A brief History of Indian National Congress

Indian National Congress (INC) is a political party of India. It was founded in 1985 not as a political party, but as a social organization having social concerns. However, in course of time it turned into a political party. Initially, it demanded equitable government through administrative reforms, and later demanded independence for India from British rule. Under leadership of the Congress, India got independence in 1947.

In the beginning the Congress was concerned mainly about administrative reforms to tackle the problems of removal of poverty. It passed resolutions deploring the growing impoverishment of the people, the wealth of the country that was being drained away to Britain, and so on.

The background of emergence of this organization was that the condition of the ryots had been steadily deteriorating in India since 1848. Nearly 40 million people had access to only one meal a day and some times not even that.

Annual Sessions of the Congress Party held in different venues in various part of the country every year addressed the problems. Concrete steps were also taken to mobilise Public Opinion in Great Britian
in favour of the Indian viewpoint.

In later period, thrust was given on seeking Representation in Government and Madan Mohan Malaviya went to the extent to declare "No taxation without representation".

1885: Bombay session held and W. C. BONNERJEE mad president
1886 session: CALCUTTA, President - DADABHAI NAOROJI
1887 session: MADRAS, President - BADRUDDIN TYABJI
1888 session: ALLAHABAD, President - GEORGE YULE
1889 session: BOMBAY, President - SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN

July 1889: Formation of British Committee of the Indian National Congress with Offices in London to put pressure on Parliament in Great Britian.

1890 session: CALCUTTA, President - SIR PHEROZESHAH MEHTA
1891 session: NAGPUR, President - P. ANANDA CHARLU
1892 session: ALLAHABAD, President - W. C. BONNERJEE
1892: Dadabhai Naoroji elected to British Parliament in Great Britian.

1892: India Councils Act a major victory for Congress but it still did not envisage elected representation.

1893 session: LAHORE, President - DADABHAI NAOROJI
1894 session: MADRAS, President - ALFRED WEBB

In the next phase the Congress put forward the demands for Fiscal Responsibility, Indianisation of Services, etc, and protested against economic emasculation, Government insensitive to Natural disasters like famine, plague and floods.

Lokmanya Tilak worked for the famine affected polpulace of Pune. However, he was accused of inciting violence by his writings in "Kesari" and subsequently imprisoned.

Many repressive measaures implemented by the British rule under The Curzon Vice-Royalty. Sedition Act was enacted curbing the elementary liberties of the people of India. Official Secrets Act passed with burden of proof of innocence shifted onto the accused.

The Congress protested against proposed Partition of Bengal along communal lines.

1895 session: PUNE, President - SURENDRANATH BANNERJEE
1896 session: CALCUTTA, President - RAHIMTULLA M. SAYANI

1896: Resolution blaming the British for creating the Famine

1897 session: AMRAVATI, President - C. SANKARAN NAIR
1898 session: MADRAS, President - ANANDA MOHAN BOSE

1899 session: LUCKNOW, President - ROMESH CHANDERDUTTA
1899: First Party Constitution framed

1990 sission: LAHORE, President - N. G. CHANDAVARKAR

1900: British reaction to growing Congress Movement - curb availability of Education to Indians - Universities Act seeks to limit spread of English education

1901 session: CALCUTTA, President - SIR DINSHAW EDULJEE WACHA
1901: Mahatma Gandhi appears on the Congress platform for the first time seeking support for the struggle in South Africa

1902 session: AHMEDABAD, President - SURENDRANATH BANNERJEE
1903 session: MADRAS, President - LALMOHAN GHOSH
1904 session: BOMBAY, President - SIR HENRY COTTON

Reaction to the Curzon Regime was witenessed throughout India.

Widespread protests were held against the Partition of Bengal - blatantly promoted by Lord Curzon as the creation of a Muslim Enclave.

This phase also witnessed confrontation between the moderates in the Congress seeking change through constitutional means and peaceful
agitation, and the Extremist younger elements sought change through violence if necessary.

