Who founded the All India National Congress?

The correct answer is Allan Octavian Hume (commonly known as A.O. Hume).The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in December 1885. It was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa. A.O. Hume,... Read More

1 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE MCQS

Who founded the All India National Congress?

  • Nehru
  • Gandhi
  • Allan Octavian Hume
  • Quaid-e-Azam M.A. Jinnah
Correct Answer: C. Allan Octavian Hume

Detailed Explanation

The correct answer is Allan Octavian Hume (commonly known as A.O. Hume).The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in December 1885. It was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa. A.O. Hume, a retired British officer of the Indian Civil Service, was the primary organizer who brought together educated Indians to create a platform for political civic dialogue.


The First Session:


The first session of the Congress was held from December 28 to December 31, 1885, at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay (now Mumbai).



  • First President: While Hume was the founder/organizer, the first President of the Congress was Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee.

  • Attendance: The first meeting was attended by 72 delegates from all parts of India.


The "Safety Valve" Theory:


Historians often discuss the "Safety Valve" theory regarding A.O. Hume. It suggests that the British allowed the formation of the Congress to provide a peaceful outlet (a safety valve) for the growing discontent among educated Indians, hoping to prevent another violent uprising like the 1857 Rebellion.


Comparison of the Options:



  • Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru): He was a major leader and the first Prime Minister of independent India, but he joined the Congress much later (around 1912).

  • Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi): He became the spiritual and political leader of the Congress after returning to India in 1915, decades after its founding.

  • Allan Octavian Hume: The correct answer. He served as the General Secretary of the party for its first 22 years.

  • Quaid-e-Azam M.A. Jinnah: He was initially a prominent member of the Congress and a proponent of Hindu-Muslim unity before later leading the All-India Muslim League.

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