Founded in 1885, the Indian National Congress (INC) initially sought greater Indian participation in governance. Over time, it evolved into the principal organization leading the independence struggle. Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel guided major mass movements.
INC organized protests, negotiated with British leaders, and fostered unity among Indians. The party's strategic shift from petitions to non-cooperation and civil disobedience was crucial. Post-World War II, its pressure tactics and participation in constitutional negotiations helped achieve independence in 1947.