Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji, a key figure in the Indian freedom struggle, is credited with declaring that Swaraj, or self-rule, was the goal of the Indian National Congress. This declaration was a significant milestone in the history of the Indian independence movement, as it set a clear and unambiguous objective for the Congress and its supporters.
Dadabhai Naoroji, born in 1825, was a prominent Indian nationalist, social reformer, and one of the early leaders of the Indian National Congress. He was the first Indian to be elected to the British House of Commons, representing the constituency of Finsbury Central in 1892. Naoroji's political career was marked by his relentless efforts to highlight the economic exploitation of India by the British and to advocate for Indian self-rule.
The concept of Swaraj, or self-rule, was a fundamental principle in the Indian freedom struggle. It represented the desire of the Indian people to govern themselves and to be free from British colonial rule. Naoroji's declaration of Swaraj as the goal of the Indian National Congress was a powerful statement that galvanized the movement and inspired future leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to continue the fight for independence.
It is important to understand the historical context in which Naoroji made this declaration. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by growing nationalist sentiments in India, with the Indian National Congress playing a central role in organizing and mobilizing the Indian people. Naoroji's declaration was part of a broader movement that sought to challenge British rule and to assert the rights of the Indian people to self-determination.
While other leaders like Surendra Nath Bannerji and Gopal Krishna Gokhle were also influential in the Indian National Congress, they did not declare Swaraj as the goal of the Congress. Bannerji was more focused on political reforms and education, while Gokhle was involved in the early stages of the Congress and worked towards self-government within the British Empire. Lord Minto, on the other hand, was a British viceroy and not an Indian nationalist, so he would not have declared Swaraj as a goal for the Indian National Congress.
In conclusion, Dadabhai Naoroji's declaration of Swaraj as the goal of the Indian National Congress was a pivotal moment in the Indian freedom struggle. It set a clear and unambiguous objective for the Congress and its supporters, and it inspired future generations of Indian leaders to continue the fight for independence from British rule.