History of India

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.

Battle of Plassey (1757)

  1. The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23rd June 1757 between the forces of the British East India Company and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula of Bengal.
  2. It marked the beginning of British colonial rule in India.
  3. Siraj-ud-Daula, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, opposed the increasing dominance of the East India Company in Bengal.
  4. The British were led by Robert Clive, who played a key role in securing their victory.
  5. Mir Jafar, one of Siraj-ud-Daula’s commanders, betrayed him and aligned with the B

Rise of Regional Powers

  1. The decline of the Mughal Empire in the 17th century led to the emergence of regional powers across India.
  2. These regional kingdoms were characterized by strong local governance and resistance to central authority.
  3. The Marathas, under Shivaji Maharaj, established a powerful empire in the Deccan.
  4. The Rajputs, especially in Rajasthan, retained their influence by maintaining semi-autonomous states.
  5. Mysore, under rulers like Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, emerged as a significant power in South I

Sikh Empire

  1. Sikh Empire was established in the early 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
  2. The roots of the empire trace back to the Sikh Gurus, especially Guru Nanak (1469–1539), who founded Sikhism.
  3. Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru, transformed Sikhs into a military force with the creation of the Khalsa in 1699.
  4. After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Singh Bahadur led the Sikhs in uprisings against the Mughal Empire.
  5. Banda Singh Bahadur introduced agrarian reforms
History of India