Various theories behind the Formation of Indian National Congress||Formation of INC||safety valve theory||mythical theory||conspiracy theory||lightning conductor theory||

 

Formation of INC

 

Indian national congress was founded in December, 1885 by 72 A.O Hume, an Englishman and a retired civil servant in association with various national leaders called for a conference in pune. The foundation of Indian National Congress was not a sudden event. It was culmination of the process of political awakening. The year 1885 was a turning point for this. That was the year when the political Indians and intellectuals interested in politics no longer saw themselves as spokesmen of a particular  group interest but started representing national interest. Through their efforts a national party was established which was to be the platform for Indian politics, the organizer, the headquarter and the symbol of new national spirit. Foundation of the congress was the natural culmination of the political work of the previous year.

         Between 1875 and 1885 many younger and radical nationalist intellectuals entered politics and established new association. The Indians had gained new experience, as well as confidence. The British government had to face the agitation of Indians. At that time Indian national Congress was formed.

There were some theories behind the formation of INC:-

 

·      Safety valve theory

 Indian National Congress was started by A.O Hume and others under the official direction, guidance and advice of no less a person than Lord Dufferin, viceroy to provide a safety valve for the rising discontent among the masses which was inevitably leaning towards a popular and violent revolution. They believed that a violent revolution was on the card at that time and was avoided only by foundation of Congress. According to safety valve theory, britishers conspired among themselves and deliberately created congress. British had seen 1857 revolt already and the political situation in 1880’s was somewhat resembling so they wanted to avoid another 1857 type rebellion. The extremist leader Lala Lajpat Rai believed in the safety valve theory.

 Lala Lajpat Rai said that congress was ‘child of British Raj'. He said congress was a product of Lord Dufferin's brain and argued that the congress was started more with the object of saving the British empire from danger than with that of winning political liberty for India. The interest of British empire were primary and those of India only secondary.

Golwalkar believed that congress was an anti national organisation. He said that Britishers founded congress as a safety valve to “seething nationalism” as a toy which would lull the awakening giant into slumber, an instrument to destroy national consciousness has been as far as they are concerned a success.

 

·      Mythical theory

Mythical theory suggest that it was humanistic approach of A.O Hume that was cited as one of the factor that led to the establishment of congress. It was said that Hume was deeply moved by the political plight of the Indians, and he wanted to establish a political platform for Indians that could serve as the ‘voice for Indians’ so that the grievances could reach the British and the discontentment which was gradually growing between the British ruling system and the Indians could be minimized.

Colonial approach-  The British government was hostile to the congress from the beginning despite the latter’s moderate methods and emphasis on loyalty to the British crown. They claimed that congress was ‘disloyal babus'.

 

·      Conspiracy theory

Conspiracy theory was put forward by marxist historias. It was an off spring of the safety valve's notion.

R.P Dutt opined that the Indian national congress was born out of a conspiracy to abort a popular uprising in India and the bourgeois leaders were a party to it. He wrote that the Congress was brought into existence through direct governmental initiative and guidance, and through ‘a plan secretly pre-arranged with the viceroy’ so that it could use it as an intended weapon for safeguarding British ruled against the rising force of popular unrest and anti British feeling.

 

·      Lighting conductor theory

 

Bipin chandra says that if Hume and other English liberals hoped to use the congress as a safety valve, the congress leaders used Hume as a lightning conductor.

 

·      According to Surendranath banerjee  the congress was the outcome of those civilizing influences which Macaulay and his co adjustor were instrumental in planting the government of the country.

 

·      According to Nandlal Chatterjee, the congress was founded as precautionary move against an apprehended Russian invasion of India. In March 1885, the Russian danger was at its highest. The Russo fobia played it’s part in the creation of INC.

 

·      According to some historians INC was not really national, but a movement, either of the frustrated job, hungry middle class or self interested individuals with a lust for power and they used the Congress as a vehicle for pursuit of their own rivalry. Left wing claimed that congress was basically an elite party.

  The Formation of Indian national Congress was the need for both Indians and british. The british government were using congress to suppress the rebellions prevalent in India against them whereas Indians want a platform through which they could put forward national interest. With the foundation of  INC in 1885, the struggle for India’s independence was launched in a small, hesitant and mild but organised manner.