India BKA Revision

RSS

a radical and violent Hindu movement which was temporarily banned.

Janata Coalition

a political group which united to displace Indira Gandhi in 1977 to 1978. Notably, they commissioned the Mandal Report and although there was an increase in divisions under their power, this was a big step towards having a multiparty system

Emergency Rule

a period under Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977 when she postponed elections and imprisoned opposition members to rescue the economy. Food production did increase and inflation decreased but despite the improving economy people were unhappy with Sanjay Gandhi’s enforced steralization and slum clearing.

Communalism

the practice of appealing to divisions in society to gain votes.

BJS/P

the Hindu Nationalist party which advocated Hindutva, opposed Mandalization, and was frustrated with the government ‘coddling’ Muslims. It grew in support especially during the 90s.

Hindutva

a policy advocating that Hindu customs and beliefs should be promoted by the government and applicable to the entire population.

Congress party

the most popular party for many years after India’s Independence. It incorporated a variety of views, so many parties (often socialist) branched off from it at some point and it veered more to the right.

Indira Gandhi

prime minister who served from 1967 to 77 and again in 1980 to 84. She successfully appealed to the people by promising to ‘end poverty’, set up her own branch of the Congress Party, and changed politics in India so they resolved around a personality rather than ideas.

Nehru

India’s first prime minister from 1947 to 1964. He advocated for more leftist policies even though his own party often opposed him. He believed firmly in secularism and was hesitant to divide India (by language, ethnicity…), fearing a second Partition. Panchayati Raj was introduced during his rule.

Rajiv Gandhi

prime minister of India from 1984 to 1991 when he was assassinated by the Tamil Tigers for sending Indian soldiers into Sri Lanka. He sought liberalization & reformed Panchayati rule so 50% of seats were reserved for women. However, he also overturned the Sha Bano case to gain more votes. His rule was marked by the scandal of a chemical leak and some members of government were accused of corruption

Muslim League

Muslim interest group under British Raj. It advocated for Partition because it feared otherwise Muslim interests (in the minority) would be trampled by the Hindu majority

Panchayati Raj

initiative started under Nehru where local village governments could ask for and control government funds. However, power was often given to those who were already wealthy in the village.

Partition

divided India and Pakistan in 1947. This resulted in widespread violence, migration, and a refugee crisis. Resettlement was more successful in Punjab where there was farmland for the largely united flow of refugees. In Calcutta, the constant flow of refugees had poor/no land.

Community development program

India is divided into ‘development blocks’ so the poorest areas receive the most aid

Green revolution

introduction of high yield seeds, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation technology into agriculture. Benefits were unequally spread, however, because of the quality of soil and access of farmers to these resources.

Zamindari abolition

freeing peasants from sometimes oppressive farm overseers and capped the amount of land owners could hold

Mandalization

the governments attempts to make restitution for the OBCs by reserving 27% of education opportunities and federal jobs for them. Critics believed this issue should not have been as heavy of a focus.

Jammu & Kashmir

Muslim majority region along India/Pakistan border. Long term site of conflict.

JP movement

movement opposing Indira Gandhi which rallied around a moral authority. Some within this group called for ‘total revolution’ others merely wanted more fair elections

APRM (Anti Price Rise Movement)

comprised largely of women protesting the economic strain (caused by refugees from Bangladesh)

Akali Dhal

regional party representing Sikh interests in Punjab

Dalit/Scheduled caste/Hariyan

formerly ‘untouchables’ (lowest of the caste system). Under Nehru, they became the scheduled castes (there were also scheduled tribes) which received reserved seats

OBCs

other backwards classes, that is disadvantaged peoples who are not Dalit.

5 Year Plans

a series of plans designed to methodically improve India’s economy (1951 to 66)

Jayaprakash Narayan

moral authority during Indira Gandhi’s rule. Figure of the JP movement.

Dr. BR Ambedkar

politician who encoded rights for Dalit peoples in the Constitution and advocated for reservations. Introduced the Hindu Code Bill

Mohandas Gandhi

Iconic leader of peaceful protest movements in India to advocate for independence from the British Empire.

Swatantra Party

Indian classical liberal party which broke away from Nehru’s government after frustration with what they perceived as socialist parties

Communist Party of India (CPI)

in 1948 this party supported a violent peasant revolution and was banned. It changed tactics to work within the system and won 5, then 10% of the vote, but this dropped after China invaded.

Socialist Party

this broke away from Congress because it did not represent the poor, making it more challenging for Nehru to implement liberal reforms. In 1952 it had 10% of the vote, but then it split and this decreased

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

leader of the Muslim League who advocated for an independent Pakistan

Communists in Kerala

The communists were democratically elected in this region in 1957 and initiated radical reforms (e.g. land distribution). Congress convinced Nehru to dismiss this government and hold reelections (even though the original was valid!)

Hindu Code Bill

series of secular laws in the 1950s promoting women/human rights exclusively for Hindus (not Muslims)

Scheduled castes

Dalits & tribes

Liberalization

Moving the economy away from ISI. Encouraging privitization and opening global markets. Under Rajiv Gandhi. 

Lok Sabha

Indian parliament

Operation Blue Star

Indira Gandhi orders soldiers to remove extremist Sikhs inside the Golden Temple. Many innocents killed. Ultimately this motivated Indira’s Sikh guards to assassinate her, after which there was a wave of violence against Sikhs