Correct option is A
The demand for ‘Swaraj’ (self-rule) was put forward for the first time at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1906. This was during the presidency of Dadabhai Naoroji, a prominent leader who played a significant role in raising awareness about India's right to self-governance.
Key Points:
- At the 1906 Calcutta Session, the INC formally adopted the goal of Swaraj in its resolution. The session marked a pivotal moment in India's struggle for independence.
- The resolution emphasized the demand for ‘Swaraj’ and laid the foundation for the future independence movement, which would gain momentum in the subsequent years.
Additional Information:
- The term ‘Swaraj’ was popularized by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai in the early 20th century.
- The 1906 Calcutta Session was significant because it was the first time that the Congress shifted its focus from seeking reforms within the British colonial structure to demanding full self-rule.
Other Options:
- Bombay: The Bombay Session of 1885 was the first session of the Indian National Congress but did not include the demand for Swaraj.
- Bankipur: The Bankipur Session of 1912 did not include the demand for Swaraj; it was later during the Lahore Session of 1929 when the demand for Purna Swaraj (complete independence) was made.
- Karachi: The Karachi Session of 1931 focused on constitutional reforms, but the demand for Swaraj was already firmly established by that time.