Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress is a major political party in India. Created in 1885, the Indian National Congress became the nation's leader in the Independence Movement, with over 15 million Indians involved in its organizations and over 70 million participants in its struggle against the British Empire. After independence in 1947, it became the nation's dominant political party. In the 14th Lok Sabha , 145 INC members, the largest contingent amongst all parties, serve in the house. The party is currently the chief member of the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition government supported by the Left Front.
Founded in 1885 with the object of obtaining a greater share in government for educated Indians, the Indian National Congress was initially not opposed to British rule. The Congress met once a year during the Christmas vacation. Indeed, it was a Scotsman, Allan Octavian Hume, who brought about its first meeting in Bombay, with the approval of Lord Dufferin, the then-Viceroy. Womesh Chandra Banerjee was the first President of the INC. The first meeting was scheduled to be held in Pune but due to a plague breakout there, the meeting was later shifted to Mumbai. So the first Session of INC was held from 28-31st December 1885, and was attended by 72 delegates.
# posted by faburous @ 9:22 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
I never think of Hume as a Scotsman. After all he was, at least according to the (British)Dictionary of National Biography, born in Kent, lived and was educated in London, then in the East India Company college in Hertfordshire. His father's estate at Burnley Hall was in Norfolk. I don't think Hume ever lived in Scotland, and indeed I cannot remember any reference to him even visiting Scotland. I know he did collect plants in the north of England, but that's about it.
Post a Comment
<< Home
