Indian Independence Movement

Sir M. Visvesvarayya is credited with first advocating for a planned economy in India through his 1934 book, 'Planned Economy for India.' While Nehru later chaired the National Planning Committee, Visvesvarayya provided the initial conceptual framework.

Mahatma Gandhi was the sole representative of the Indian National Congress at the Second Round Table Conference in 1931. Other leaders like Dr. Ambedkar attended but represented specific interest groups rather than the Congress party.

Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee) presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress held in Bombay in December 1885. The session was attended by 72 delegates and marked the beginning of the organized nationalist movement.

Lord Ripon is known as the 'Father of Local Self-Government' in India due to his 1882 resolution. He aimed to provide popular political education and improve administration by involving local people in municipal and district boards.

Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume), a retired British officer, was the primary founder of the Indian National Congress in 1885. He organized the first session in Bombay with the aim of creating a platform for civic and political dialogue. While Indian leaders like W.C. Bonnerjee were involved, Hume is credited as the founder.

The Swaraj Party was formed in 1923 by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru, who wanted to enter the legislative councils to oppose the British from within. Mahatma Gandhi was initially opposed to this strategy, preferring the Non-Cooperation movement and constructive work outside the councils. N.C. Kelkar was also a prominent member of the party.

The Drafting Committee was responsible for preparing the final draft of the Indian Constitution. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar served as its chairman and played a pivotal role in its creation. He is widely recognized as the chief architect of the Constitution.

The Indian National Congress was divided into Moderates and Extremists based on their methods of agitation. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a prominent Moderate leader who believed in constitutional methods and dialogue. Leaders like Tilak and Lajpat Rai favored more radical or extremist approaches.

The Planning Commission of India was established in 1950 to formulate five-year plans for economic development. As the Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru served as its first ex-officio Chairman. The commission has since been replaced by the NITI Aayog.

Sir B.N. Rau was appointed as the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly in 1946. He prepared the initial draft of the Constitution, which was later scrutinized and refined by the Drafting Committee led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. His expertise in international and constitutional law was instrumental in shaping the Indian Constitution.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly on December 11, 1946. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha had served as the temporary/interim President during the first meeting on December 9, 1946, following the French practice of electing the oldest member. Dr. Prasad later became the first President of the Republic of India.

W.H. Morris-Jones used the term 'one-party dominance' to describe the political reality of India where the Congress Party held power at both the center and in most states. While Rajni Kothari developed the concept of 'The Congress System' to explain this dominance, Morris-Jones provided the initial classification of the party system. This dominance lasted until the late 1960s when coalition politics began to emerge.

Subhash Chandra Bose is the most prominent figure associated with the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj. Although it was initially formed by Mohan Singh and Rash Behari Bose, it was under Subhash Chandra Bose's leadership that it became a significant force. He led the army in its struggle against British rule during World War II.

Subhas Chandra Bose resigned from the presidency of the Indian National Congress in 1939 after a conflict with Gandhi and other senior leaders. The 'Old Guard' of the party resigned from the Working Committee to protest Bose's radical stance, which they felt abandoned Gandhian principles. Bose subsequently left the Congress to form the Forward Bloc.