Political Associations Before the Indian National Congress

At a Glance

• What it is Political bodies and campaigns before the Congress
• Early phase Local, aristocratic, petitions to Parliament
• Later phase Middle-class lawyers, journalists, doctors; wider agenda
• Most important Indian Association of Calcutta, 1876
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Beginning of Modern Nationalism and the Moderate Phase

Where Does It Fit?

This is the second topic of the category on the beginning of modern nationalism and the Moderate phase. The previous topic gave the factors in the growth of nationalism. This topic describes the first organisations it produced. The next topic covers the foundation of the Congress. Previous topic: Factors in the Growth of Modern Nationalism.

What Were the Early Associations Like?

The Indian National Congress was not the first political organisation in India. But most of the political associations of the early half of the nineteenth century were dominated by wealthy and aristocratic elements and were local or regional in character. Through long petitions to the British Parliament, most of them demanded administrative reforms, association of Indians with the administration and the spread of education. The associations of the second half of the century were increasingly dominated by the educated middle class of lawyers, journalists, doctors and teachers, who had a wider perspective and a larger agenda, as set out in Factors in the Growth of Modern Nationalism.

Which Associations Were Formed in Bengal?

The British Indian Association sent a petition to Parliament for the renewed Charter of the Company, asking for (i) a separate legislature of a popular character, (ii) separation of the executive from judicial functions, (iii) lower salaries for higher officers and (iv) abolition of the salt duty, abkari and stamp duties. These were partially accepted when the Charter Act of 1853 added six members to the Governor-General’s council for legislative purposes. The Raja’s associates are described in Raja Rammohan Roy and the Brahmo Samaj.

What Was the Indian Association of Calcutta?

The Indian Association of Calcutta, also called the Indian National Association, was founded in 1876 by younger nationalists of Bengal led by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose, who were discontented with the conservative and pro-landlord policies of the British Indian Association. It was the most important of the pre-Congress associations. Its aim was to promote by every legitimate means the political, intellectual and material advancement of the people, to create a strong public opinion on political questions, and to unify Indians in a common political programme.

It protested against the reduction of the I.C.S. age limit in 1877. It demanded simultaneous holding of the civil service examination in England and India and the Indianisation of higher administrative posts, and led a campaign against the Arms Act and the Vernacular Press Act. Branches opened in other towns and cities, even outside Bengal, with low membership fees to attract poorer sections. It sponsored an all-India conference at Calcutta on 28 to 30 December 1883, attended by over a hundred delegates from different parts of the country. In a way it was a forerunner of the Indian National Congress as an all-India nationalist organisation, and it merged with the Congress in 1886.

Which Associations Arose in Bombay and Madras?

Ranade’s work in other fields is in Prarthana Samaj.

What Campaigns Were Waged Before the Congress?

As an analytical point, the campaigns show a shift of method as well as of membership. Early petitions to Parliament were replaced by public meetings, newspapers and all-India campaigns, which is the method the Moderates later used in the Congress, as in Era of the Moderates, 1885-1905: Approach and Leaders. The Foundation of the Indian National Congress and the Safety-Valve Debate is the next step.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Chronology The year and founder of each association are asked as a list
• Link to the Congress The Indian Association is the forerunner of the Congress
• Mains theme The evolution from petitions to public agitation

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the foundation of the Indian National Congress and the safety-valve debate. Next topic: Foundation of the Indian National Congress and the Safety-Valve Debate.

Key People and Terms

• British Indian Association The 1851 merger of the Landholders’ Society and Bengal British India Society
• East India Association Dadabhai Naoroji’s London body of 1866
• Indian Association of Calcutta The 1876 body of Banerjea and Bose
• Poona Sarvajanik Sabha Ranade’s Poona body acting as a bridge to the government
• Madras Mahajan Sabha The 1884 Madras body of Viraraghavachari and others
• Indian Civil Service agitation The all-India agitation against the lowered age limit

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask about pre-Congress political activity. These points add depth.

• Change of base From aristocrats to the educated middle class
• Change of method From petitions to campaigns
• All-India step The 1883 conference foreshadowed the Congress