Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)

Political leaders who felt that an all-India organization was needed to stimulate national consciousness among the people founded an organization called the India League in 1875. The India League was replaced by the Indian Association founded by Surendranath Banerjee in 1876. In December 1883, the Indian Association held an All India National Conference in Calcutta. The second National Conference of the Indian Association was convened in December 1885. At this conference, a proposal was made to convene a meeting of the Indian National Congress in Bombay. The Indian National Congress, which led India to independence, was formed in 1885. Congress is the first political party in India and is currently the oldest political party in India. The founding session of the Congress was held from 28 to 31 December 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay. 72 delegates attended. The founder of the Congress was the Britisher Allan Octavian Hume. The first session of the Congress was presided over by W.C. Banerjee; the first president of the Congress was W.C. Banerjee.