1905 session: BENARES, President - GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE
1906 session: CALCUTTA, President - DADABHAI NAOROJI
1906: Demand for Swaraj, Boycott of British Goods

1907 session: SURAT, President - RASHBIHARI GHOSH
1907: First Split in Congress between Moderates and Extremists - the Moderates retain control of the Organisation

1908 session: MADRAS, President - RASHBIHARI GHOSH
1909 session: LAHORE, President - PT MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA

1909: Minto-Morley Reforms creating the Indian Councils gave representation but also gave impetus to the virus of Communalism by providing for separate electorates

1909: First signs of strain in Hindu-Muslim relations

1910 session: ALLAHABAD, President - SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN

1911 session: CALCUTTA, President - PT BISHAN NARAYAN DAR
1911: The partition of Bengal is annulled

1912 session: BANKIPUR, President - R. N. MUDHOLKAR
1913 session: KARACHI, President - NAWAB SYED MOHD BAHADUR
1914 session: MADRAS, President - BHUPENDRA NATH BOSE

This phase of the Congress history witnessed THE HOME RULE MOVEMENT, THE ADVENT OF GANDHI, THE KHILAFAT MOVEMENT and THE NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT.

1915 session: BOMBAY, President - LORD S.P. SINHA
1916 session: LUCKNOW, President - AMBICA CHARAN MAZUMDAR
1916: Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim league
1917 session: CALCUTTA, President - DR ANNIE BESANT
1917: Proposal for a Congress Flag (later to become the National Tricolour)

1917: Principle of Linguisitic Division accepted - foundation for the eventual creation of states by linguistic identity

1917: Gandhiji introduces Satyagraha as a potent weapon of political protest in Champaran
1918 session: BOMBAY, President - SYED HASAN IMAM
1918 session: DELHI, President - PT MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA

1918: Satyagraha in Gujarat successful
1919 session: AMRITSAR, President - PT MOTILAL NEHRU
1919: Gandhiji organises countrywide Satyagraha against the RowlattAct

1919: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919 Gandhiji organises countrywide Satyagraha against the RowlattAct
1920 session: CALCUTTA, President - LALA LAJPAT RAI
1920 session: NAGPUR, President - C. VIJAYARAGHAVACHARIAR

1920: Khilafat Movement

1920: Gandhiji tours the country to organise the Non-Cooperation Movement

1920: The Congress becomes a Mass Movement

1920: The Country United under Mahatma Gandhi
1921 session: AHMEDABAD, President - HAKIM AJMAL KHAN
1922 session: GAYA, President - DESHBANDHU CHITTARANJAN DAS
1922: Gandhiji arrested
1923 session: COCANADA, President - MAULANA MOHD ALI
1923 session: DELHI, President - MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD
1924 session: BELGAUM, President - MAHATMA GANDHI

1924: Gandhiji’s 21 day fast against Communal Disturbances

Important developments in this phase were THE DEMAND FOR COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE, GANDHI - IRWIN PACT and DEFINITION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.

1925 session: KANPUR, President - SAROJINI NAIDU
1925: Adoption of Hindi as the Official Language for the AICC Sessions
1926 session: GAUHATI, President - S. SRINIVASA IYENGAR
1926: Announcement of Simon Commission for Proposing Constitutional Reforms for India
1927 session: MADRAS, President - DR MUKHTAR AHMED ANSARI
1927: Resolution boycotting the Simon Commission
1928 session: CALCUTTA, President - PT MOTILAL NEHRU
1928: Successful All India Hartal on arrival of Simon Commission

1928: All Party Committee appointed under Pt Motilal Nehru to draft a Consititution for Independent India

1928: Bardoli Satyagraha successful under Sardar Patel
1929 session: LAHORE, President - PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

1929: Irwin-Gandhi talks

1929: Resolution demanding Complete Independence
1930 session -
1930: Adoption of 26th January as "Purna Swaraj Day"

1930: Call for Civil Disobedience

1930: Salt Satyagraha - Dandi March

1930: All major Congress Leaders arrested

1930: AICC Working Committee declared unlawful body
1930: Congress opposition to Round table Conference
1931 session: KARACHI, President - SARDAR VALLABHABHAI PATEL
1931: Fundamental Rights defined
1931: AICC Working Committee Members released - Congress invited by Viceroy to join deliberations for the future of India
1931: Gandhi authorised to negotiate on behalf of the Congress
1931: Gandhi - Irwin Pact
1931-32 Repression by the British and resumption of the Struggle. Gandhiji arrested

