One app for all your study abroad needs
The Indian National Congress is one of the oldest and well-known political parties in the World. Over the years, the party has seen many important leaders at its helm, one unch includes the first woman president of the Indian National Congress. The first woman to hold the position of president of the Indian National Congress was Annie Besant. She was elected as the president in 1917 during the Calcutta Session of Congress. Let us together take a closer look towards this first woman president of the Indian National Congress.
Annie Besant And Her Contribution In The Party
Annie Besant was a British socialist, theosophist, women’s rights activist, writer, orator, and supporter of Irish and Indian self-rule. She served as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1917. Besant was also known as Annie Wood and was famous for her fierce advocacy for Indian independence and her efforts to improve the lives of Indians.
- Annie Besant is remembered for her role in the Home Rule Movement in India.
- She was instrumental in mobilizing support for Indian self-rule and worked tirelessly to promote the cause of Indian independence.
- She also founded the All India Home Rule League to campaign for self-government in India along with Lokmanya Tilak.
- Her election as the first woman president of the party challenged traditional gender norms and highlighted the growing participation of women in Indian politics.
- Besant’s tenure brought a fresh perspective to Congress and contributed to its growth as a mass movement. She was also credited with World Teacher after she gave a lecture on Theosophy in 1926.
- Her leadership is remembered as a commitment to social justice, equality and empowerment for all Indians.
Other women presidents of INC include – Sarojini Naidu in the year 1925, Indira Gandhi in 1959 and again from 1978 to 1983 and Sonia Gandhi from 1998 to 2017.
Relevant Blogs
This is all about the first woman president of the Indian National Congress. For more content related to the different states of India, visit our articles like this, you can get Study notes on the Modern History of India here. Also, you can visit our general knowledge page on Indian History!