A.O. Hume and Formation — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

For Prelims, mastering 'A.O. Hume and Formation' requires a meticulous focus on factual accuracy and key details. Begin by creating a timeline: Hume's birth, ICS career highlights, retirement (1882), Dufferin's viceroyalty (1884-1888), and the INC formation (December 28-31, 1885).

Memorize the exact venue (Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay) and the number of delegates (72). Identify the first President (W.C. Bonnerjee) and other prominent founding members (Dadabhai Naoroji, Dinshaw Wacha, Pherozeshah Mehta).

Understand the core demands of the first session's resolutions – these were moderate, focusing on administrative reforms, not complete independence. Pay special attention to the 'safety valve' theory: know its proponents (Lajpat Rai, R.

P. Dutt) and the counter-arguments. Connect Hume's background (ornithologist, Theosophist) as these are common factual traps. Practice MCQs that test specific details, chronological order, and the 'who, what, when, where' aspects.

Be wary of options that confuse the early moderate demands with later extremist or Gandhian phases. Cross-reference with related topics like Lord Dufferin's viceroyalty and the early objectives and methods of Congress to build a robust factual base.