Indian National Movement: Congress to Gandhian Era

Indian National Congress

Founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume; first session in Bombay presided by W.C. Bonnerjee. Early phase (1885–1905) was led by Moderates like Dadabhai Naoroji (Drain Theory).

Extremist phase and Partition of Bengal

Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon led to the Swadeshi Movement. Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal) led the Extremists. Tilak: "Swaraj is my birthright." Muslim League formed in 1906.

Gandhian era

• Champaran (1917) – first satyagraha in India (indigo farmers).
• Jallianwala Bagh (13 April 1919) – General Dyer.
• Non-Cooperation (1920–22) – withdrawn after Chauri Chaura.
• Civil Disobedience / Dandi March (1930) – salt law.
• Quit India (1942) – "Do or Die".

Exam tips

1. Learn events with years and associated Viceroys.
2. Purna Swaraj resolution: Lahore Session, 1929 (Nehru).

Analogy

The freedom struggle was like a river growing into a flood. It began as a small stream of petitions (Moderates), gathered speed through rocky rapids (Extremists), and under Gandhi became a mighty river that carried millions of ordinary people along with it.