UPSC Prelims 2000 Q19: Modern History – Early Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885 - 1915)
Consider the following statements about the Indian National Congress:
I. Sarojini Naidu was the first woman to be the President of the Congress.
II.
C. R. Das was in prison when he functioned as the President of the Congress.
III. The first Britisher to become the President of the Congress was Alan Octavian Hume.
IV. Alfred Webb was the President of the Congress in 1894.
Which of these statements are correct?
- (a) I and III
- (b) II and IV
- (c) II, III and IV
- (d) I, II, III and IV
Answer: (b) II and IV
Explanation
Statements about Presidents of the Indian National Congress
| Statement | Correct? |
|---|---|
| I. Sarojini Naidu was the first woman President | No — Annie Besant (Calcutta, 1917); Naidu (Kanpur, 1925) was the first Indian woman |
| II. C. R. Das was in prison while President | Yes — elected for Ahmedabad (1921) while jailed; Hakim Ajmal Khan acted for him |
| III. A. O. Hume was the first British President | No — George Yule (Allahabad, 1888); Hume was the founder and General Secretary |
| IV. Alfred Webb presided in 1894 | Yes — Madras session, 1894 |
Annie Besant was the first woman President (1917), so I is wrong.
C. R. Das was elected President for the Ahmedabad session of 1921 but was in prison, and Hakim Ajmal Khan presided as acting President, so II is right.
The first British President was George Yule (1888); A. O. Hume founded the Congress but never presided, so III is wrong.
Alfred Webb, an Irish MP, presided at Madras in 1894, so IV is right.
Answer: (b) II and IV.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statements I and III are both false.
- (b) CORRECT. Only II (C. R. Das in prison) and IV (Alfred Webb, 1894) are true.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement III is false; Hume never presided.
- (d) Incorrect. Statements I and III are false.
Key point
First Muslim President: Badruddin Tyabji (Madras, 1887); first President: W. C. Bonnerjee (Bombay, 1885).
Remember
True: C. R. Das (jailed, 1921) and Alfred Webb (1894).
Common mistakes
- Taking Sarojini Naidu as the first woman President instead of the first Indian woman.
- Thinking A. O. Hume presided because he founded the Congress.
- Not knowing that C. R. Das was in jail in 1921.
Exam tip
Besant before Naidu; Yule before any other Briton; Hume never presided.
Sources
- Rajiv Ahir — A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum), appendix 'Sessions of the Indian National Congress'
- Indian National Congress — List of Presidents (inc.in, Congress Presidents)