The Indian independence movement was a series of steps taken in the Indian subcontinent for independence from British colonial rule, beginning with the Rebellion of 1857. The term 'Indian independence movement' is fairly diffuse, since it involves several different movements with similar objectives. The mainstream movement was led by the Indian National Congress, which followed non-violent agitation and civil disobedience under Mahatma Gandhi, among others. Other leaders, notably Subhash Chandra Bose, also adopted a military approach to the movement. The movement culminated in the independence of the subcontinent from the British Empire and the formation of India and Pakistan in August 1947. This article is about the History of South Asia. ... The Indus Valley Civilization existed along the Indus River in present-day Pakistan. ... Proto-Indo-European Indo-European studies The Vedic civilization is the Indo-Aryan culture associated with the Vedas, the earliest known records of Indian history. ... Middle kingdoms of India refers to the political entities in India in the 6th century BC through the 6th century AD. Kingdoms and Empires The following account relies on the accuracy of the Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) which believes that a nomadic race known as the Aryans invaded India from... During the middle ages, several Islamic regimes established empires in India. ... The Mughal empire Main article: Mughal empire India in the 16th century presented a fragmented picture of rulers, both Muslim and Hindu, who lacked concern for their subjects and who failed to create a common body of laws or institutions. ... Company Rule, 1757-1857 Expansion and territory It was not until the middle of the 19th century that almost all of the territory that now constitutes Bangladesh, India and Pakistan came under the rule of the British East India Company. ... The British Raj is an informal term for the period of British colonial rule of most of the Indian subcontinent, or present-day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. ... Prehistory The prehistory of India goes back to the old Stone age Palaeolithic. ... Pakistan, along with India, was one of two states created out of the territory of British colonial India in 1947. ... This article or section should include material from East Pakistan This is the history of Bangladesh. ... The Indian subcontinent is the peninsular region of South Asia, which includes India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, usually also Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and some disputed territory currently controlled by China, and sometimes Myanmar. ... A database query syntax error has occurred. ... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from the British perspective. ... Election symbol of the Congress Election symbol of the Congress The Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party) is the largest subscription-based organisation in the world. ... Civil disobedience encompasses the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government or of an occupying power without resorting to physical violence. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी), called Mahatma Gandhi, was the charismatic leader who brought the cause of Indias independence from British colonial rule to world attention. ... Netaji poster in Thiruvananthapuram Subhash Chandra Bose (January 23, 1897 - August 18, 1945) also known as Netaji, was a prominent leader of the movement to win independence from British rule. ... Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The independence movement also served as a major catalyst for similar movements in other parts of the world, leading to the dismantling of the British Empire and its replacement with the Commonwealth of Nations. Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of independent sovereign states, most of which are former colonies once governed by the United Kingdom as part of the British Empire. ...

The beginnings of the British empire

Vasco da Gama on board a boat

Main articles: European colonies in India, British East India Company

European traders came to Indian shores with the arrival of Vasco da Gama in 1498 at the port of Calicut, Kerala in search of spice trade. The British East India Company was established in 1600. In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe was instructed by King James I to visit the Mughal Emperor Jahangir to arrange a commercial treaty which would give the Company exclusive rights to reside and build factories in Surat and other areas. This mission was highly successful and Jahangir sent a letter to the King through Sir Thomas. He wrote: An action shot of Vasco da Gama on a boat, with a flag. ... An action shot of Vasco da Gama on a boat, with a flag. ... European colonies in India were set up by several European nations beginning at the end of the 15th century. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was a joint-stock company of investors, which was granted a Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intent to favor trade privileges in India. ... See Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama for the football club. ... Events Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama visits Quelimane and Moçambique in southeastern Africa. ... Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is the third largest city (pop. ... Kerala (or Keralam) is a state in South India, occupying a narrow strip of Indias southwestern coast. ... Screen shot of Spice OPUS, a fork of Berkeley SPICE SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuits Emphasis) is a general purpose analog circuit simulator. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was a joint-stock company of investors, which was granted a Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intent to favor trade privileges in India. ... Events January January 1 - Scotland adopts January 1st as being New Years Day February February 17 - Giordano Bruno burned in a stake for heresy July July 2 - Battle of Nieuwpoort: Dutch forces under Maurice of Nassau defeat Spanish forces under Archduke Albert in a battle on the coastal dunes. ... Events June 2 - First Récollet missionaries arrive at Quebec City, from Rouen, France. ... Sir Thomas Roe (or Row) (c. ... James VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Nuruddin Jahangir (August 31, 1569 - October 28, 1627) was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until 1627. ... Surat is a port city in the Indian state of Gujarat. ...

