Sarojini Naidu
Explanation
The presidency of the Indian National Congress (INC) is a significant historical marker, often reflecting the shifting ideologies and inclusivity of the freedom struggle. The distinction between the first woman president and the first Indian woman president is a frequent point of factual inquiry.
- Annie Besant: She was the first woman to preside over a session of the Indian National Congress. She presided over the Calcutta Session in 1917. However, she was of British origin and a Theosophist, not an Indian by birth.
- Sarojini Naidu: She was the first Indian woman to preside over a session of the Indian National Congress. She held this position at the Kanpur Session in 1925. Known as the "Nightingale of India," she was a prominent poet and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Madam Bhikaiji Cama: She was a revolutionary leader known for unfurling the first version of the Indian national flag at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart, Germany (1907). She never presided over an INC session.
- Kasturba Gandhi: While she was deeply involved in the freedom struggle and often led movements in Mahatma Gandhi's absence, she did not serve as the President of the INC.
Key Takeaway: Annie Besant was the first woman President of the INC (1917), whereas Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman President of the INC (1925).