The Indian National Congress was created with the support of the British.  The English saw that they had to provide a way for the Indian people to express themselves or they would become restless.

     Allan Hume was the main force behind the formation of the Indian National Congress.  He saw the increasing nationalism of the Indians and decided that without an outlet the Indians might take drastic measures to take control of their destiny.  He called upon fifty volunteers from the University of Calcutta and held the first congress.

     This first congress was encouraged by both the governor and the Viceroy.  Had they banned it, the Indians probably would have held one anyway.  This group would not have been allied with the British to help them rule India as the original congress was.  The British had no choice but to help the Indians begin setting up their own self-governance.

     The Indians began to see India as a whole and as having cultural significance, if not superiority.  This was a fever that swept India and soon almost every village was involved in some way with the congress.  This voice in the government became powerful.  The British were forced to listen to what would later be the actual government of India.