"Upon which assurance of your royal love I have given my general command to all the kingdoms and ports of my dominions to receive all the merchants of the English nation as the subjects of my friend; that in what place soever they choose to live, they may have free liberty without any restraint; and at what port soever they shall arrive, that neither Portugal nor any other shall dare to molest their quiet; and in what city soever they shall have residence, I have commanded all my governors and captains to give them freedom answerable to their own desires; to sell, buy, and to transport into their country at their pleasure.

For confirmation of our love and friendship, I desire your Majesty to command your merchants to bring in their ships of all sorts of rarities and rich goods fit for my palace; and that you be pleased to send me your royal letters by every opportunity, that I may rejoice in your health and prosperous affairs; that our friendship may be interchanged and eternal. (Full text and the source can be found here (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/india/1617englandindies.html)).

The Europeans fought on Indian soil to capture a major portion of the trade. Soon, they began maintaining regular armies to protect their warehouses, factories, and shipments. The sepoys (soldiers) of the British army were usually British-trained Indians. Eventually, local rulers used the services of the British army to settle scores with their enemies. A sepoy (from Persian سپاهی Sipâhi meaning soldier) was a native of India employed as a soldier in the service of a European power, usually of the United Kingdom. ...

The establishment of the Company's rule

Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive

Main Articles: British East India Company, Company rule in India

The British East India Company established itself after the Battle of Plassey, fought in 1757 against the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-daulah. The British army, under Robert Clive, defeated the army of the Nawab in a few hours. This battle is widely seen as the beginning of the British Raj in India. Clive This work is copyrighted. ... Clive This work is copyrighted. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was a joint-stock company of investors, which was granted a Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intent to favor trade privileges in India. ... Company Rule, 1757-1857 Expansion and territory It was not until the middle of the 19th century that almost all of the territory that now constitutes Bangladesh, India and Pakistan came under the rule of the British East India Company. ... The Battle of Plassey was a battle that took place in June 1757, at Plassey (pronounced Palashee, in Bengali ), a small village between Calcutta and Murshidabad. ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A Nawab was originally the provincial governor or viceroy of a province or region of the Mughal empire. ... For the breed of cat, see Bengal cat; for the tiger, see Bengal Tiger; for the American football franchise , see Cincinnati Bengals Bengal (Banga, Bangla, Bangadesh, or Bangladesh in Bengali) comprises a region in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent, today divided between the independent country of Bangladesh and the... Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive Another Robert Clive was formerly British ambassador to Japan. ... The British Raj is an informal term for the period of British colonial rule of most of the Indian subcontinent, or present-day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. ...

In 1765, Clive defeated Mughal forces in the Battle of Buxar. After this, the Mughal emperor Shah Alam conferred to the company administrative rights over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, a region of roughly 25 million people with an annual revenue of 40 million Rupees. Clive became the first British governor of Bengal. 1765 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... The mosque in Shah Alam. ... For the breed of cat, see Bengal cat; for the tiger, see Bengal Tiger; for the American football franchise , see Cincinnati Bengals Bengal (Banga, Bangla, Bangadesh, or Bangladesh in Bengali) comprises a region in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent, today divided between the independent country of Bangladesh and the... Bihar (बिहार in Devanagri) is a state situated in the eastern part of India. ... Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା) is a state situated in the east coast of India. ... The Rupee (₨ or Rs. ...

The British parliament enacted a series of laws to handle the administration of the newly conquered provinces. The Regulating Act of 1773 curbed the company traders' unrestrained commercial activities, and gave the British government supervisory rights over the Bengal, Bombay, and Madras presidencies. The India Act of 1784 enhanced parliament's control by establishing the Board of Control, whose members were selected from the cabinet. The Charter Act of 1813 introduced laws that evolved into future social legislation. The Governor-General of Bengal was elevated to the position of Governor-General of India. 1773 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... For the breed of cat, see Bengal cat; for the tiger, see Bengal Tiger; for the American football franchise , see Cincinnati Bengals Bengal (Banga, Bangla, Bangadesh, or Bangladesh in Bengali) comprises a region in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent, today divided between the independent country of Bangladesh and the... Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the most populous Indian city. ... Chennai (சென்னை in Tamil), formerly known as Madras, is a city on the east coast of southern India. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Governor-General of India (or Governor-General and Viceroy of India) was the head of the British administration in India. ...

