Indian Independence Movement

Yay! Independence! But never free from exams :(

Mughal Empire

1526-1858, Muslim invaders brought islam to south asia and established the Mughal Empire. Fell to the British in 1858. Rulers of Mughal Empire were Muslim but the majority of the population was Hindu and included some Sikhs

Viceroy

Highest position in colonial India, ruling it on behalf of the Royals in Britain. The power the viceroy held was limited, parliament in London decided on most policy issues which were enacted by the Secretary of State and not the viceroy. Viceroy was highest official in the colony admininistration.

Indian Uprising

1857-1858, Sepoy rebellion, uprising against EIC control, made it clear Indians wanted a change. Britain took over control from the EIC.

Uprising by Indians fighting against control by the British East India Company (EIC), British government called upon troops to intervene and destroy the uprising, Mughal Emperor was promptly sent into exile and the Mughal Empire fell. Territory became a part of the British Empire

British East India Company (EIC)

Set up trading posts along the coast, sparked British interest in india. Got power and control, EIC ruled India under the Brits. Mughal Empire resisted, and the Brits won. India became part of Brit Empire.

EIC was involved in affairs in India, began in the 17th century with trading posts established on the coast, progressively expanded inland and by the mid-19th century had control over large parts of India

Indian National Congress (INC)

Formed in 1885, the first nationalist congress was established. First represented the educated elite and called for greater representation of Indians in government, rather than independence from British. Represented the voice of the wealthy middle class Indians, many of whom were graduates and spoke English, viewed themselves as able to bridge the cultural and linguistic gap between the Indians and the British, original conservative goals used means like petitions to achieve them, most members were Hindu but there were some Muslims.

Muslim League

Formed in 1906, sought to protect and advance Muslim interests, a minority in a mostly Hindu country. Represented the voice of the wealthy middle class and upper class Muslim Indians, believed the establishment of this organization was the only way to preserve Muslim values and interests.

Diaspora

The system of indentured labor implemented by the British colonists caused the spread of some Indians around the world, one such country was South Africa. Indentured labour resulted in many Indian minorities all over the world. Stimulated indian nationalism, because was sad way to live: Brits “shipped” people off to be soldiers and servants.

Indian Civil Service

The wealthy, professional class of administrators that oversaw Brit India's admininstration. It was first made up of educated British men, but skilled Indians were eventually included. Small, elite administrative body helping to govern India but lacked any substantial power.

Conflict in Bengal/Bengal Partition

1905, division of Bengal into an Eastern Muslim part and a Western Hindu part, many Bengali Hindus viewed this as a threat and an attempt to diminish their Bengali nationalism.

Serious indian opposition to British rule started when the British decided to partition Bengal in north-east india. Split it in two, one Muslim side and one Hindu side. Hindus who were minority saw as threat to their position in region and way to weaken their nationalism. INC went into action, used petitions, then boycotts, which was effective and showed that economic boycotts could be very effective. United many nationalists in India. Annulled the partition in 1911.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bengal conflict radicalised many in INC, significant bc more radical leaders taking control. Made revolutionary wing called the New Party. Tilak was first leader of INC to gain popular support, demanded self-rule (swaraj) from brit. Seen as threat, Brit sent him to prison for treason.

First INC member to gain support and popularity, wanted self-rule and had a strong anti colonialist perspective, which the British viewed as threatening, imprisoned on treason charges in 1908 and released in 1914.

Caste System

System that had been around in India for over 2500 years, way to divide society hierarchically, rights, opportunities, and status were all predetermined by caste at birth. Saw castes as a fixed identity, hierarchy. Meant to create and intensify differences in Indian society.

Amritsar Massacre

1919, protest against the harsher measures Britain put on India after WW1 (India key role in the win). Although public meetings were banned, 5k people congregated peacefully in Amritsar. Upon hearing this, General Dyer took his troops to the location and ordered them to open fire on the crowd relentlessly, killed over 379 and wounded over 1000, many being women and children who could not escape due to locked gates. Turning point.

Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

INC leader, prominent figure of the Indian elite, highly outspoken against the Amritsar massacre, earned him fame and he became the most notable leader of the movement for independence.

Satyagraha

The principle developed and used by Gandhi, involved nonviolence and civil disobedience as forms of resistance, founded on the belief that extraordinary people can create extraordinary change, campaign involved boycotts of British goods, schools, and courts, and non-compliance with the British. Satyagraha means “soul force”. Also would expose British economy’s reliance on India. Boycotting British goods greatly affected their ability to trade effectively.

Partition

Partition eventually accepted by Brit and Congress. Separation of india, with Pakistan as a separate Muslim state. Separation of Pakistan as a separate Muslim state in addition to India, established by Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Jinnah became the first leader, died once in office.

