MODERN HISTORY (AFTER1885)
The Indian National Congress è Formed in 1885 by A.O.Hume, an Englishman and a retired civil servant. First session in Bombay under W.C.Banerjee in 1885 (72 delegates attended it).
Partition of Bengal: è By Lord Curzon on Oct 16, 1905, through a royal Proclamation, reducing the old province of Bengal in size by creating East Bengal and Assam out of rest of Bengal. The objective was to set up a communal gulf between Hindus and Muslims.
Swadeshi Movement (1905):
Lal, Bal, Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh played the important role. INC took the Swadeshi call first at the Banaras Session, 1905 presided over by G.K.Gokhale. Bonfires of foreign goods were conducted at various places.
Formation of Muslim League (1906)
In December, 1906, All India Muslim League was set up under the leadership of Aga Khan, Nawab Salimullah of Dacca and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk at Dacca.
Calcutta Session of INC (1906)
In Dec. 1906 at Calcutta, the INC under the leadership of Dada Bhai Naoroji adopted Swaraj‘ as the goal of Indian people.
Surat Split (1907)
The INC split into the two groups i.e. the extremists and the moderates at the Surat session in 1907. The extremists were led by Tilak, Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal The moderates were led by G.K. Gokhale.
Alipore Bomb Case 1908
In 1908 a revolutionary conspiracy was intrigued to kill the Chief Presidency Magistrate D.H.Kingford of Muzaffarpur. The task was entrusted to Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki. They threw the bombs on a vehicle coming out of the magistrate's home on April 30, 1908.
Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)
Morley-Minto Reforms were introduced in 1909 during the period when Lord Minto was the Viceroy of India while Morley was the secretary of the state.
As per the provisions of the reform Muslims could only vote for Muslim candidates.
Arrival of Lord Hardinge 1910
From 1910 to 1916, Lord Hardinge served as India's Viceroy. The important event during his tenure was the Delhi Durbar of 1911. Ghadar Party (1913): Formed by Lala Hardayal, Taraknath Das and Sohan Singh Bhakna. HQ was at San Francisco.
Home Rule Movement (1915-16)
B.G Tilak was released from the Mandlay jail in the year 1914. In 1915 he reentered INC. B.G. Tilak founded Indian Home Rule League at Pune on 28 April, 1916. Annie Besant, inspired by the Irish rebellion, started Home Rule Movement in India in Sep., 1916. She started two newspapers i.e. Young India and Commonwealth. The leagues advocated passive resistance and civil disobedience.
Arrival of Lord Chelmsford 1916
On April 4, 1916, Lord Chelmsford took over as next Viceroy of India.
Lucknow Pact-Congress-League Pact (1916)
An important step forward in achieving Hindu-Muslim unity was the Lucknow Pact (1916). Anti-British feelings were generated among the Muslims following a war between Britain and Turkey which opened way for Congress and Muslim League unity. Both the Congress and the Muslim League held session at Lucknow in 1916 and concluded the famous Lucknow pact.
The congress accepted the separate electorate and both organizations jointly demanded‗dominion status‘ for the country.
Montagu Declaration (August Declaration of 1917)
Montague made the landmark statement in the context of self rule in India in 1917. He said that the control over the Indian government would be transferred gradually to the Indian people. This was the result of Hindu-Muslim unity exhibited in Lucknow pact.
The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917
was Mahatma Gandhi's first Satyagraha. Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha were the events which later put Gandhi on the front seat of Indian National Revolution and made Satyagraha a powerful tool.
Rowlatt Act (March 18, 1919)
This gave unbridled powers to the govt. to arrest and imprison suspects without trial for two years maximum.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919):
People were agitated over the arrest of Dr. Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal onApril 9, 1919. General O‘ Dyer fires at people who assembled in the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on 13th April 1919. Rabindranath Tagore returned his Knighthood (title) in protest. Sir Shankaran Nair resigned from Viceroy‘s Executive Council after this. Hunter Commission was appointed to enquire into it. On March 13, 1940, Sardar Udham Singh killed O‘Dyer when the later was addressing a meeting in Caxton Hall, London.
