The Bombay Provincial Congress Committee

The 1880s saw the formation of numerous political and quasi-political organizations in major Indian cities, one of which was the Bombay Association: Bombay Presidency's first political association. It petitioned the British Parliament to form a new legislative council composed entirely of Indians. It also criticized the policy of excluding Indians from all higher-level positions and the extravagant expenditure on European postings. Despite sincere efforts, the Bombay Association did not last long. Meanwhile, Lytton's Reactionary policies and the Ilbert Bill began to cause much political unrest in Bombay. In January 1885, it prompted Pherozeshah Mehta, K T Telang, and Badruddin Tyabji to form the Bombay Presidency Association. The bitter debate over these regressive laws and legislations heightened tensions between the British and Indian populace. At this point, coordination of the activities of these various political organizations was the need of the hour. This necessity was the forerunner that led to the merger of the Indian National Congress with other regional organizations. Following the second session of the Indian National Congress, held in Calcutta on 27 December 1886, under the leadership of Dadabhai Naoroji, a decision was taken to establish Provincial Congress Committees across the country. The Bombay Provincial Congress Committee (BPCC), which included members such as Goradhandas Girdharlaal Mehta, Ratanben Mehta, and Sumati Trivedi, was one such committee. It was entrusted with the work of political education, setting up provincial conferences and standing Congress committees, and advancing the goals of the Congress by addressing its shortcomings.