Understanding the British Indian Association

The question asks about the first president of the ‘British Indian Association’. To answer this, we need to know about this historical political organization and its founding members.

The British Indian Association was a significant political organization formed in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1851. It was established through the merger of two earlier bodies: the Landholders' Society and the Bengal British India Society. Its main aim was to represent Indian interests to the British government, focusing on administrative reforms and landholder rights.

First President of British Indian Association

The first president of the British Indian Association was Radha Kant Dev.

Radha Kant Dev was a prominent leader and scholar in Bengal during the 19th century. His association with this organization as its first president highlights the influence of the landed aristocracy and traditional intelligentsia in early political movements in India.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at the other options provided in the question:

• Surendra Nath Banerjee: A very prominent leader, he founded the Indian National Association (1876) and was a key figure in the early Indian National Congress. He was not the first president of the British Indian Association.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale: A leading figure in the moderate faction of the Indian National Congress and founder of the Servants of India Society (1905). He belonged to a later generation of political leaders compared to the founders of the British Indian Association.
• Anand Mohan Bose: A co-founder of the Indian National Association with Surendra Nath Banerjee and later a president of the Indian National Congress (1898). Like Gokhale and Surendra Nath Banerjee, he was active in later organizations.
• Radha Kant Dev: As established, he was the first president of the British Indian Association.

Based on historical records, Radha Kant Dev served as the first president of the British Indian Association.

Revision Table: British Indian Association

Additional Information: Early Political Organizations in India

The British Indian Association was one of the earliest prominent political associations in India that aimed to articulate Indian grievances and demands to the British government. Its formation marked a step towards organized political agitation in the country.

Early organizations like the British Indian Association often represented the interests of specific groups, such as landholders. Over time, the political landscape evolved, leading to the formation of broader-based organizations like the Indian National Congress, which encompassed a wider range of interests and a more diverse membership, laying the groundwork for the Indian independence movement.

Understanding these early associations helps in tracing the roots of political consciousness and organized movements in colonial India.