Hunter Committee Report
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was followed by establishment of a non-official enquiry committee the Government established a committee headed by Lord Hunter a Senator of the "College of justice of Scotland".
Chaura Chouri incidence (1922)
On 5th February 1922, the Non Cooperation Movement was called off by Gandhi because of an unfortunate incidence at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. In this incidence the crowd participating in the Non Cooperation and Khilafat procession indulged into the violence with the police. As a result the crowd burnt a Police station and in the incidence 22 policemen were killed.
The Sawraj party (1922)
During this time a new political strategy; to carry forward the struggle against the colonial rule; was advocated by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru put forward the changed strategy in Gaya session (1922) of the Congress. There were leaders in Congress like Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad and C.Rajgopalacharya who opposed these changes of council entry. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned from the Congress and formed the Swaraj Party.
Simon Commission (1927):
Constituted under John Simon, to review the political situation in India and to introduce further reforms and extension of parliamentary democracy. Indian leaders opposed the commission, as there were no Indians in it. At Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was severely beaten in a lathi‐charge. He died in 1928.
14 Points of Jinnah (March 9, 1929)
Jinnah, the leader of Muslim League, did not accept the Nehru Report. Jinnah thereafter drew up a list of demands, which was called ‘14 points of Jinnah‘.
Lahore Session(1929)
At its annual session held in Lahore in Dec. 1929, under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian National Congress passed a resolution declaring Poorna Swaraj‘ (Complete Independence) to be the goal of the national movement.
On Dec. 31, 1929, the newly adopted tricolor flag was unfurled and Jan 26 fixed as the Independence Day which was to be celebrated every year, pleading to the people not to submit to British rule any longer.
First Round Table conference (1930):
It was the first conference arranged between the British and Indians as equals. It was held on Nov.12, 1930 in London to discuss Simon commission. Boycotted by INC, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Liberals and some others were there.
Gandhi Irwin Pact (1931):
The two (government represented by Irwin and INC by Gandhiji) signed a pact on March 5, 1931. In this the INC called off the civil disobedience movement and agreed to join the second round table conference The government on its part released the political prisoners and conceded the right to make salt for consumption for villages along the coast.
Second Round Table Conference (1931):
Gandhiji represented the INC and went to London to meetBritish P.M. Ramsay Macdonald. However, the session was soon deadlocked on the minorities issue and this time separate electorates was demanded not only by
Muslims but also by Depressed Classes, Indian Christians and Anglo–Indians.
Poona Pact (September 25, 1932):
After the announcement of communal award and subsequent fast of Gandhiji, mass meeting took place almost everywhere. Political leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, B.R.Ambedkar and M.C.Rajah became active. Eventually Poona pact was reached and Gandhiji broke his fact on the sixth day (Sept 25, 1932). In this, the idea of separate electorate for the depressed classes was abandoned, but seats reserved to them in the provincial legislature were increased.
Third Round Table Conference (1932):
Proved fruitless as most of the national leaders were in prison. The discussions led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935.
The Government of India Act, 1935
The Simon Commission report submitted in 1930 formed the basis for the Government of India Act, 1935. The new Government of India Act received the royal assent on Aug. 4, 1935. The continued and extended all the existing features of earlier constitutional reforms. But in addition there were certain new principle introduced. It provided for a federal type of government. Thus, the act: 1. Introduced provincial autonomy. 2. Abolished dyarchy in provinces
Pakistan Resolution/Lahore Resolution (March 24, 1940)
It was 1930 that Iqbal suggested the union of the Frontier Province, Baluchistan, Sindh and Kashmir as Muslim state within the federations. The idealist Chaudhry Rehmat Ali developed this conception at Cambridge, where he inspired a group of young
Muslims and invented the term‗Pakstan‘ (later‗Pakistan‘) in 1935. The ideology of Iqbal, the vision of Rehamat Ali, and the fears of Muslims were thus united by the practical genius of Jinnah to blind Muslim together.The Lahore session of the Muslim League, held on March 24, 1940, passed Pakistan Resolution and rejected theFederal schemean envisaged in the government of India Act, 1935.
