The first session of the Indian National Congress saw the participation of prominent Indian leaders and delegates from different parts of the country. Despite its small size, the session marked an important step in bringing together Indian leaders to discuss their common political goals.
- Total Delegates: There were 72 delegates present at the first session. This was a modest number, but it included some of the leading political figures of the time.
- Notable Delegates: Some of the notable delegates who attended the first session included:
- Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee: The first president of the Indian National Congress.
- Surendranath Banerjee: A prominent leader and social reformer.
- Dadabhai Naoroji: A leading figure in the Indian political movement and later the first Indian to be elected to the British Parliament.
- Pherozeshah Mehta: A prominent lawyer and political leader.
- Regional Representation: The delegates represented various parts of India, although the representation was still limited to the educated elite from urban areas. The lack of broad participation from rural India would be addressed in future sessions of the Congress.
In conclusion, while the first session of the INC had a relatively small number of delegates, it was significant in bringing together key figures who would go on to play a major role in India’s struggle for independence.