In the midst of British rule, 72 visionaries, including Allan Octavian Hume, a Scottish-born civil servant, gathered in Bombay to lay the groundwork for a new era of Indian self-governance. The Indian National Congress, a beacon of hope for Indian autonomy, was born. This pivotal moment marked the first step towards India's struggle for independence, as the INC would go on to become a powerful platform for Indian voices to demand freedom and equality.