Quit India Movement
The causes for the launch of Quit India Movement were: The failure of the Cripp‘s Mission wasan eye opener for the nationalist. The news of Allied reverses in World War and British withdrawal from South-East Asia and Burma leaving local people at the mercy of Japanese.
Course of Events
Quit India resolution was passed on 8th August 1942 at Bombay. The Congress envisaged a ―mass struggle on the non-violent lines on the widest possible scale. Gandhi and all the leaders of the Congress working committee were arrested on the early hours of August 9, 1942.
Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947):
On June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten put forward his plan which outlined the steps for the solution of India‘s political problem.
India to be divided into India and Pakistan.
Bengal and Punjab will be partitioned and a referendum in NEFP and Sylhet district of Assam would be held.
There would be a separate constitutional assembly for Pakistan to frame its constitution. The Princely states would enjoy the liberty to join either India or Pakistan or even remain independent.
Aug 15, 1947 was the date fixed for handing over power to India and Pakistan. The British govt. passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947 in July 1947, which contained the major provisions put forward by the Mountbatten plan.
Partition and Independence (Aug 1947):
All political parties accepted the Mountbatten plan.
At the time of independence, there were 562 small and big Princely States in India.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first home minister, used iron hand in this regard.
By August 15, 1947, all the States, with a few exceptionslike Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagarh had signed the Instrument of Accession.
Goa was with the Portuguese and Pondicherry with the French.
British Viceroys in India
Lord Canning (1856–1862)
The last Governor General and the first Viceroy. Mutiny (Revolt of 1857) took place in his time. On November, 1858, the rule passed on to the crown. Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse (introduced by Lord Dalhousie). The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were established in 1857. Indian Councils Act was passed in 1861.
Lord Elgin (1862–1863)
Lord Lawrence (1864–1869)
Telegraphic communication was opened with Europe. High Courts were established at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1865. Expanded canal works and railways. Created the Indian Forest department.
Lord Mayo (1869–1872)
Started the process of financial decentralization in India. Established the Rajkot college at Kathiarwar and Mayo College at Ajmer for the Indian princes.
For the first time in Indian history, a census was held in 1871. Organised the Statistical Survey of India. Was the only Viceroy to be murdered in office by a Pathan convict in the Andamans in 1872.
Lord Northbrook (1872–1876)
Lord Lytton (1876–1880)
Known as the Viceroy to reverse characters. Organised the Grand‗Delhi Durbar‘ in 1877 to decorate Queen Victoria with the title of ‗Kaiser I Hind‘. Arms act (1878) made it mandatory for Indians to acquire license for arms. Passed the infamous Vernacular Press act (1878).
Lord Ripon (1880–1884)
Liberalperson, who sympathized with Indians. Repeated the Vernacular Press act (1882) Passed the local self-government act (1882) Took steps to improve primary & secondary education (on William Hunter Commission‘s recommendations). I Factory act, 1881, aimed at prohibiting child labour. Passed the libert Bill (1883) which enabled Indian district magistrates to try European criminals. But this was withdrawn later.
Lord Dufferin (1884–1888)
Indian National Congress was formed during his tenure.
Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894)
II Factory act (1891) granted a weekly holiday and stipulated working hours for women and children, although it failed to address concerns such as work hours for men. Categorization of Civil Services into Imperial, Provincial and Subordinate. Indian Council act of 1892 was passed. Appointment of Durand Commission to define the line between British India and Afghanistan.
Lord Elgin II (1894–1899)
Great famine of 1896–1897. Lyall Commission was appointed.
