resolution for complete independence was passed in the Lahore session of INC in 1929. To achieve this goal Gandhi Ji started Civil Disobedience Movement and Dandi March. It had a great impact on British Govt. and they call Round Table Conferences I and II. But these conferences did not yield any result. However, mass agitation continued in India, which caused the British Govt. to pass Diarchy Act of 1935. As a result of this act, elections were held and Congress formed Govt. in 7 provinces out of 11. The second war broke out in 1925 and British Parliament declared Indias support to axis forces without taking into confidence the leaders of INC. As a result, the provincial Govt. resigned and Gandhi Ji started Quit India Movement on 8 August, 1942. To pacify the Indian leaders, the British Govt. sent Cripps Mission in India. At the same time, Subash Chander Bose formed INA. However, the power of British weakened financially and politically due to II World War. All theses reasons coupled together forced the British to leave India. They formed a Wavell Plan and Constituent Assembly was formed in India to draft the Constitution in 1946. But they could not resolve the conflict of INC and Muslim League. So the British sent Lord Mountbatten as Governor General. He formed a new plan known as Mountbatten Plan which disintegration of India in two dominion states i.e. Bharat for INC and Pakistan for Muslim League. In this way, Pakistan became independent on 14 August 1947 and India on 15 August 1947. Thus, INC fulfilled its objective of complete independence. On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly passed the new Constitution of India. On the morning of January 26, 1950, India was proclaimed a republic and Dr. Rajender Prasad took over as the first president, Dr. Radha Krishnan as the Vice President and Pt Jawahar lal Nehru took over as the first Prime Minister.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. WEBSITES

1.1 www.kamat.com/kalranga/freedom/inc.htm - 16k 1.2 www.aicc.org.in/role_of_press_in_indias_struggle_for_freedom.php - 44k 1.3 www.flipkart.com/freedom-movement-role-congress-leaders/8170541638- wv23f9t7vl - 26k
1.4 www.wikipedia.org/Indian_National_Congress

2. BOOKS 2.1 A New Look At Modern Indian History, S. Chand (S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi 2006) 2.2 History of Modern India, J.K. Tomar (Mahaveer & Sons, New Delhi 2007) 2.3 Text Book Of History, NCERT, Class X

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