In 1835, William Cavendish Bentinck, the Governor-General from 1828 to 1835, introduced the English language as the medium of instruction. Western-educated Hindu elites sought to rid Hinduism of its much criticized social practices: the caste system, child marriage, and sati. Literary and debating societies were initiated in Bombay and Madras, becoming forums for open discourse. Educational attainments and skillful use of the press by these early reformers enhanced the possibility of effecting broad reforms without compromising societal values or religious practices. 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article is about the Hindu religion OM, the most sacred syllable and quintessential symbol of Hinduism, represents the first manifestation of the unmanifest Brahman. ... The word Caste is derived from the Portuguese word casta, meaning lineage, breed or race. ... For sati in Buddhism, see mindfulness. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Madras refers to: the Indian city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, the former Indian state, now known as Tamil Nadu a former province of British India, with its capital at the Indian city of Madras (now Chennai): see Madras Presidency a type of fabric which first originated there. ...

Indian uprising of 1857

Indian mutiny

Main article: Indian rebellion of 1857

The Indian Mutiny (also Sepoy Mutiny) as known to the British, or The First War Of Indian Independence as known to the Indians was a period of uprising in northern and central India against British rule in 1857-1858. It is considered to be the first united rebellion against colonial rule in India. The Sepoy Mutany of 1857 Source: [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... The Sepoy Mutany of 1857 Source: [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1857–1858 was a period of armed uprising and rebellions in northern and central India against British colonial rule on the subcontinent. ... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from the British perspective. ... A rebellion is, in the most general sense, a refusal to accept authority. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1858 is a common year starting on Friday. ...

Causes

The rebellion was the outcome of decades of ethnic and cultural differences between Indian soldiers and their British superiors. The specific reason that triggered the rebellion was the use of cow and pig fat in .557 calibre Pattern 1853 Enfield (P/53) rifle cartridges. Since soldiers had to break the cartridges with their teeth before they could load them into their rifles, this was offensive to Hindu and Muslim soldiers, who considered tasting beef and pork to be against their respective religious tenets. In February 1857, sepoys (Indian soldiers in the British army) refused to use their new cartridges. The British claimed to have replaced the cartridges with new ones and tried to make sepoys make their own grease from beeswax and vegetable oils, but the rumor persisted. Beeswax is a tough wax formed from a mixture of several compounds including: hydrocarbons 14%, monoesters 35%, diesters 14%, triesters 3%, hydroxy monoesters 4%, Hydroxy polyesters 8%, acid esters 1%, acid polyesters 2%, free acids 12%, free alcohols 1%, unidentified 6% [1]. Beeswax is secreted by honeybees in the form... A vegetable oil or vegoil is an oil extracted from oilseeds or another plant source. ...

Mangal Pande and the march to Delhi

In March 1857, Mangal Pande, a soldier of the 34th Native Infantry, attacked his British sergeant and wounded an adjutant. General Hearsay, who said Pande was in some kind of "religious frenzy," ordered a jemadar to arrest him but the jemadar refused. Mangal Pande was hanged on April 7 along with the jemadar. The whole regiment was dismissed as a collective punishment. Other sepoys felt this was too harsh. 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

On May 10th, when the 11th and 20th cavalry assembled, they broke rank and turned on their commanding officers. They then liberated the 3rd Regiment, and on May 11th, the sepoys reached Delhi. They were joined by other Indians from the local bazaar. They attacked and captured the Red Fort, which was the residence of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last emperor of the Mughal dynasty. The sepoys demanded that he reclaim his throne. He was reluctant at first, but eventually agreed to the demands and became the leader of the rebellion. This article is about the month of May. ... There used to be a redirect from the Red Fort in Delhi to Agra Fort in Agra. ... Bahadur Shah II (1775-1862) aka Bahadur Shah Zafar (Zafar was his nom de plume, or takhallus, as an Urdu poet) was the last of the Mughal emperors in India. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ...

About the same time in Jhansi, the army rebelled and killed the British army officers. In 1858, when the British army marched towards Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai, the queen of Jhansi, assembled an army of 14,000 volunteers to fight the invaders. The war lasted 2 weeks but eventually the British won. The queen escaped on horseback to the fortress of Kalpi. Here she organized a few other kingdoms to rebel against the British. The rebel forces captured Gwalior from the British, who placed a prize of Rs. 20,000 on the capture of Rani Lakshmibai. Jhansi is a city of Uttar Pradesh state, India. ... 1858 is a common year starting on Friday. ... Rani Lakshmi Bai,(born-19 November 1835-d-18 June 1858) the queen of Jhansi, a Maratha-ruled princely state of northern India, was one of the great nationalist heroes of the Revolt of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India. ... Teli-ka-Mandir Gwalior is a city in Madhya Pradesh, India. ...

