Which nationalist thinker proposed the safety valve theory, suggesting that the Indian National Congress was created to act as a safety valve for growing political discontent?

Introduction / Context:
The safety valve theory is an interpretation of the early history of the Indian National Congress. It suggests that the Congress was encouraged or allowed by the British as a harmless outlet for political frustration, rather than as a truly revolutionary body. Knowing who advanced this interpretation helps learners trace how Indian nationalists themselves debated the origins and role of the Congress.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The theory in question is the safety valve theory regarding the Indian National Congress.
• The question asks who gave or popularised this theory.
• Options include Lala Lajpat Rai, MN Roy, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipinchandra Pal.

Concept / Approach:
Lala Lajpat Rai, a prominent nationalist leader, wrote about the early Congress and referred to it as a kind of safety valve created with the involvement of A O Hume, giving the British a way to manage rising discontent. MN Roy later gave a more radical critique of the Congress but is not usually credited with the safety valve phrase. Tilak and Bipinchandra Pal were aggressive nationalists but did not formulate this particular theory in the same terms.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that A O Hume and some British officials are sometimes said to have wanted a controlled forum for educated Indians. Step 2: Recognise that Lala Lajpat Rai discussed this idea and described the Congress as a safety valve in his writings. Step 3: Note that MN Roy criticised the Congress but is linked more with Marxist critiques than with the exact phrase safety valve. Step 4: Understand that Tilak and Bipinchandra Pal were extremists in the Congress and did not coin this theory. Step 5: Conclude that Lala Lajpat Rai is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Histories of the Congress and analyses of nationalist thought typically attribute the safety valve characterisation to Lala Lajpat Rai. They mention his view that Hume s role suited British administrative interests by creating a controlled outlet.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
MN Roy s critiques came later and in a different ideological framework. Tilak and Bipinchandra Pal focused on mass agitation and swaraj rather than on theoretical labels for the Congress s origins. None of them are standardly credited with this particular theory.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners guess MN Roy because he is known for critical views of the Congress, or they may select Tilak due to his strong nationalist profile. Remembering that it was Lala Lajpat Rai who explicitly used the safety valve description helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
The safety valve theory regarding the Indian National Congress was put forward by Lala Lajpat Rai.