Modern Indian History broadly covers the period from the mid-18th century until India's independence in 1947. This era is dominated by the rise of British power, the struggle against colonial rule, and the eventual birth of the Indian republic.
👉 Modern Indian History
📌 Part 1: Advent of Europeans in India
The arrival of various European trading companies marked the beginning of European colonial influence.
| European Power | Year | Key Figure | Initial Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | 1498 | Vasco da Gama (Calicut) | Goa (Capital of their Eastern empire) |
| Dutch (VOC) | 1602 | -- | Masulipatnam (AP) |
| English (EIC) | 1600 | Sir Thomas Roe (to Jahangir's court) | Surat (1619) |
| Danish | 1616 | -- | Serampore (Bengal) |
| French | 1664 | -- | Pondicherry (1674) |
🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the sequence of arrival and the significance of the Battle of Plassey (1757) as the starting point of British political ascendancy.
📌 Part 2: Rise of British Power (Anglo-French & Anglo-Indian Wars)
A. Carnatic Wars (1746-1763)
A proxy war between the British and French in South India.
First Carnatic War (1746-48): Part of the Austrian War of Succession. Ended with the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle.
Second Carnatic War (1749-54): British under Robert Clive defeated the French. Established British influence in Hyderabad and Arcot.
Third Carnatic War (1758-63): Decisive British victory at the Battle of Wandiwash (1760) under General Eyre Coote. Ended French ambitions in India with the Treaty of Paris (1763).
B. Key Battles that Established British Supremacy in Bengal
| Battle | Year | Opponents | Result & Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of Plassey | 1757 | Robert Clive vs. Siraj-ud-Daula (Nawab of Bengal) | British victory due to the treachery of Mir Jafar. Marked the beginning of British political power in India. |
| Battle of Buxar | 1764 | Hector Munro vs. combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor) | Decisive British victory. Established British as the dominant power in Northern India. |
Key Outcomes:
Treaty of Allahabad (1765): Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the British East India Company. This was the "real foundation of the British rule in India."
📌 Part 3: British Administration & Policies (1757-1857)
A. Governors-General of Bengal (1773-1833)
Warren Hastings (1773-1785):
Regulating Act of 1773: First step to control Company's territories.
Pitt's India Act of 1784: Distinguished commercial and political functions of the Company.
First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82) and Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84).
Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793):
Permanent Settlement of Bengal (1793): Created Zamindars as permanent landholders. Also known as the Zamindari System.
Separation of revenue and judiciary.
Lord Wellesley (1798-1805):
Subsidiary Alliance: A system to subjugate Indian powers without war. States lost sovereignty and paid for British troops. Hyderabad was the first to sign.
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799): Defeat and death of Tipu Sultan.
Lord William Bentinck (1828-1835):
Social Reforms: Abolition of Sati (1829), suppression of Thugi.
Charter Act of 1833: Ended Company's commercial activities; designated Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India.
📌 Part 4: The Revolt of 1857
Causes: Political, Economic, Social, Religious (Greased Cartridges), and Military.
Centers & Leaders:
Delhi: Bahadur Shah Zafar (symbolic leader), General Bakht Khan.
Kanpur: Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope.
Lucknow: Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Jhansi: Rani Lakshmibai.
Bihar: Kunwar Singh.
Consequences:
Government of India Act, 1858: Abolished the East India Company. British Crown took direct control.
The title of Mughal Emperor was abolished. Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon.
Indian Council Act of 1861: Indians were associated with the law-making process.
🎯 Exam Tip: The revolt is often called the "First War of Indian Independence" by Indian historians, though the British termed it a "Sepoy Mutiny."
📌 Part 5: The Indian National Movement (1885-1947)
This is the most important section for competitive exams.
A. Foundation and Early Phase (1885-1905)
Indian National Congress (INC): Founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume.
Objectives: Democratic, nationalist movement; promotion of Indian interests.
Prominent Leaders: Dadabhai Naoroji (Grand Old Man of India), W.C. Bonnerji, Surendranath Banerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Methods: Prayers, petitions, and protests (3 P's).
B. The Radical Phase (1905-1918)
Cause: Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon.
Rise of Extremists: Lal-Bal-Pal - Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak ("Swaraj is my birthright"), Bipin Chandra Pal.
Swadeshi Movement (1905): Boycott of British goods, use of Indian-made goods.
Formation of Muslim League (1906): Founded in Dhaka to protect Muslim interests.
Lucknow Pact (1916): INC and Muslim League united for self-government.
