A O Hume 1829-1912

Allan Octavian Hume (A O Hume), a towering figure in the annals of India’s history, is rightfully commemorated with a special postage stamp on the 25th year of the nation’s independence. As an administrator endowed with profound insight into the challenges facing rural India, a staunch advocate for Indian peasantry, and a tireless champion of the country’s aspirations for self-governance and unity, Hume endeared himself to the Indian populace.

Joining the Bengal Civil Services at a tender age of 20 in 1849, Hume dedicated 45 years of his life in the service of the Indian people. Recognizing early on that India’s progress and emancipation from poverty hinged on agricultural development, he formulated a comprehensive blueprint for agricultural reform in India in 1879. His vision encompassed agricultural education, the establishment of veterinary colleges, hospitals, and agricultural banks.

Hume’s unwavering support for the Indian people often brought him into conflict with the government, leading to his premature retirement in 1882. Undeterred, he spearheaded efforts for the creation of a political organization that could articulate the aspirations of Indians for constitutional reform and fair treatment. It was under his initiative that the Indian National Congress was established in 1885.

Hume advocated for the amalgamation of India’s diverse population into a cohesive national identity, promoting the nation’s holistic regeneration across spiritual, moral, social, and political spheres. Additionally, he advocated for the consolidation of ties between India and England, advocating for the rectification of unjust or injurious conditions.

Beyond India’s shores, Hume tirelessly worked to advance the country’s interests abroad. He conceived the Indian Telegraph Union to disseminate the Indian perspective through press telegrams in British newspapers and established the Indian Parliamentary Committee to lobby for Indian interests in the British parliament. His efforts extended to founding the journal “India” in 1890, which evolved into a weekly publication by 1898.

Both as a government official and a private citizen, Hume ceaselessly pursued constructive social and economic initiatives. Even after leaving India in 1894, he remained dedicated to his mission for the next 18 years in England. Hume’s passing on July 31, 1912, at the age of 84, was mourned by the people of India as if they had lost one of their own.