Congress Sessions — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. No Annual Session (AICC Meeting)

• **Quit India resolution (1942)** = passed at **AICC meeting in Bombay** — NOT an annual session. • No Annual Session in **1942** — World War II context; Gandhi gave 'Do or Die' call on August 8, 1942. • **Maulana Abul Kalam Azad** was Congress President (1940–1946) — all leaders arrested next morning. • 💡 Bombay Session = not an annual session, it was AICC meeting; Meerut Session = 1946; Ramgarh Session = 1940 — Quit India resolution was passed at AICC meeting, not annual session.

Correct Answer: D. Surendranath Banerjee

• **Surendranath Banerjee** = presided over **1902 Ahmedabad session** — his second presidency. • First presidency was **1895 Poona** — focused on economic drain theory and industrial education for India. • Known as **'Surrender Not Banerjee'** — prominent moderate leader; founded Indian National Association (1876). • 💡 Lal Mohan Ghosh = 1903 Madras; Henry Cotton = 1904 Bombay; Dinshaw Wacha = 1901 Calcutta — Surendranath Banerjee presided 1902 Ahmedabad.

Correct Answer: D. Lahore, 1929

• **Lahore session (1929)** = authorized Working Committee to **launch Civil Disobedience Movement** — Nehru presided. • Led to **Dandi March (March 12 – April 6, 1930)** — Gandhi walked 241 miles to break Salt Law. • Same session passed **Poorna Swaraj resolution** — January 26, 1930 declared Independence Day. • 💡 Madras 1927 = rejected Simon Commission; Calcutta 1928 = Nehru Report / Dominion Status demand; Karachi 1931 = Fundamental Rights — Civil Disobedience authorized at Lahore 1929.

Correct Answer: B. Rahimtullah Sayani

• **Rahimtullah Sayani** = presided over **1896 Calcutta session** — 'Vande Mataram' first sung here. • **Rabindranath Tagore** sang Vande Mataram for the first time in a political/public context at this session. • 'Vande Mataram' composed by **Bankim Chandra Chatterjee** (in novel Anandamath, 1882) — became national song. • 💡 R.C. Dutt = presided 1899 Lucknow; Badruddin Tyabji = 1887 Madras (first Muslim President); Pherozeshah Mehta = 1890 Calcutta — Rahimtullah Sayani presided 1896 Calcutta where Vande Mataram was first sung.

Correct Answer: B. Karachi, 1931

• **Karachi session (1931)** = passed **Fundamental Rights and National Economic Policy** resolution. • Drafted by **Jawaharlal Nehru** — presided by **Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel** — defined the socio-economic vision of Swaraj. • Also ratified the **Gandhi-Irwin Pact** — Congress supported Gandhi's participation in 2nd Round Table Conference. • 💡 Lucknow 1936 = Nehru advocated socialism; Lahore 1929 = Poorna Swaraj resolution; Faizpur 1937 = first village session — Fundamental Rights resolution was passed at Karachi 1931.

Correct Answer: C. Rash Behari Ghosh

• **Rash Behari Ghosh** = President-elect at **1907 Surat session** — session ended in chaos, Extremists objected. • Extremists wanted **Bal Gangadhar Tilak or Lajpat Rai** as President — Moderates pushed Rash Behari Ghosh. • Session split Moderates from Extremists — both groups had separate sessions until **reunion at Lucknow 1916**. • 💡 Bal Gangadhar Tilak = Extremist faction leader, not chosen as President; Dadabhai Naoroji = presided 1906 Calcutta; Lala Lajpat Rai = Extremist; Surat 1907 president was Rash Behari Ghosh.

Correct Answer: D. Ambica Charan Mazumdar

• **Ambica Charan Mazumdar** = presided over **1916 Lucknow session** — landmark session in INC history. • Two major events: **Moderates-Extremists reunion** after 9-year split since Surat 1907 — and Congress-League Pact. • **Lucknow Pact (1916)** = Congress-Muslim League agreement on separate electorates — Hindu-Muslim unity moment. • 💡 Annie Besant = 1917 Calcutta (first woman president); Jinnah = key negotiator of Lucknow Pact (Muslim League); Madan Mohan Malaviya = 1909 Lahore, 1918 Delhi — Ambica Charan Mazumdar presided Lucknow 1916.

Correct Answer: C. Bishan Narayan Dar

• **Bishan Narayan Dar** = presided over **1911 Calcutta session** — 'Jana Gana Mana' first sung here. • **Rabindranath Tagore** composed and led 'Jana Gana Mana' — later became India's National Anthem in 1950. • Session also celebrated **annulment of Partition of Bengal (1911)** — reversed Lord Curzon's 1905 partition. • 💡 Rahimtullah Sayani = 1896 (Vande Mataram); R.N. Mudholkar = 1912 Patna; Madan Mohan Malaviya = 1909 and 1918 — Bishan Narayan Dar presided 1911 Calcutta where Jana Gana Mana was first sung.

Correct Answer: A. J.B. Kripalani

• **J.B. Kripalani** = presided over **1946 Meerut session** — last annual session before independence (1947). • Kripalani was Congress President during **partition talks and Mountbatten Plan** — turbulent transition period. • He resigned in November 1947 citing differences with Nehru government — formed **Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party**. • 💡 Sardar Patel = presided Karachi 1931; Maulana Azad = President 1940–1946 (preceding Kripalani); Jawaharlal Nehru = Prime Minister, not 1946 President — J.B. Kripalani presided Meerut 1946.

Correct Answer: A. George Yule

• **George Yule** = first **Englishman** to preside over Congress — **1888 Allahabad session**. • Scottish merchant and businessman — served as **Sheriff of Calcutta** and partner in Andrew Yule & Co. • Showed early INC's inclusive character — three other English Presidents: Alfred Webb (1894), Wedderburn (1889, 1910), Cotton (1904). • 💡 A.O. Hume = founder and General Secretary, not President; Alfred Webb = 1894 Madras (also English); William Wedderburn = 1889, 1910 (also English) — George Yule was first Englishman as President (1888).