The British response

Secundra Bagh after the 93rd Highlanders and 4th Punjab regiment fought the rebels, Nov 1857

The British were slow to respond at first but eventually two columns left Meerut and Simla. At the same time, the British moved regiments from the Crimean War and diverted European regiments headed for China to India. Interior of the Secundra Bagh after the Slaughter of 2,000 Rebels by the 93rd Highlanders and 4th Punjab Regiment. ... Interior of the Secundra Bagh after the Slaughter of 2,000 Rebels by the 93rd Highlanders and 4th Punjab Regiment. ... Meerut is a city to the north west of New Delhi. ... Shimla Shimla (शिमला) is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and a hill station in North India. ... The Crimean War lasted from 28 March 1854 to 1856. ...

After a march lasting two months, the British fought the main army of the rebels near Delhi in Badl-ke-Serai and drove them back to Delhi before laying a siege on the city. The siege of Dehli lasted roughly from July 1st to August 31st. After a week of street fighting, the British retook the city. The last significant battle was fought in Gwalior on June 20, 1858. It is during this battle that Rani Lakshmi Bai lost her life. Sporadic fighting continued until 1859 but most of the rebels were subdued. Teli-ka-Mandir Gwalior is a city in Madhya Pradesh, India. ... Rani Lakshmi Bai,(born-19 November 1835-d-18 June 1858) the queen of Jhansi, a Maratha-ruled princely state of northern India, was one of the great nationalist heroes of the Revolt of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India. ...

Aftermath

The war of 1857 was a major turning point in the history of modern India. The British abolished the British East India Company and replaced it with direct rule under the British crown. A Viceroy was appointed to represent the Crown. In proclaiming the new direct-rule policy to "the Princes, Chiefs, and Peoples of India," Queen Victoria promised equal treatment under British law, but Indian mistrust of British rule had become a legacy of the 1857 rebellion. The Governor-General of India (or Governor-General and Viceroy of India) was the head of the British administration in India. ...

The British embarked on a program of reform, trying to integrate Indian higher castes and rulers into the government. They stopped land grabs, decreed religious tolerance and admitted Indians into civil service, albeit mainly as subordinates. They also increased the number of British soldiers in relation to native ones and allowed only British soldiers to handle artillery.

Bahadur Shah was exiled to Rangoon, Burma where he died in 1862, finally bringing the Mughal dynasty to an end. In 1877, Queen Victoria took the title of Empress of India. Yangôn, formerly Rangoon, population 4,504,000 (2001), is the capital of Myanmar. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Victoria of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Signature of King Edward VIII The R and I after his name indicate king and emperor in Latin (Rex and Imperator, respectively). ...

Congress and the Muslim League

Main articles: Indian National Congress, Muslim League

The decades following the Sepoy Rebellion were a period of growing political awareness, manifestation of Indian public opinion, and emergence of Indian leadership at national and provincial levels. Inspired by a suggestion made by A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, seventy-three Indian delegates met in Bombay in 1885 and founded the Indian National Congress. They were mostly members of the upwardly mobile and successful western-educated provincial elites, engaged in professions such as law, teaching, and journalism. They had acquired political experience from regional competition in the professions and by securing nomination to various positions in legislative councils, universities, and special commissions. Election symbol of the Congress Election symbol of the Congress The Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party) is the largest subscription-based organisation in the world. ... Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the Great Leader of the Muslim League The All India Muslim League was a political party in British India and was the driving force behind the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim state on the Indian subcontinent. ... 1885 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Election symbol of the Congress Election symbol of the Congress The Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party) is the largest subscription-based organisation in the world. ... Law (a loanword from Old Norse lag), in politics and jurisprudence, is a set of rules or norms of conduct which mandate, proscribe or permit specified relationships among people and organizations, provide methods for ensuring the impartial treatment of such people, and provide punishments for those who do not follow... In education, teachers are those who teach students or pupils, often a course of study or a practical skill. ... Journalism is a discipline of collecting, verifying, reporting and analyzing information gathered regarding current events, including trends, issues and people. ...