Lord Curzon (1899–1905)
Passed the Indian Universities act (1904) in which official control over the Universities was increased. Partitioned Bengal (October 16, 1905) into two provinces Bengal (proper) & East Bengal & Assam. Appointed a Police Commission under Sir Andrew Frazer to enquire into the police administration of every province. The risings of the frontier tribes in 1897–98 led him to create the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP). Passed the Ancient Monuments Protection act (1904), to restore India‘scultural heritage. Thus the Archaeological Survey of India was established. Passed the Indian Coinage and Paper Currency act (1899) and put India on a gold standard. Extended railways to a great extent.
History of Lord Minto (1905–1910)
There was great political unrest in India. Various acts were passed to curb the revolutionary activities. Extremists like Lala Laipat Rai and Ajit Singh (in May, 1907) and Bal Gangadhar Tilak (in July, 1908) were sent to Mandalay jail in Burma. The Indian Council act of 1909 or the Morley Minto Reforms was passed.
Lord Hardinge (1910–1916)
Held a durbar in December, 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V. Partition of Bengal was cancelled (1911), Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi (1912).
Bombwas thrown at him; but he escaped unhurt (December 23, 1912). Gandhiji came back to India from South Africa (1915). Annie Besant announced the Home Rule Movement.
Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921)
August Declaration of 1917, whereby control over the Indian government would be gradually transferred to the Indian people. The government of India act in 1919 (Montague Chelmsford reforms) was passed. Rowlatt act of 1919; Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919). Non Cooperation Movement. An Indian Sir S.P.Sinha was appointed the Governor of Bengal. A Women‘s university was founded at Poona in 1916. Saddler Commission was appointed in 1917 to envisage new educational policy.
Lord Reading (1921–1926) : Rowlatt act was repeated along with the Press act of 1910. Suppressed non–cooperation movement. Prince of Wales visited India in November, 1921. Moplah rebellion (1921) took place in Kerala. Ahmedabad session of 1921. Formation of Swaraj Party. Vishwabharati University started functioning in 1922. Communist part was founded in 1921 by M.N. Roy. Kakory Train Robbery on August 9, 1925.
Communal riots of 1923–25 in Multan, Amritsar, Delhi, etc. Swami Shraddhanand, a great nationalist and a leader of the Arya Samajists, was murdered in communal orgy.
Lord Irwin (1926–1931)
Simon Commission visited India in 1928. Congress passed the Indian Resolution in 1929.
Dandi March (March 12, 1930). Civil Disobedience Movement (1930). First Round Table Conference held in England in 1930. Gandhi Irwin Pact (March 5, 1931) was signed and g) Civil Disobediance Movement was withdrawn. Martydorm of Jatin Das after 64 days hunger strike (1929).
Lord Willingdon (1931–1936)
Second Round Table conference in London in 1931. On his return Gandhiji was again arrested and Civil Disobedience Movement was resumed in January, 1932. Communal Awards (August 16, 1932) assigned seats to different religious communities. Gandhiji went on a epic fast in protest against this division. Third Round Table conference in 1932. Poona Pact was signed. Government of India act (1935) was passed.
Lord Linlithgow (1936–1944) : Government of India act enforced in the provinces.
Lord Wavell (1944–1947) : Arranged the Shimla Conference on June 25, 1945 with Indian National Congress and Muslim League; failed. Cabinet Mission Plan (May 16, 1946).
Elections to the constituent assembly were held and an Interim Government was appointed under Nehru. First meeting of the constituent assembly was held on December 9, 1946.
Lord Mountbatten (March 1947–August 1947)
Last Viceroy of British India and the first Governor General of free India. Partition of India decided by the June 3 Plan. Indian Independence Act, 1947 passed by the British parliament on July 4, 1947, by which India became independent on August 15, 1947. Retried in June 1948 and was succeeded by C. Rajagopalachari (the first and the last Indian Governor General of free India).
