History · Spectrum Books A Brief History of Modern India
Chapter 53 : Indian National Congress Annual Sessions (1885–1950)
Table of contents6 sections
- 1.Indian National Congress Annual Sessions (1885–1950)
- 2.Annual Sessions of the Indian National Congress
- 3.Special Sessions of the Congress
- 4.Key Terms
- 5.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 6.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
Indian National Congress Annual Sessions (1885–1950)
Annual Sessions of the Indian National Congress
The following table outlines the chronological sequence of the annual sessions of the Indian National Congress, including the year, location, presiding officer, and significant historical developments as recorded during each session.
Special Sessions of the Congress
The Congress held certain special sessions to consider important issues before finalising them at the annual session.
| Date | Place | President | Purpose / Key Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1918 | Bombay | Syed Hasan Imam | To consider the proposed Montagu-Chelmsford reforms. |
| September 1920 | Calcutta | Lala Lajpat Rai | The Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Movement were approved (to be endorsed at the December annual session). |
| September 1923 | Delhi | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad | Decided that the Swarajists should be allowed to put up candidates at the upcoming November elections. |
Key Terms
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Swaraj | A term mentioned for the first time during the 1906 Calcutta session under Dadabhai Naoroji. |
| Purna Swaraj | A resolution passed during the 1929 Lahore session under Jawaharlal Nehru, which also authorised the Working Committee to launch civil disobedience programme. |
📌 Exam Tidbits
- First Session (1885): Held in Bombay, presided by W.C. Bonnerjee, attended by 72 delegates.
- Merger: The National Congress and National Conference merged during the 1886 Calcutta session.
- Surat Split (1907): The Congress split into Moderates and Extremists; the session was suspended and the 1908 Madras session drew up the Constitution.
- Reunion & Pact (1916): The Lucknow session saw the reunion of Congress factions and the signing of the Lucknow Pact.
- First Village Session: The 1937 Faizpur session was the first to be held in a village.
- Illegal Status: The government declared the Congress illegal during the 1932 (Delhi) and 1933 (Calcutta) sessions.
- Presidential Election Contest (1950): The Nasik session featured exactly 3 candidates for president: Purushottam Das Tandon, J.B. Kripalani, and Shankar Rao Deo.
- Resignation Chain: Declaration of Rajendra Prasad as president and Subhas Chandra's resignation at the 1939 Tripuri session; Purushottam Das Tandon resigned in Sept 1951 (Jawaharlal Nehru ascended).
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View plans Chapter 54 : Famous Trials of the Nationalist Period