At its inception, the Congress had no well-defined ideology and commanded few of the resources essential to a political organization. It functioned more as a debating society that met annually to express its loyalty to the British Raj and passed numerous resolutions on less controversial issues such as civil rights or opportunities in government, especially the civil service. These resolutions were submitted to the Viceroy's government and occasionally to the British Parliament, but the Congress's early gains were meager. Despite its claim to represent all India, the Congress voiced the interests of urban elites; the number of participants from other economic backgrounds remained negligible.

By 1900, although the Congress had emerged as an all-India political organization, its achievement was undermined by its singular failure to attract Muslims, who felt that their representation in government service was inadequate. Attacks by Hindu reformers against religious conversion, cow slaughter, and the preservation of Urdu in Arabic script deepened their concerns of minority status and denial of rights if the Congress alone were to represent the people of India. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan launched a movement for Muslim regeneration that culminated in the founding in 1875 of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh (renamed Aligarh Muslim University in 1921). Its objective was to educate wealthy students by emphasizing the compatibility of Islam with modern western knowledge. The diversity among India's Muslims, however, made it impossible to bring about uniform cultural and intellectual regeneration. 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Urdu(اردو) is an Indo-European language which originated in India, most likely in the vicinity of Delhi, from whence it spread to the rest of the subcontinent. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Bio Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Bahadur, born on October 17, 1817 at Delhi, died March 27, 1898 at Aligarh, was a Muslim educator, jurist, and author, founder of the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College, which later became Aligarh Muslim University, at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. ... 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Victoria gate, a part of Aligarh University campus Aligarh is a city in the Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... Victoria gate, a prominent building at the university Aligarh Muslim University is a university located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ...

Partition of Bengal

In 1905, Sir George Curzon, the Governor-General (1899-1905), ordered the partition of the province of Bengal for improvements in administrative efficiency in that huge and populous region, where the Bengali Hindu intelligentsia exerted considerable influence on local and national politics. The partition created two provinces: Eastern Bengal & Assam, with its capital at Dhaka, and West Bengal, with its capital at Calcutta (which also served as the capital of British India). An ill-conceived and hastily implemented action, the partition outraged Bengalis. Not only had the government failed to consult Indian public opinion, but the action appeared to reflect the British resolve to "divide and rule." Widespread agitation ensued in the streets and in the press, and the Congress advocated boycotting British products under the banner of swadeshi. 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (January 11, 1859 - March 20, 1925), was a conservative British statesman and sometime Viceroy of India. ... Assam (অসম) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... Note: You may need a Bangla Font to see all the characters on this page. ... West Bengal (পশ্চিম বঙ্গ, Pôščim Bôngô) is a state in the northeast of India. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ...

The Congress-led boycott of British goods was so successful that it unleashed anti-British forces to an extent unknown since the Sepoy Rebellion. A cycle of violence and repression ensued in some parts of the country. The British tried to mitigate the situation by announcing a series of constitutional reforms in 1909 and by appointing a few moderates to the imperial and provincial councils. A Muslim deputation met with the Viceroy, Gilbert John Elliot (1905-10), seeking concessions from the impending constitutional reforms, including special considerations in government service and electorates. The All-India Muslim League was founded the same year to promote loyalty to the British and to advance Muslim political rights, which the British recognized by increasing the number of elective offices reserved for Muslims in the India Councils Act of 1909. The Muslim League insisted on its separateness from the Hindu-dominated Congress, as the voice of a "nation within a nation." 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmond, 4th Earl of Minto (June 9, 1845 - March 1, 1914) was an English politician, Governor General of Canada, and Viceroy of India. ... Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the Great Leader of the Muslim League The All India Muslim League was a political party in British India and was the driving force behind the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim state on the Indian subcontinent. ...

In what the British saw as an additional goodwill gesture, in 1911 King-Emperor George V visited India for a durbar (a traditional court held for subjects to express fealty to their ruler), during which he announced the reversal of the partition of Bengal and the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to a newly planned city to be built immediately south of Delhi, which became New Delhi. King George V King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Emperor of India His Majesty King George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865–20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House... New Delhi ( नई दिल्ली ) is the capital of India, and is part of the National capital territory of Delhi. ...

