Pre-Congress Organizations
Master Cheat Sheet • 1836 – 1885
Bengal
Bombay
Madras
London
All India
| Year | Organization | Founder / Leaders | Location | Key Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1836 | Bangabhasha Prakasika Sabha | Associates of R.R.M. Roy | Calcutta | First political association in Bengal. Short-lived. |
| 1838 | Landholders’ Society | Dwarkanath Tagore | Calcutta | First class-based body. Represented Zamindars. |
| 1839 | British India Society | William Adam | London | Informed British public about Indian grievances. |
| 1843 | Bengal British India Society | George Thompson | Calcutta | Represented the intelligentsia (“Young Bengal”). |
| 1851 | British Indian Association | Radhakanta Deb, D. Tagore | Calcutta | Merger of Landholders + BBIS. Aristocratic. |
| 1852 | Bombay Association | J. Shankarsheth, D. Naoroji | Bombay | First body in Bombay. Dominated by rich merchants. |
| 1852 | Madras Native Association | Gazulu L. Chetty | Madras | Famous for exposing torture (“Torture Commission”). |
| 1866 | East India Association | Dadabhai Naoroji | London | Replaced London Indian Society. Lobby group. |
| 1870 | Poona Sarvajanik Sabha | G.V. Joshi, M.G. Ranade | Poona | Bridge between Govt and Peasants (Deccan Riots). |
| 1872 | Indian Society | Ananda Mohan Bose | London | For uniting Indian students in London. |
| 1875 | Indian League | Sisir Kumar Ghosh | Calcutta | Prototype middle-class body. Failed quickly. |
| 1876 | Indian National Association | S. Banerjee & A.M. Bose | Calcutta | Replaced League. First all-India pressure group. |
| 1884 | Madras Mahajana Sabha | Subramania Iyer, Anandarlu | Madras | Replaced the defunct Madras Native Association. |
| 1884 | Indian National Union | A.O. Hume | All India | The body that convened the first INC session. |
| 1885 | Bombay Presidency Association | Mehta, Tyabji, Telang | Bombay | Replaced the defunct Bombay Association. |
The Chains of Replacement
1. The Bengal Chain
Landholders’ Soc (1838) + BBIS (1843) → Merged to British Indian Association (1851) → Challenged by Indian Association (1876)
2. The Bombay Chain
Bombay Association (1852) → Became Inactive → Vacuum filled by Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (Regional) → Replaced in City by Bombay Presidency Association (1885)
3. The Madras Chain
Madras Native Association (1852) → Died out → Vacuum filled by Madras Mahajana Sabha (1884)
4. The London Chain
British India Society (Adam, 1839) → Faded → Replaced by East India Association (Naoroji, 1866)