Indian National Congress in the Pre-Independent era

An important development in the second half of 18th century was the establishment of large scale machine based industries in India. It led to the emergence of two new classes industrialist and the modern worker class. The Indian capitalist class emerged in the latter half of the 19th century and developed its attitude towards the Indian National Congress which can be analysed in three phases. 

The first phase, may be taken to be the period between 1855 and 1905. 

During the period, of the Indian National Congress, the Industrialist class supported some of the demands of the Congress like. 

• Stopping the drain of wealth from India to British. 

• Use of indigenous capital instead of foreign capital etc. It is because of the co-operation of this class with the Congress that Swadeshi Movement, by and large became successful. 

The second phase, starting from 1905, extended till late 1930s. 

During this phase, the industrialist class, by and large, supported Gandhiji led Non co-operation Movement, because 

• It was during this phase that the rupeepound sterling ratio was arbitrarily fixed to their disadvantage; 

• Gandhiji's Non-violent Movement gave no emphasis over any radical and revolutionary tendencies and consequent destruction of properties. 

In the third phase, that started from late 1930s till 1947. 

Much support was secured from the class, as was seen in its non-involvement in Quit India Movement and post-war upsurges. However, the class made some noticeable contributions to the efforts of the Congress of which may be cited the idea of 'Bombay Plan' which tended to support the state led industrialization