World War I

World War I began with an unprecedented outpouring of loyalty and goodwill towards Britain, contrary to initial British fears of an Indian revolt. India contributed generously to the British war effort, by providing men and resources. About 1.3 million Indian soldiers and laborers served in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, while both the Indian government and the princes sent large supplies of food, money, and ammunition. But high casualty rates, soaring inflation compounded by heavy taxation, a widespread influenza epidemic, and the disruption of trade during the war escalated human suffering in India. The prewar nationalist movement revived, as moderate and extremist groups within the Congress submerged their differences in order to stand as a unified front. In 1916, the Congress succeeded in forging the Lucknow Pact, a temporary alliance with the Muslim League over the issues of devolution of political power and the future of Islam in the region. Missing image Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Negatively stained flu virions. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... In 1916, Mohammed Ali Jinnah a member of Indian National Congress negotiated with Muslim League to reach an agreement to pressurise British Government to have a more liberal approach to India and give Indians more authority to run their country. ...

The British themselves adopted a "carrot and stick" approach in recognition of India's support during the war and in response to renewed nationalist demands. In August 1917, Edwin Montagu, the secretary of state for India, made the historic announcement in Parliament that the British policy for India was "increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration and the gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to the progressive realization of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British Empire." The means of achieving the proposed measure were later enshrined in the Government of India Act of 1919, which introduced the principle of a dual mode of administration, or diarchy, in which both elected Indian legislators and appointed British officials shared power. The act also expanded the central and provincial legislatures and widened the franchise considerably. Diarchy set in motion certain real changes at the provincial level: a number of non-controversial or "transferred" portfolios, such as agriculture, local government, health, education, and public works, were handed over to Indians, while more sensitive matters such as finance, taxation, and maintaining law and order were retained by the provincial British administrators. 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Edwin Samuel Montagu (1879-1924) was a British Liberal polician. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Finance studies and addresses the ways in which individuals, businesses and organizations raise, allocate and use monetary resources over time, taking into account the risks entailed in their projects. ...

The Rowlatt Act and its aftermath

The Amritsar Massacre

The positive impact of reform was seriously undermined in 1919 by the Rowlatt Act, named after the recommendations made the previous year to the Imperial Legislative Council by the Rowlatt Commission, which had been appointed to investigate "seditious conspiracy." The Rowlatt Act, also known as the Black Act, vested the Viceroy's government with extraordinary powers to quell sedition by silencing the press, detaining political activists without trial, and arresting any suspected individuals without a warrant. In protest, a nationwide cessation of work (hartal) was called, marking the beginning of widespread, although not nationwide, popular discontent. Amritsar Massacre 1919 Source: http://www. ... Amritsar Massacre 1919 Source: http://www. ... The Amritsar Massacre The Amritsar Massacre, also known as the Jalianwalla Bagh Massacre, was named after the place (Jalianwalla Bagh, in Amritsar), where, on April 13, 1919, British and Gurkha soldiers opened fire on a political gathering, killing hundreds of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 and basically authorised the government to imprison people (Indians) without trial. ...

The agitation unleashed by the acts culminated on April 13, 1919, in the Amritsar Massacre in Amritsar, Punjab. The British military commander, Brigadier Reginald Dyer, ordered his soldiers to fire at point-blank range into an unarmed and unsuspecting crowd of some 10,000 persons. They had assembled at Jallianwala Bagh, a walled garden, to celebrate Baisakhi, a Sikh festival, without prior knowledge of the imposition of martial law. A total of 1,650 rounds were fired, killing 379 persons and wounding 1,137 in the episode, which dispelled wartime hopes and goodwill in a frenzy of postwar reaction. 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Amritsar Massacre The Amritsar Massacre, also known as the Jalianwalla Bagh Massacre, was named after the place (Jalianwalla Bagh, in Amritsar), where, on April 13, 1919, British and Gurkha soldiers opened fire on a political gathering, killing hundreds of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims. ... Amritsar is a city in Punjab, India. ... Brigadier-General Reginald Rex Edward Harry Dyer (October 9, 1864 – July 23, 1927) was a British Indian Army officer. ... Traditional fervour and gaiety mark the celebrations of Baisakhi, which stands for the dawn of a new year in north India. ... The Golden Temple is the most important sacred shrine for Sikhs Sikhism is a religion that developed in an environment heavily influenced by conflict between the Hindu and Muslim religions. ...

