Yes, Mrs. Annie Besant was indeed the first woman President of the Indian National Congress (INC). She played a significant role in both the Indian freedom struggle and the empowerment of women in India.

• Annie Wood Besant. October 1, 1847, in Londonderry, Ireland. , September 20, 1933, in India.
• Position: First woman President of the Indian National Congress (INC) (1917).
• She was a leading figure in the Indian independence movement, a theosophist, a social reformer, and a prominent advocate for women’s rights.

1. Annie Besant came to India in 1893 and soon became involved in the Indian political scene. She was deeply influenced by India’s culture, philosophy, and the struggle for independence.
2. She joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and worked alongside leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and others to bring India closer to self-rule.
3. In 1917, Annie Besant became the first woman to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress.
4. Her presidency in INC was a milestone in Indian politics, not just because of her gender, but also because she advocated for home rule, the self-governance movement, which gained widespread support under her leadership. She helped push the agenda of Indian self-rule forward during a time when political participation of women was minimal.
5. Besant became a strong advocate for self-rule or Home Rule for India. She launched the Home Rule League in 1916, which aimed at securing greater political autonomy for India within the British Empire.
6. She garnered significant support for the Home Rule movement, especially from the educated middle class, and her efforts played a critical role in stirring the political consciousness of the Indian masses.
7. Besant was a tireless advocate for women’s rights and education in India. She believed in the power of education to uplift women and started various initiatives to improve the educational opportunities for women.
8. She also worked to bring about social reforms, particularly with regard to child marriage and the upliftment of the marginalized sections of society.
9. Theosophy: Besant was a prominent member of the Theosophical Society, which sought to promote universal brotherhood, comparative religion, and the study of ancient Indian spiritual traditions. She became its president in 1907 and worked to spread the teachings of Theosophy in India and around the world.
10. Founding the Banaras Hindu University (BHU): Besant played a key role in the establishment of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916. She became the first woman to be the president of its governing body.
11. She also founded the Indian Home Rule League in 1916, which was aimed at achieving political autonomy for India under British rule.
12. Annie Besant is remembered not just for her political leadership but also for her contributions to women’s rights, education, and the Indian independence movement.
13. She became a symbol of strength and determination for women, showing that women could lead political movements and contribute to the nation’s development.

• Annie Besant’s tenure as the first woman President of the Indian National Congress was a groundbreaking moment in the history of Indian politics.
• Her leadership at the INC laid the foundation for greater participation of women in India’s struggle for independence. Though India’s political sphere was predominantly male-dominated at the time, Besant’s election was a significant milestone in the inclusion of women in political decision-making.

Her presidency was part of a broader trend of increasing female participation in political movements around the world during the early 20th century, and her work influenced the generation of Indian leaders who followed.