Who Presided Over the First Indian National Congress Session?

The question asks to identify the president of the inaugural meeting of the Indian National Congress (INC).

Understanding the INC's First Session

The Indian National Congress, a significant political party in India, was established in 1885. The very first session marked the beginning of its journey in India's struggle for independence.

Details of the First Session:

• When: December 28th to 30th, 1885
• Where: Bombay (now Mumbai) in the auditorium of Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College.
• Attendance: Around 72 delegates from across India attended.

Identifying the First President

The primary focus of the first session was to establish the INC's objectives and organizational structure. The delegates unanimously elected a prominent lawyer and politician from Calcutta to lead this crucial initial phase.

• The individual chosen to preside over this historic first session was Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee.

Analyzing the Options Provided:

Let's look at the options given and their relevance:

• Gopal Krishna Gokhale: A prominent leader and the INC president in 1905.
• Dadabhai Naoroji: Known as the "Grand Old Man of India," he served as INC president three times (1886, 1893, 1906), but not for the first session.
• Mahadev Govind Ranade: A respected social reformer and scholar, considered one of the founding members, but he did not preside over the first session.
• Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee: He was indeed the president of the first session of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

Therefore, Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee is the correct answer for who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress.