Indian National Congress: Aims & Objective

A.O. Hume mobilized leading intellectuals and organized the first session of INC in Bombay in Dec 1885. S. Banerjea and Anand Mohan Bose were the main architects of the Indian National Conference.
First session of INC was presided over by W C Bonnerjee.
Other important presidents were Dadabhai Naoroji (elected 3 times as president) Jawaharlal Nehru (also elected 3 times), Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozshah Mehta, Sarojini Naidu etc.
Foreigners who served as the presidents of Congress sessions include George Yule, William Weddenburn, Alfred Webb, Henry Cotton and Annie Besant.
First woman president of INC was Annie Besant and the first Indian women president of INC was Sarojini Naidu.
First Muslim president was Badruddin Tyabji.

Theory Related to the Formation of INC

Safety Valve theory: Hume argued that INC would prove to be a safety valve for releasing the growing discontent of Indians. For this, he convinced Dufferin not to obstruct the formation of congress. Lala Lajpat Rai is said to be the founder of Safety Valve Theory.
Lighting Conductor Theory: Negating the Safety Valve theory, this theory claims that A.O. Hume was used by Indians for their interests in the formation of Congress. It is based on documents of Gopal Krishna Gokhale. It argues that the presence of Hume, an Englishman and an influential civil servant in the formation of Congress, provided immunity to Congress from suspicion or wrath of the government.

Found a democratic, nationalist movement.
Politicize and politically educate people.
Establish the headquarters for a movement.
Promote friendly relations among nationalist political workers from different parts of the country.
Develop & propagate anti-colonial nationalist ideology.
Formulate and present popular demands before government to unify the people over a common economic and political program.
Develop a feeling of national unity among people irrespective of religion, caste or province.
Carefully promote and nurture Indian nationhood.