Who was the first Indian woman to become President of the Indian National Congress, the historic political party that led the freedom movement?

Introduction / Context:
The Indian National Congress (INC) played a central role in the Indian freedom struggle. Its presidents often shaped the direction of the movement. Knowing who was the first Indian woman to lead the Congress highlights the contribution of women leaders in the national movement. This question focuses on identifying Sarojini Naidu as the first Indian woman President of the INC, while distinguishing her from other prominent women leaders.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The organisation is the Indian National Congress.
• The question asks specifically for the first Indian woman President.
• The options include several well known women leaders: Pratibha Patil, Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.
• We assume some basic knowledge of modern Indian political history.

Concept / Approach:
Annie Besant was the first woman President of the Congress, but she was of Irish origin and therefore not Indian by birth. Sarojini Naidu, a great poet and freedom fighter, was the first Indian woman to become President of the INC at the Kanpur session in 1925. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Pratibha Patil also achieved high offices later, such as President of the United Nations General Assembly and President of India respectively, but they were not the first Indian woman Congress presidents.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the key phrase in the question: first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress. Step 2: Recall that Annie Besant became the first woman President of the INC in 1917, but she was not Indian by birth. Step 3: Remember that Sarojini Naidu became the first Indian woman President of the INC at the Kanpur session in 1925. Step 4: Note that Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Pratibha Patil held other high posts but did not hold this specific distinction first. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is Sarojini Naidu.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to pair each name with their most famous achievement. Annie Besant is remembered as a British born Theosophist and early woman president of the INC. Sarojini Naidu is celebrated as the Nightingale of India and the first Indian woman Congress president. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit is widely known as the first woman President of the United Nations General Assembly. Pratibha Patil was the first woman President of India. This cross mapping confirms that Sarojini Naidu fits the question description exactly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pratibha Patil became the first woman President of India, not the first Indian woman President of the INC. Annie Besant was the first woman President of the INC, but she was not Indian by birth, so she does not satisfy the condition of being the first Indian woman. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit held many significant posts, including President of the United Nations General Assembly, but she was not the first Indian woman to preside over the INC.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the roles of these prominent women, especially Annie Besant and Sarojini Naidu. It is crucial to differentiate between the first woman and the first Indian woman. Another pitfall is mixing up the offices of President of India, Congress President, and international positions. Creating a simple timeline or table of landmark firsts for women leaders can help avoid such confusion in competitive exams.

Final Answer:
The first Indian woman to become President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.