Political Organisations Before the Formation of the Congress

Bangabhasha Prakasika Sabha (1836)

  • Founded by Raja Rammohan Roy.
  • Objectives
    • Liberty of press
    • Indianisation of services
    • Codification of laws

Landholders Society/ Zamindari Association (1838)

  • Founded by Dwarkanath Tagore.
  • Objective – Safeguarding the interest of landlords.

British India Society (1839)

  • Founded by William Adams.
  • Objective – To draw attention to the despotic character of the company’s administration.

Bengal British India Society (1843)

  • Founded by George Thomas.
  • Objective – Collection and dissemination of information about the condition of people under colonial rule.

British India Association (1851)

  • Formed by the merger of the Zamindari Association and Bengal British India Society.
  • Founded by Radha Kant Deb.
  • Objectives
    • Safeguarding class interest.
    • Sending a petition to the government.

Bombay Association (1852)

  • Founded by Jagannath Shankar Seth.
  • Objective – Ensured representation of Indians in the council.

East India Association (1866)

  • Founded by Dadabhai Naoroji in London.
  • Objective – To discuss the problems and questions related to India and to influence the British leaders towards the development of India.

Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1867)

  • Founded by Mahadev Govind Ranade.
  • Objective – Serving as a bridge between the Government and the people.

India League (1875)

  • Founded by Sisir Kumar Ghosh.
  • Objective – To instill the feeling of Nationalism amongst the people.

Indian Association of Calcutta (1876)

  • Founded by Surendranath Banerjee and Anand Mohan Bose.
  • Objectives
    • Protested against the reduction of the age limit in 1877 for candidates of the Indian Civil Service examination.
    • Demanded simultaneously holding of examinations in India and England.
    • Reduce defence expenditure.
    • Increase Indian representation in the legislative council.
    • Freedom to the Indian press.
  • Merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886.

Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884)

  • Established by Viraraghavachari, P. Anandacharlu and B. Subramaniya Aiyer.
  • Objectives – Coordinated the activities of local associations.

Bombay Presidency Association (1885)

  • Founded by Pherozeshah Mehta, K.T. Telang, and Badruddin Tyabji.
  • Objective – Unite Indian masses against the reactionary policies of Lord Lytton.
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