Criticism
The British Indian Association has been roundly criticised by subsequent political stalwarts. Ambika Charan Mazumdar, a Congress President, wrote: “Constructive policy they had none and seldom, if ever, they laid down any programme of systematic action for the political advancement of the country.”
Bipin Chandra Pal complained that it had failed to cover the country with a network of branches.
However, the British Indian Association played a catalytic role in building up political consciousness in India and more effective organisations followed. The The Indian Association was formed in 1876, and the Indian National Congress in 1885.
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