1932 session: DELHI, President - PT MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA
1932: Poona Agreement guaranteeing Reserved Seats for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes

1933 session: CALCUTTA, President - MRS NELLIE SENGUPTA
1933: Gandhiji on fast for 21 days for the cause of the Harijans

1934 session: BOMBAY, President - DR RAJENDRA PRASAD
1934: Gandhiji withdraws from the Congress

1934: Congress Constitution amended to make Non-Violence and Khadi its fundamental creeds

The subsequent phase witnessed THE DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE FREEDOM and MASS SATYAGRAHA.
1935 session -
1935: The Government of India Act

1935: Gandhiji decides to concentrate on Social Reform

1935: Congress condemns the new Constitution but decides to contest Elections
1936 session: LUCKNOW, President - PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
1936: Nehru’s Presidential address condemns Fascism
1937 session: FAIZPUR, President - PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
1937: Congress wins Elections in 5 out of 9 Provinces
1938 session -
1939 session: HARIPURA, President - SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE
1939: Resignation of Congress Ministries and withdrawal from the Legislative Process

1939: Demand for a Constituent assembly to be elected by Universal Franchise
1940 session: TRIPURA, President - SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE
1940: Non-Cooperation in the War Effort

1940: Call for a National Government

1940: 9th August 1942 Quit India Resolution

1940: Mass Arrests leading to All India Public Protest
1941 session -
1942 session -
1943 session -

1943-44: Allied victories in the war leading to intransigent British position

1943-44: Gandhiji and Congress leaders released from Prison but British refuse to negotiate
1943-44: Jinnah adamant on Partition
1944 session -
1945 session -
1945: Simla Conference fails
1946 session -
1946: INA Trial
1946: Naval Mutiny
1946: Cabinet Mission to decide fate of India
1946: Congress wins an overwhelming majority in Elections to the Constitutional Assembly

1947 session: MEERUT, President - ACHARYA J.B. KRIPALANI

India got independence on 15th of August 1947 and whole of the country suffered communal frenzy. Mahatma Gandhi had suggested disolution of the Congress Party, since, according to him the party had already served the purpose. However, the Congress party continued its existence.

Mahatma Gandhi was assasinated on 30th January 1948.
1948 session: JAIPUR, President - DR. PATTABHI SITARAMAYYA

Integration of the Princely States was meticulously done and the Republic of India came into existence on 26th of January 1950. The present Constitution of India was adopted on that day.

1950 session: NASIK, President - PURSHOTTAM DAS TANDON
1951 session: NEW DELHI, President - PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

First General Elections were held in 1952.

The Congress Message enunciated by Pt Nehru - "Political freedom having been attained through non-violent action under the leadership of Gandhi, the National Congress now has to labour for the attainment of social and economic freedom so that progress and equal opportunity may come to all the people of India without any distinction of race or religion"

1953 session: HYDERABAD, President - PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
1954 session: KALYANI, President - PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

India then started inching forwared towards socialism.

1955: Resolution seeking to introduce Planning for a Socialistic Pattern of Society

1955: Concept of economic and social reconstruction

1955 session: AVADI, President - U.N. DHEBAR
1956 session: AMRITSAR, President - U.N. DHEBAR
1957 session: INDORE, President - U.N. DHEBAR
1959 session: NAGPUR, President - U.N. DHEBAR
1960 session: BANGALORE, President - NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY
1961 session: BHAVNAGAR, President - NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY
1962 session: PATNA, President - NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY
1964 session: BHUBANESHWAR, President - K. KAMARAJ

1964: Demise of Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru
1965 session: DURGAPUR, President - K.KAMARAJ
1965: Demise of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri

1965: Smt Indira Gandhi chosen as Prime Minister
1966 session: JAIPUR, President - K. KAMARAJ
1968 session: HYDERABAD, President - S. NIJALINGAPPA
1969 session: FARIDABAD, President - S. NIJALINGAPPA
1969 session: BOMBAY, President - JAGJIVAN RAM
1969: Bank Nationalisation

