ALIEN BIRTH AND SPIRIT OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

(KNOW THE BITTER TRUTH)

The Indian National Congress was first started by the Britishers as a treacherous flame
of fire to consume the Indian opposition to the British rule. The 1857 first war of
Independence fought by the native princess of India was ruthlessly suppressed by the
British. Yet, it had sent shock waves to the British empire. Hence Government of India Act
was passed by the British Parliament on 2nd August 1858 for taking over India from East
India Company. Clause II of the said Act reads "India shall be governed by and in the
1
name of Her Majesty”

Queen Victoria, on 1st November, 1858 as a damage control exercise and to please native
Princes who led 1857 war declared “we desire no extension of our present territorial
possessions ….. We shall sanction no encroachment on those of others. We shall respect
the rights, dignity and honour of native Princes as our own……." 2 To the people of Indian
Territories the Queen swore on her religion and declared “Firmly relying ourselves on the
truth of Christianity … we disclaim alike the right and the desire to impose our convictions
on any of our subject…… and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in
authority under us that they abstain from all interference with the religious belief or worship
of any of our subjects on pain of our highest displeasure".3 It is to be noted that these
promises were nothing but the promises of a habitual offender who when caught red
handed, promises not to repeat the crime.

The British realizing that it cannot afford to have repeat of 1857, started cajoling
Indians to avoid brewing of another organised revolt. Simultaneously they wanted to
have a drain to let out the feelings and aspiration of people of India. With that aim
Indian National Congress was started by the Britishers themselves.
The first President of the Congress Mr. C Bonnerjee had said “it will probably be news to
many that the Indian National Congress, as it was originally started and as it has since
been carried on, is in reality the work of the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava when the
nobleman was the Governor- General of India ".4 In fact during early 1885 Allan

1
The Government of India Act, 2nd August 1858, reproduced at page 5 The Evolution of India and Pakistan
1858 to 1947, Select Documents by C.H.Philips.
2
Queen Victoria’s Proclamation , 1st November 1858, page 10 ibid
3
Page 11 ibid
4
W.C. Bonnerjee on the Establishment of the National Congress, page 138 ibid
Octavian Hume, English retired ICS Officer met Dufferin at Shimla and advised him to
start Indian National Congress to perform such functions which were done in England to
quell opposition to Majesty'. Narrating this background, W C Bonnerjee further states, "Lord
Dufferin had made it a condition with Mr. Hume that his name in connection with the
scheme of the Congress should not be divulged"5.

In tune with the cunning scheme of aliens, the Congress took birth and started functioning
true to its purpose. It was testified by Dadabhai Naoroji, the second President of Congress
who in his Presidential speech on 27th December, 1886 proclaimed “it is our good

fortune that we are under a rule which makes it possible for us to meet
in this manner (Cheers). It is under the civilizing rule of the Queen and
people of England that we meet here together, hindered by none, and are
freely allowed to speak our minds without the least fear and without the
least hesitation. Such a thing is possible under British rule and British
rule only (Loud Cheers). Then I put the question plainly: Is this Congress a nursery
for sedition and rebellion against the British Government (cries of no, no); or is it another
stone in the foundation of the stability of that Government (cries of yes, yes)? We are
thoroughly sensible of the numberless blessings conferred upon us, of which the very
existence of this Congress is a proof in a nutshell".6 .Can any sensible Indian accept this
nonsense?

A O Hume who is the very seed of the Indian National Congress further formulated Aims
and Objects of Congress on 30th April 1888. He further guides and told the methods the
Congress should adopt "firstly quiet teachings and preachings throughout the greater part
of the country of simple elementary political truths. The people are taught to recognize the
many benefits that they owe to British rule, as also the fact that on the peaceful continuance
of that rule depend all hopes for the peace and prosperity of the country (India)"7.
Dufferin in his Minute on the Congress in November, 1888 revealed the anti Indian
character of Congress by saying, "The fact is that the Congress is the product

only of that infinitesimal (microscopic- extremely small) section of the

Indian community to whom I have already referred as having been
5
W.C. Bonnerjee on the Establishment of the National Congress, page 139 ibid.
6
Dadabai Naoroji ‘s Presidential speech, 27th December 1886, page 139 ibid
7
A.O.Hume On the Aims and Objections of Congress, 30th April 1888, Page 142 ibid
tinctured (coloured) either directly or indirectly with an infusion of
European education, European political ideas, and European literature.
They neither represent the aristocratic sections of Indian society, nor are
they in special contact of sympathy with the great masses of the
population".8

