Gandhian Era

  1. The Gandhian Era refers to the period in Indian history dominated by Mahatma Gandhi (1915–1947).
  2. Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and soon became a key leader in the Indian nationalist movement.
  3. He introduced the philosophy of Satyagraha, which emphasized non-violent resistance to injustice.
  4. The Champaran Satyagraha (1917) marked Gandhi’s first significant involvement in Indian politics, supporting indigo farmers against exploitation.
  5. T

Partition of Bengal (1905)

  1. The Partition of Bengal was announced on July 19, 1905, by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India.
  2. It came into effect on October 16, 1905.
  3. The partition divided Bengal into two provinces: East Bengal and West Bengal.
  4. East Bengal included Assam and had a majority of Muslim population.
  5. West Bengal consisted of Bihar and Orissa with a majority of Hindu population.
  6. The official reason given by the B

Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)

  1. The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in 1885 as a platform to voice Indian aspirations under British rule.
  2. It was founded by A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, to create a dialogue between Indians and the British government.
  3. The first session of the INC was held in Bombay from December 28–31, 1885.
  4. The session was presided over by W.C.

Socio-Religious Reform Movements

  1. The socio-religious reform movements in India arose as a response to the challenges posed by British rule and modernization.
  2. The aim was to reform social practices and revive India’s cultural and religious heritage.
  3. Leaders of these movements were influenced by Western ideas of rationalism, humanism, and liberalism.
  4. The Brahmo Samaj, founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828, was a pioneer in the reform movement.
  5. Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated for the abolitio

Outcome and British Crown Rule

  1. The First War of Indian Independence (1857) marked a major turning point in Indian history, despite its failure.
  2. The immediate outcome was the dissolution of the East India Company and the transfer of power to the British Crown.
  3. The Government of India Act 1858 established direct British rule, with a Viceroy appointed to govern India.
  4. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India in 1858.
  5. The British adopted a policy of reconciliation towards Indian princes and landlords to ensure their

Key Figures and Events

  1. The First War of Indian Independence began on May 10, 1857, in Meerut, triggered by grievances among Indian sepoys.
  2. Mangal Pandey, a sepoy in the Bengal Army, is remembered for sparking the rebellion at Barrackpore.
  3. The rebellion quickly spread to major regions such as Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, and Bareilly.
  4. In Delhi, the sepoys proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, as the leader of the uprising.
  5. Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, led the rebellion

Causes of the Rebellion

  1. The First War of Indian Independence, also known as the Revolt of 1857, had multifaceted causes spanning political, economic, social, and military domains.
  2. The annexation policies of the British, such as the Doctrine of Lapse implemented by Lord Dalhousie, angered many princely states.
  3. Key territories like Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur were annexed, undermining the authority of Indian rulers.
  4. The abolition of Mughal titles and the relocation of Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon deeply

Socio-Economic Impact

  1. The British East India Company significantly altered the socio-economic fabric of India between 1757 and 1857.
  2. The introduction of Permanent Settlement (1793) under Lord Cornwallis transformed the traditional land revenue system.
  3. Zamindars were given ownership of land, reducing farmers to tenants and increasing exploitation.
  4. The Ryotwari System in Madras and Bombay and the Mahalwari System in North India also impacted agrarian communities.
  5. High revenue demands often led to peasant indebt

Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse

  1. The Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley in 1798 as a strategic tool to expand British influence in India.
  2. Under the alliance, Indian rulers were required to maintain British troops in their territories and pay for their upkeep.
  3. In return, the British promised protection from external threats and internal rebellions.
  4. The system effectively made the allied state a vassal of the British East India Company.
  5. The ruler had to accept a British Resident in their court, limiting their sovereignty.
  6. States

Anglo-Mysore and Anglo-Maratha Wars

  1. The Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767–1799) were a series of four wars between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Mysore.
  2. The wars were fought during the reigns of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, who resisted British expansion.
  3. The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769) ended with the Treaty of Madras, restoring territories to both sides.
  4. The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784) resulted in the Treaty of Mangalore, one of the few instances of Indian victory against the British.