1969: Abolition of the Princes

1969: Split in Congress over the Election of the President of India
1971 session -
1971: Mid-Term Poll swept by Smt. Indira Gandhi
1972 session: CALCUTTA, President - DR. SHANKAR DAYAL SHARMA
1972: Congress gets massive victories in state elections
1975 session: CHANDIGARH, President - DEV KANT BOROOAH
1975: Imposition of Emergency
1977 session -
1977: Loss in General Elections
1977: Congress for Democracy splits the party
1978 session: NEW DELHI, President - INDIRA GANDHI
1978: Split in Congress
1978: Smt Indira Gandhi sweeps state elections in Andhra and Karnataka
1980 session -
1980: Indira Gandhi sweeps back to power with over 300 seats in the Lok Sabha
1983 session: CALCUTTA, President - INDIRA GANDHI
31st October 1984: Smt Indira Gandhi was assasinated by her own bodyguards.
1984 session -

1984: Shri Rajiv Gandhi leads the Congress to an unprecedented Victory of 401 seats in the Lok Sabha
First steps taken towards changing the political and economic climate in the country
Attempt to solve long pending disputes: Mizo Accord, Assam Accord, Punjab Accord, Historic visit to China

1985 session: BOMBAY, President - RAJIV GANDHI

1989: Congress largest single party with 197 seats. Shri Rajiv Gandhi chooses to sit in Opposition because he did not get a clear mandate
1991 session -
1991: Shri Rajiv Gandhi assasinated while campaigning during Lok Sabha Elections by LTTE human bomb in the form of a woman

1991: Congress comes to power on sympathy vote after the martyrdom of Shri Rajiv Gandhi
1991: P.V. Narasimha Rao chosen Congress Prime Minister
1991: Dr Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister takes first steps towards opening up the economy and making it globally competitive
1992 session: TIRUPATI, President - P.V. NARASIMHA RAO
1996 session -
1996: Congress loses General Elections
1996: P.V. Narasimha Rao resigns from Presidentship of Party
1996: Sitaram Kesri chosen as President

1997 session: CALCUTTA, President - SITARAM KESRI

1997: IN THE RUN UP TO THE GENERAL ELECTIONS CONGRESS DEMORALISED AND LEADERS THREATENING TO LEAVE THE PARTY. ALL PSEPHOLOGISTS PREDICT TOTAL DISASTER FOR THE PARTY

1997: SMT. SONIA GANDHI PERSUADED TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE PARTY TO STOP IT FROM COLLAPSING ALTOGETHER

14th March 1998: Smt. Sonia Gandhi persuaded to take over as Congress President
Congress on a wining spree. Wins state elections and forms Governments in a majority of the states:

1998 session -
1999 session -
2000 session -
2001 session: BANGALORE, President - SMT SONIA GANDHI
2002
2003
2004

28TH AND 29TH MARCH 2003
FIRST EVER CONVENTION OF ALL BLOCK CONGRESS PRESIDENTS HELD AT DELHI
THRUST ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION
"CONGRESS KA HAATH GARIB KE SAATH"

7TH, 8TH AND 9TH JULY 2003
SHIMLA VICHAR MANTHAN SHIVIR
SHIMLA SANKALP ADOPTED BY THE PARTY
"CONGRESS KA HAATH AAM AADMI KE SAATH"

GENERAL ELECTIONS HELD IN MAY 2004

Congress under Smt. Sonia Gandhi leads United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to victory in Elections defeating the BJP led NDA

Smt. Sonia Gandhi elected head of the Parliamentary Party

Smt. Sonia Gandhi asked to head UPA Government as Prime Minister. However, She chose Dr. Manmohan Singh to become Prime Minister. After that Dr Singh was elected head of Parliamentary Party.

Dr. Manmohan Singh sworn in as Prime Minister of India on 22 May 2004.

2005 session: -
2006 session: HYDERABAD, President - SMT SONIA GANDHI
2007 session -
June 15, 2007 - United Nations declares Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) as International Non-Violence Day.
Sep 24, 2008 - Shri Rahul Gandhi takes over as General Secretary, AICC
Jan 20 2013 - Rahul Gandhi elected Vice President unanimously by the Congress Working Committe
Dec 15 2017 - Rahul Gandhi unanimously elected Party President
Since October 26, 2022 - Mallikarjun Kharge is the elected president