Indian National Association
Encyclopedia
The Indian National Association was the first avowed nationalist organization founded in British India by Surendranath Banerjea
and Anand Mohan Bose in 1876. The objectives of this Association were “promoting by every legitimate means the political, intellectual and material advancement of the people”. The Association attracted educated Indians and civic leaders from all parts of the country, and became an important forum for India's aspirations for independence. It later merged with the Indian National Congress.
and his illustrious cousin Prasanno Coomar Tagore in 1831. and the Adi Brahmo Sabha founded in 1843. In 1851 it took shape as the British Indian Association
with Debendranath Tagore
as its Honorary Secretary. In 1857 the Association supported the East India Company
in the Sepoy Mutiny, calling for stern punishment for the rebels. In 1866 Pandit Navin Chandra Roy was appointed Secretary of the Association, a post which he held for 4 years, before he finally moved to Lahore in the course of his employment. Ramanath Tagore
was the President from 1867 to 1877. After a stormy meeting in 1870 a resolution moved by nationalist Adi Dharm
a faction of Baboo Hemendranath Tagore
was approved to voice the concerns of educated Indians to the British authorities on issues of discrimination, participation of Indians in the Indian Civil Service, and the political empowerment and representation of Indians. This resulted in a split, whereby Freemason Crown loyalists formed a breakaway association called the Indian Reform Association
under Keshub Chunder Sen to "uplift the common people but only give them political representation when they are ready for it". In 1871 a branch was established by Adi Dharm
faction in Oudh (modern Lucknow
) by Dakshinaranjan Mookerjee for demanding Indian elected representation in legislatures.
The Reform Association faction on July 26, 1876 established a Bharat Sabha with Bengal
i leaders like Surendranath Banerjea
, Sivanath Sastri
, Ananda Mohan Bose etc. and held its first annual conference in Calcutta. Initially under Sen it was pro-Crown. However, after the 2nd Brahmo Schism of 1878, the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
regrouped with Adi Brahmo Samaj to promote nationalism and freedom from British rule. From 1880 till 1890 a bitter battle for control of the Reform Association ensued between the pro-Sen and anti-Sen factions. After the death of Sen in 1884 the Reform Association also passed fully into the hands of Brahmo Samaj
by 1885 allowing all the Brahmo
factions (i.e. Adi Brahmo Samaj, Adi Dharm Sabha, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj) to form in 1885 the Indian National Congress
which has ruled present day India for most of its independent history.
Surendranath Banerjea
Sir Surendranath Banerjee was one of the earliest Indian political leaders during the British Raj. He founded the Indian National Association, one of the earliest Indian political organizations, and later became a senior leader of the Indian National Congress...
and Anand Mohan Bose in 1876. The objectives of this Association were “promoting by every legitimate means the political, intellectual and material advancement of the people”. The Association attracted educated Indians and civic leaders from all parts of the country, and became an important forum for India's aspirations for independence. It later merged with the Indian National Congress.
Timeline
Its origins are from the Zamindari Sabha (Association) founded by Dwarkanath TagoreDwarkanath Tagore
Dwarkanath Tagore , was one of the first Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs, was the founder of the Jorasanko branch of the Tagore family, and is notable for making substantial contributions to the Bengal Renaissance.-Childhood:...
and his illustrious cousin Prasanno Coomar Tagore in 1831. and the Adi Brahmo Sabha founded in 1843. In 1851 it took shape as the British Indian Association
British Indian Association
The British Indian Association was established on 31 October 1851. Its formation was a major event of 19th century India. Its establishment meant Indians had come together and could no longer be ignored...
with Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore was one of the founders in 1848 of the Brahmo Religion which today is synonymous with Brahmoism the youngest religion of India and Bangladesh....
as its Honorary Secretary. In 1857 the Association supported the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in the Sepoy Mutiny, calling for stern punishment for the rebels. In 1866 Pandit Navin Chandra Roy was appointed Secretary of the Association, a post which he held for 4 years, before he finally moved to Lahore in the course of his employment. Ramanath Tagore
Ramanath Tagore
See Tagore for disambiguationRamanath Tagore was one of the leading social figures in 19th century Kolkata . The son of Rammani Tagore of the Jorasanko branch of the Tagore family, he was younger brother of Dwarkanath Tagore and a cousin of Prasanna Coomar Tagore...
was the President from 1867 to 1877. After a stormy meeting in 1870 a resolution moved by nationalist Adi Dharm
Adi Dharm
Adi Dharm refers to the religion of Adi Brahmo Samaj the first development of Brahmoism and includes those Sadharan Brahmo Samajists who were reintegrated into Brahmoism after the 2nd schism of 1878 at the instance of Hemendranath Tagore...
a faction of Baboo Hemendranath Tagore
Hemendranath Tagore
This article is connected to Tagore familyHemendranath Tagore , Debendranath Tagore's third son, is notable for being the first ever Brahmo as he was the first child born in 1844 to any of the 21 Brahmos who swore the First Brahmo Covenant on 21 December 1843 at Calcutta...
was approved to voice the concerns of educated Indians to the British authorities on issues of discrimination, participation of Indians in the Indian Civil Service, and the political empowerment and representation of Indians. This resulted in a split, whereby Freemason Crown loyalists formed a breakaway association called the Indian Reform Association
Indian Reform Association
The Indian Reform Association was formed on 29 October 1870 with Keshub Chunder Sen as president. It represented the secular side of the Brahmo Samaj and included many who did not belong to the Brahmo Samaj...
under Keshub Chunder Sen to "uplift the common people but only give them political representation when they are ready for it". In 1871 a branch was established by Adi Dharm
Adi Dharm
Adi Dharm refers to the religion of Adi Brahmo Samaj the first development of Brahmoism and includes those Sadharan Brahmo Samajists who were reintegrated into Brahmoism after the 2nd schism of 1878 at the instance of Hemendranath Tagore...
faction in Oudh (modern Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
) by Dakshinaranjan Mookerjee for demanding Indian elected representation in legislatures.
The Reform Association faction on July 26, 1876 established a Bharat Sabha with Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
i leaders like Surendranath Banerjea
Surendranath Banerjea
Sir Surendranath Banerjee was one of the earliest Indian political leaders during the British Raj. He founded the Indian National Association, one of the earliest Indian political organizations, and later became a senior leader of the Indian National Congress...
, Sivanath Sastri
Sivanath Sastri
Sivanath Sastri was a scholar, religious reformer, educator, writer and historian...
, Ananda Mohan Bose etc. and held its first annual conference in Calcutta. Initially under Sen it was pro-Crown. However, after the 2nd Brahmo Schism of 1878, the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj is a religious division of Brahmoism formed as a result of 2 schisms in the Brahmo Samaj in 1866 and 1878 respectively.-The Brahmo Samaj:...
regrouped with Adi Brahmo Samaj to promote nationalism and freedom from British rule. From 1880 till 1890 a bitter battle for control of the Reform Association ensued between the pro-Sen and anti-Sen factions. After the death of Sen in 1884 the Reform Association also passed fully into the hands of Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
by 1885 allowing all the Brahmo
Brahmo
A Brahmo is either an adherent of Brahmoism to the exclusion of all other religions, or a person with at least one Brahmo parent or guardian and who has never denied his faith...
factions (i.e. Adi Brahmo Samaj, Adi Dharm Sabha, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj) to form in 1885 the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
which has ruled present day India for most of its independent history.