C. The Gandhian Era (1919-1947)
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915 and transformed the national movement into a mass struggle.
| Movement | Year | Cause | Key Features & Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaran Satyagraha | 1917 | Oppression of Indigo farmers | First Civil Disobedience by Gandhi. |
| Kheda Satyagraha | 1918 | Tax refusal after famine | First Non-Cooperation by Gandhi. |
| Rowlatt Satyagraha | 1919 | Against Rowlatt Act (Black Act) | First Mass Strike. Led to Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) under General Dyer. |
| Non-Cooperation Movement | 1920-22 | Jallianwala Bagh, Khilafat Issue | Boycott of schools, courts, councils. Chauri Chaura incident (1922) led to its withdrawal. |
| Civil Disobedience Movement | 1930-34 | Simon Commission ("No Simon Go Back"), Demand for Purna Swaraj | Dandi March (1930) to break the Salt Law. Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931). |
| Quit India Movement | 1942 | Failure of Cripps Mission, WW II | "Do or Die" slogan by Gandhi. Most violent and widespread movement. |
D. Revolutionary Terrorism
Key Groups: Anushilan Samiti (Calcutta), Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) (founded by Chandra Shekhar Azad).
Key Figures: Bhagat Singh (threw a bomb in Central Assembly, 1929), Sukhdev, Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad.
E. Important Events & Contributions from other Leaders
Subhas Chandra Bose: Resigned from INC, formed Forward Bloc. Escaped to form the Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj with the help of Japan. Slogans: "Dilli Chalo", "Jai Hind".
Bhagat Singh: Symbolized revolutionary resistance.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Known as the "Iron Man of India" for his role in integrating princely states.
📌 Part 6: The Road to Independence (1940-1947)
August Offer (1940): First time the right to frame India's constitution was acknowledged.
Cripps Mission (1942): Proposed Dominion Status after WW II. Rejected by INC.
Cabinet Mission Plan (1946): Proposed a loose union with grouping of provinces. Initially accepted but later rejected by both INC and Muslim League.
Direct Action Day (16th August 1946): Called by Muslim League, leading to massive communal riots in Calcutta.
Mountbatten Plan (June 1947): Announced the partition of India into two dominions – India and Pakistan.
Indian Independence Act (July 1947): Passed by the British Parliament, formalizing the partition.
India became Independent on 15th August 1947.
📌 Part 7: Important Committees & Personalities
| Personality | Nickname / Contribution |
|---|---|
| Dadabhai Naoroji | Grand Old Man of India; 'Drain of Wealth' theory |
| Lala Lajpat Rai | Punjab Kesari; Died during protest against Simon Commission |
| Bal Gangadhar Tilak | Lokmanya; "Swaraj is my birthright" |
| B.R. Ambedkar | Chairman of Drafting Committee; Dalit Icon |
| C. Rajagopalachari | Last Governor-General of India; CR Formula |
| Madan Mohan Malaviya | Founded Banaras Hindu University (BHU) |
📊 Quick Revision Timeline for Exams
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1498 | Vasco da Gama reaches Calicut |
| 1757 | Battle of Plassey |
| 1764 | Battle of Buxar |
| 1857 | The Revolt of 1857 |
| 1885 | Foundation of Indian National Congress |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal; Swadeshi Movement |
| 1919 | Rowlatt Act; Jallianwala Bagh Massacre |
| 1920 | Non-Cooperation Movement |
| 1930 | Dandi March; Civil Disobedience Movement |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement |
| 1947 | Indian Independence; Partition |
✅ Sample MCQs for Self-Assessment
1. Who was the founder of the Indian National Congress?
(a) W.C. Bonnerji
(b) A.O. Hume
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji
(d) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: (b) A.O. Hume
2. The slogan "Do or Die" was given by Mahatma Gandhi during which movement?
(a) Non-Cooperation Movement
(b) Civil Disobedience Movement
(c) Quit India Movement
(d) Swadeshi Movement
Answer: (c) Quit India Movement
3. The first Governor-General of Bengal was:
(a) Lord Cornwallis
(b) Lord Wellesley
(c) Warren Hastings
(d) Lord William Bentinck
Answer: (c) Warren Hastings
4. The Indian National Army (INA) was founded by:
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Subhas Chandra Bose
(d) Rash Behari Bose
Answer: (c) Subhas Chandra Bose
5. The 'Drain of Wealth' theory was propounded by:
(a) R.C. Dutt
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) M.G. Ranade
(d) B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: (b) Dadabhai Naoroji
📝 Key Takeaways for Revision
Memorize the sequence of Governor-Generals/Viceroys and their key policies/events.
For the National Movement, create a mental map of Gandhian Movements with their causes and outcomes.
Important Acts (like Regulating Act, Government of India Acts) and their provisions are frequently asked.
Focus on the contributions of key personalities beyond Gandhi and Nehru (e.g., Patel, Bose, Ambedkar).
Practice questions on Social and Religious Reform Movements (Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, etc.) which are an integral part of modern history.
This guide provides a solid foundation for your Modern History preparation. Combine this with regular practice of previous years' papers for best results. Good luck!
👉 Modern Indian History
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