Having established, British funded the Congress for its activities aimed to perpetuate British
rule in India C W Bolton, ICS and Chief Secretary to the Government of Bengal in one of
his letters dt. 18th July, 1899, writes: "Congress conferences annually pass
resolutions which do not arouse much discussion. The centre of the
movement is Calcutta but even there funds are not liberally supplied. The
British Committee in London were promised Rs.8,000, annually from the
Calcutta Standing committee, …but no payment has been made for 1898 and
1899, not withstanding several reminders from Mr.A.O.Hume, the General
Secretary of Home.” 9
Gopalakrishna Gokhale in his presidential speech on 27th
December, 1905 reiterated the anti Indian Congress policy by shamelessly stating
"whenever advance we seek, must be within the Empire itself".10

This reveals how the Britishers followed each and every move of the Congress and ensured
that it does not exceed its brief of playing the role of House of Commons, the opposition in
Britain. They have tried to ensure that each and every President of the Congress has to be
men of their choice. Otherwise, either they have organised split of Congress or dethroned
such unwanted Presidents. This was evident from the fact that when Tilak ascended the
Congress, British were quick to note the problem. Minto wrote to John Morley on 4 th
November, 1906 "Tilak as you no doubt, has an evil reputation, and if he and his party
gained control of the Congress, knowing what we do, we could not look upon them
otherwise than as irreconcilably hostile to British rule. Gokhale's letters are very
remarkable. They are evidently honest, and the admission he makes as to the weakness
of his own countrymen and the strength of our rule in India has impressed me much as
coming from him"11.

8
Lord Dufferin’s Minute one the Congress, November 1888, ibid page 143 at 145
9
C.W.Bolton’s letter on Congress support, 18th July 1899 ibid page 149
10
G.K. Gokhale’s Presidential Speech 17th December 1909, ibid page 156 at 158
11
Lord Minto to John Morley on the Congress and Muslims, 4th November 1906 ibid page 77
Minto further wrote in the said letter "if the extremists, such as Tilak and Bepin Chandra
Pal, gain the ascendancy it will be impossible to deal with them, and theCongress
itself will split up. So far I have heard no actual decision as to next year's President,
though Gokhale talks of Dr. Dadabhai as likely to hold the post".12 Minto further cautioned
Morley, “their (Tilak & Bipin Chandra pal) success would mean the disappearance of British
administration and their own annihilation the next day" 13.. Alas while protecting British
interest, he shed crocodile tears for Indians.

With this design to prevent Tilaks, through Gokhales, Britishers ensured Congress split in
Surat in 1907. Yet, people like B G Tilak, N S C Bose and M K Gandhi, with their immense
national spirit gave credibility to the Congress and made it a Mass Movement.
Unfortunately it was ultimately hijacked by the anglicized people wedded to western
culture like Nehru and his dynasty.

British knew that they cannot remain in India forever. In order to carry and appropriate the
loot, they continued as far as they can do. During that period, Congress was used as a
passage for smooth and slow climb down and for dignified exit. That is why the British were
ever grateful to the Indian National Congress for its dubious role. Finally they have handed
over truncated Bharath to its people but not without injecting the venom of white man
complex in brown skin. C R Atlee British Prime Minister in his speech on Indian
Independence Bill on 10th July, 1947 declared: " May I recall here a thing that is not
always remembered, that just as India owes for unity and freedom from external
aggression to the British, so the Indian National Congress itself was founded and
inspired by men of our own race"14 The first part of it is not true because the British
aggression came and crushed the movement of native princess who were about to
drive away the alien invaders. Moreover British itself being an aggressor has no right to
say that they have saved India from external aggression.
Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru though an Indian had enough of foreign chattel. It is an open secret
how Mr.Nehru was influenced by Mrs. Mount Batten during partition. The saddest part of
post independence history of India began when Gandhiji nominated Nehru as the first
Prime Minister of India even though entire Congress has voted for Sardar Vallabai Patel to
take over the reigns.

12
ibid page 78
13
ibid page 78
14
C.R. Attlee’s speech on the Indian Independence Bill 10th July 1947, ibid page 403 at 404
It is the alien seed and spirit of the Congress party which made Mrs.Sonia Gandhi as its
president. The Plant that sprouts and grows cannot be different from its seed.

M Sundara Rami Reddy,

Chennai.