Hindutva

During the 1920s there was a rise in tension between religious communities, partly as a result of the emergence of Hindutwa, a Hindu cultural and nationalist movement (anti-muslim). Promoting Hindu values and the establishment of a Hindu state, principle of the RSS, violent Hindu nationalist group, strongly anti-Muslim and opposed the current non-cooperation campaign uniting both religions.

Salt March

March 1930: Gandhi based satyagraha campaign on salt: it was taxed heavily and had monopoly. In 1930, Gandhi organized a 250 mile march to the coast. Got media coverage. The march ended with Gandi picking up a lump of natural salt from the sea, this was so symbolic that thousands of Indians started breaking the salt laws, where the authorities reacted by imprisoning thousands of protestors including Gandhi .

Government of India Act

1935. Legislation passed by British parliament, new set of constitutional reforms allowing more provincial control to Indian elected ministers (more power) but British still kept control, ensuring Britain maintained control via emergency powers imposed when needed, this caused harsh opposition from Indians but much too late. Made provisions for provincial elections in 1937, which Congress won most of.

Khalifat

1919-1924. Khalifat movement was one of Gandhi’s greatest supports, led by Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Shaukat Ali. Movement among muslims in india who wanted to protect the ottoman empire by putting pressure on brits. After WW1, movement broke up and was part of nationalist movement in India.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah

Leader of the muslim league, offered to cooperate with Congress to make reform proposals in return for muslim protection. Congress rejected offer, tension increased between sides.

Motilal Nehru

Nehru was an early leader of the Indian nationalist movement, a prominent leader of the INC, and founder of influential family (Nehru-Gandhi family, his son was the first prime minister of Independent India, as well as his granddaughter and great-grandson). Drafted a proposed constitution for dominion status and full self-government.

Dominion Status

Part of the proposed constitution drafted by Motilal Nehru. Gave colonies autonomy to run their own affairs. Linked to britain as members of the empire but not ruled by Britain.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Britain caused splits in nationalist movement. Gandhi threatened to fast to death, led to agreement with Dr Ambedkar, leader of the Untouchables (lowest caste in India), that a separate electorate would be abandoned in favor of more reserved seats in the INC.

Jawaharlal Nehru

The first prime minister of independent India, played an important role in the Indian nationalist movement, leader of the Congress and heir of Gandhi, supported democracy and secularism and promoted Indian economic development. Was India’s first prime minister.

Subhas Chandra Bose

A leader of INC, wanted violent resistance over non violence. His re-election of INC president in 1939 split the party. Left INC, made revolutionary Forward Bloc Party. Then formed Indian National Army to fight Brit during WW2.

Prominent left wing leader in Congress in the 1930s, Indian nationalist leader promoting racial, social, and economic policies and a more militant form of nationalism, believed that nonviolence wouldn’t be an effective way to confront the British and eventually formed the Indian National Army to fight the British during WWII

‘Quit India’ Campaign

1942-1943. Rejected Cripps offer, INC started campaigning for immediate independence and restarted non-cooperation campaigns with Britain. Adopted “Quit India”, supported non-cooperation with Britain, result was the imprisonment of INC leaders and a banning of the organization, 60k Indians detained without trial and 1000+ killed

Stafford Cripps

By 1942, Churchill realised he had to change india position to get support to fight Japan. Sent Stafford Cripps, a member of the British government, to negotiate with nationalist leaders. Committed to India independence if Congress committed to the British war effort fully. Congress rejected this, wanted immediate independence.

Winston Churchill

Prime minister of Britain during WW2, signed the Atlantic Charter in 1941 that supported self-determinism but told the British Parliament that this did not apply to India. Enraged Indian nationalists, 1942 Japanese victories in Asia forced a change of mind and he finally sent a negotiator.

Bengal Famine

1943. Famine resulting in 2 million deaths caused by 2 separate things: one was a loss of rice imports from Burma (because of the Japanese invasion of Burma) and the other was a British diversion of food from the Bengali countryside to feed their military.

Direct Action Day

1946: The Muslim League/Mohammed Ali Jinnah called for violent communal riots on August 16, 1946 in Calcutta to demand the establishment of a separate state for Muslims. Turned into violence between Muslims and Hindus, resulted in numerous deaths and significant property damage, escalating religious tensions. Led to the Great Calcutta Killing. Over 4k killed in clashes between Muslims and Hindus in Calcutta, thousands injured or became homeless as a result. Paved the way for India's partition in 1947.

Mountbatten

Last British Viceroy that architected the partition plan and oversaw the division between Pakistan and India. Sent in February 1947 to oversee the transfer of power, opted for the two-state solution proposed by Muslims, two areas for muslims: one located in Northwest India and one in East Bengal.

Great Calcutta Killing

Violence widespread in Direct Action Day where clashes between Hindus and Muslims erupted which resulted in many destruction and deaths as a result of direct action day. 1946.

Kashmir

State in the northwest that bordered both India and Pakistan, had a Hindu prince that ruled over population mostly comprised of Muslims. Hindus and Muslims both wanted control.

Kashmir War

Dec. 1947 - Jan. 1949. War fought between India and Pakistan over control of Kashmir, UN intervened and ultimately led to Kashmir split between the states, this caused mass dissatisfaction

Sikh Separatism

The social and political movement known as Khalistan that supports the establishment of an independent Sikh state. Sikhs amounted to 10 million people in Punjab, frustrated that their demands for a separate state were ignored. After partition millions of Siksh fled west Punjab into India, Akali Dal (the prominent Sikh political party) demonstrated which led the Indian government to order an invasion of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, 1965 Sikhs finally received their own state. The 1984 Operation Blue Star in Amritsar was India getting involved in the Sikh separatist movement high point.

Princely States

550 of these in british India comprising 40% of the country, each led by princes of kings, after independence in 1947 from Britain each leader had to choose whether to join Pakistan or India, which resulted in their incorporation into the newly established countries.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)

A right-wing extremist Hindu nationalist anti-muslim volunteer group that viewed India as solely for Hindus was established in India in 1925. Claimed to be a cultural not political organization. It is well-known for emphasizing national and cultural identity, and it has had a significant impact on Indian politics and culture, influencing several related groups that are referred to as the Sangh Parivar. Formed military-like bands and promoted a hate campaign against Gandhi, called him a traitor for cooperating with Muslims.

Hindu Nationalism

Came from the extreme right wing following independence, most notably in the form of the RSS. Gandhi assassinated by a Hindu nationalist, shocking the nation. Bharatiya Janata Sangh (BJS) sprung into existence and subsequently succeeded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), began to increase in popularity and power in the 1980s until they took over power in 1998.

Green Revolution

1960s: The Green Revolution, which began in India in the 1960s and 1970s, included better irrigation techniques, a greater use of pesticides and fertilizers, and the introduction of high-yielding crop types. The output of food grains, especially wheat and rice, increased significantly as a result, assisting the nation in becoming self-sufficient in food.

1960s - Green Revolution

Massive shift in the economy from industry to agriculture to help make India more self-sufficient in producing food, this had effects like increases in regional wealth gaps and social classes, wealthier farmers massively benefitted from this as they had better land and equipment

Non-Alignment

Policy that India and other developing countries that wanted to remain neutral during the Cold War adopted; they called themselves the ‘Third World,’ refusing to ally with the first world (the West) or the second world (USSR), decided in Indonesia in 1955 at a meeting of newly independent Asian and African countries. Supported by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, helped to form the nation's post-independence foreign policy by steering clear of the Soviet Union's and the West's alliances during the Cold War. India sought to declare its independence, advance peace, and engage diplomatically with countries across ideological differences when it joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961.

East Pakistan

Where more than half the Pakistani population resided, region that was massively economically underdeveloped, population density was extremely high and prone to frequent flooding/natural disasters, spoke Bengali and had their own history/culture, saw themselves as little more than a colony to provide tax revenue and foreign exchange from jute exports to West Pakistan. With time, tensions arose as a result of linguistic and cultural divides as well as political and economic divides between East and West Pakistan. As a result of the situation getting worse, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out in 1971 and Bangladesh became an independent state.

West Pakistan

Larger part of Pakistan with under half the Pakistani population, contained the main points of government and held the most power economically and politically, often exploited East Pakistan militarily and economically. It is now known for being just Pakistan.

Containment

American Cold War strategy to stop the spread of communism throughout the world, US government formed multiple anti-Communist alliances globally to stop communism’s spread, with India, they maintained a non aligned stance where it faced many challenges as it navigates global powers. SEATO and CENTO founded as 2 such alliances to stop communism, both of which Pakistan was invited to in return for substantial military and financial aid.

South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

Anti-communist alliance developed by the US government in hopes to continue their policy of containment, Pakistan invited to join. India decided not to join the South East Treaty Organisation due to the fact that it did not follow non-alignment, since they were seeking independence from western cultures.

Central Treaty Organization (CENTO)

Another anti-communist alliance established in 1955 formed by the US government to further containment, Pakistan invited to join as well as SEATO. Had an intention of stopping the development of communism in South Asia and the Middle East. India had a non-alignment policy and so did not join CENTO.

Bangladesh Independence from Pakistan

1971. Originally East Pakistan and saw themselves as little more than a colony that West Pakistan exploited economically, mass uprising and fleeing caused their independence

Muslim/Hindu violence

1992, violence erupts between Hindus and Muslims, causing 3000 deaths, demolition of mosque in Ayodhya by Hindu nationalists

1998, who takes power?

1998 - BJP takes power from Congress Party