Gandhi's return to India

Mohandas Gandhi

Main article: Mahatma Gandhi

India's option for an entirely original path to obtaining swaraj (self-rule, sometimes translated as Home Rule or Independence) was due largely to Mohandas Gandhi, commonly known as "Mahatma" (or Great Soul.) A native of Gujarat who had been educated in Britain, he was an obscure and unsuccessful provincial lawyer. Gandhi had accepted an invitation in 1893 to represent indentured Indian laborers in South Africa, where he stayed on for more than twenty years, lobbying against racial discrimination. He returned to India in 1915, virtually a stranger to public life but fired with a religious vision of a new India. Mahatma Gandhi This work is presumed to be copyrighted, but its source has not been determined. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी), called Mahatma Gandhi, was the charismatic leader who brought the cause of Indias independence from British colonial rule to world attention. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी), called Mahatma Gandhi, was the charismatic leader who brought the cause of Indias independence from British colonial rule to world attention. ... Gujarat (ગુજરાત in Gujarati) is the most industrialized state in India after Maharashtra and is located in western India, bordered by Pakistan to the northwest and Rajasthan to the north. ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Apartheid (International Phonetic Alphabet or in English and in Afrikaans) is the policy and the system of laws implemented and continued by White minority governments in South Africa from 1948 till 1990; and by extension any legally sanctioned system of racial segregation. ... 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Gandhi's ideas and strategies of nonviolent civil disobedience appeared impractical to many Indians. In Gandhi's own words, "civil disobedience is civil breach of unmoral statutory enactments," but as he viewed it, it had to be carried out nonviolently by withdrawing cooperation with the corrupt state. Observers realized Gandhi's political potential when he used satyagraha during the anti-Rowlatt Act protests in Punjab. In 1920, under Gandhi's leadership, the Congress was reorganized and given a new constitution, whose goal was swaraj (independence). Membership in the party was opened to anyone prepared to pay a token fee, and a hierarchy of committees was established and made responsible for discipline and control over a hitherto amorphous and diffuse movement. The party was transformed from an elite organization to one of mass national appeal. Civil disobedience encompasses the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government or of an occupying power without resorting to physical violence. ... See Satyagraha (opera) for an account of the opera of that title by Philip Glass. ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

During his first nationwide satyagraha, Gandhi urged the people to boycott British educational institutions, law courts, and products; to resign from government employment; to refuse to pay taxes; and to forsake British titles and honors. Although this came too late to influence the framing of the new Government of India Act of 1919, the magnitude of disorder resulting from the movement was unparalleled and presented a new challenge to foreign rule. Gandhi was forced to call off the campaign in 1922 because of atrocities committed against police forces. He was imprisoned in 1922 for six years, but served only two. On his release from prison, he set up the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, on the banks of river Sabarmati, established the newspaper Young India, and inaugurated a series of reforms aimed at the socially disadvantaged within Hindu society - the rural poor, and the untouchables. 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Sabarmati Ashram was established by Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. ... Ahmedabad or Ahmadābād or Amdavad (as spoken in Gujarati language), is the largest city in Gujarat and the sixth largest city in India. ... Sabarmati river is a river in Western India. ... Untouchable may refer to any of the following: Formerly or derogatively, to the large Dalit (outcaste) populations of India and Nepal. ...

Emerging leaders within the Congress --Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, and others-- accepted Gandhi's leadership in articulating nationalist aspirations but disagreed on strategies for wresting more concessions from the British. The Indian political spectrum was further broadened in the mid-1920s by the emergence of both moderate and militant parties, such as the Swaraj Party. Regional political organizations also continued to represent the interests of non-Brahmans in Madras, Mahars in Maharashtra, and Sikhs in Punjab. Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू, Javāharlāl Nehrū) (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964), also called Pandit (Teacher) Nehru, was the leader of the socialist wing of the Indian National Congress during and after Indias struggle for independence from the British Empire. ... Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (October 31, 1875–December 15, 1950), popularly referred to as Sardar, was an Indian statesman, an important leader of the Indian National Congress and the deputy Prime Minister in the first cabinet of Independent India. ... Netaji poster in Thiruvananthapuram Subhash Chandra Bose (January 23, 1897 - August 18, 1945) also known as Netaji, was a prominent leader of the movement to win independence from British rule. ... In the Vedantic (and subsequently Yogic) schools of Hinduism, Brahman is the signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being. ... Madras refers to: the Indian city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, the former Indian state, now known as Tamil Nadu a former province of British India, with its capital at the Indian city of Madras (now Chennai): see Madras Presidency a type of fabric which first originated there. ... This page is undergoing a renovation. ... A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism, a religious faith originating in the Punjab. ...

Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh

Main article: Bhagat Singh

As voices inside and outside the Congress became more strident, the British appointed a commission in 1927, under Sir John Simon, to recommend further measures in the constitutional devolution of power. The British failure to appoint an Indian member to the commission outraged the Congress and others, and, as a result, they boycotted it throughout India, carrying placards inscribed "Simon, Go Back." Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh {1907-1931} was an Indian freedom fighter. ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon (1873-1954) was a British politician and statesman. ...

In Lahore, Lala Lajpatrai and Pandit Madan Mohan Malavia protested to the commission in open about their displeasure. Thousands joined in the silent demonstration. Police troops charged the demonstration, and Lala Lajpatrai was hit with a lathi (bamboo stick) on the head several times by an officer Scott. He succumbed to the injuries.

Bhagat Singh, a young marxist from Punjab, vowed to take revenge and with the help of Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajguru and Sukhadev, plotted to kill Scott. Unfortunately, he killed Mr. Sanders, a junior officer, in a case of mistaken identity. Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh {1907-1931} was an Indian freedom fighter. ... Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... Punjab, 1903 Punjab Province, 1909 The Punjab (also Panjab) is a region straddling the border between India and Pakistan. ...

The British, under the Defense of India Act, gave more power to the police to arrest persons to stop processions with suspicious movements and actions. The act brought in the council was defeated by one vote. Even then it was to be passed in the form of an ordinance in the "interest of the public." Bhagat Singh volunteered to throw a bomb in the central assembly where the act was to be passed. It was a carefully laid out plot, not to cause death or injury, but to draw the attention of the government. It was agreed that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt would court arrest after throwing the bomb.

On April 8th, 1929, at Delhi Central Assembly, Singh and Dutt threw handouts, exploded a bomb in the corridor, and courted arrest after shouting the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad!" (Long Live, Revolution!). Bhagat Singh thought the court would be an ideal place to get publicity for the cause of freedom, and did not disown the crime. He was "proven" guilty, and was hanged on March 23, 1931. 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1931 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Dandi March

Main article: Salt Satyagraha

Following the rejection of the recommendations of the Simon Commission by the Indians, an all-party conference was held at Bombay in May 1928. The conference appointed a drafting committee under Motilal Nehru to draw up a constitution for India. The Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress asked the British government to accord dominion status to India by December 1929, or a countrywide civil disobedience movement would be launched. The British government declared in May 1929 that India would get dominion status within the empire very soon. However, the Congress, at its historic Lahore session in December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, adopted a resolution to gain complete independence from the British. It authorised the Working Committee to launch a civil disobedience movement throughout the country. It was decided that 26 January 1930 should be observed all over India as the Purna Swaraj (complete independence) Day. Scenes during Gandhis famous march, on foot to the sea coast at Dandi, on the eve of the Salt Satyagraha, 1930 The Salt Satyagraha, also known as the Salt March To Dandi, was an act of protest against the British salt tax in colonial India. ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Motilal Nehru (May 6, 1861 - February 6, 1931) was an Indian nationalist political figure. ... Lahore (لاةور) is a major city in Pakistan and is the capital of the province of Punjab. ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

Gandhi emerged from his long seclusion by undertaking his most famous campaign, a march of about 400 kilometers from his commune in Ahmedabad to Dandi, on the coast of Gujarat between March 12 and April 6, 1930. The march is usually known as the Dandi March or the Salt Satyagraha. At Dandi, in protest against British taxes on salt, he and thousands of followers broke the law by making their own salt from sea water. The act was largely symbolic, meant to show Indian defiance to British legislation. Ahmedabad or Ahmadābād or Amdavad (as spoken in Gujarati language), is the largest city in Gujarat and the sixth largest city in India. ... Dandi is a small village in Gujarat, India. ... Gujarat (ગુજરાત in Gujarati) is the most industrialized state in India after Maharashtra and is located in western India, bordered by Pakistan to the northwest and Rajasthan to the north. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

Civil disobedience movement

In April 1930 there were violent police-crowd clashes in Calcutta. Approximately 90,000 people were imprisoned in the course of the Civil disobedience movement (1930-31). While Gandhi was in jail, the first Round Table Conference was held in London in November 1930, without representation from the Indian National Congress. The ban upon the Congress was removed because of economic hardships caused due to the satyagraha. Gandhi, along with other members of the Congress Working Committee, were released from prison in January 1931.

In March 1931, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed, and the government agreed to set all political prisoners free. In return, Gandhi agreed to discontinue the civil disobedience movement and participate as the sole representative of the Congress in the second Round Table Conference, which was held in London in September 1931. However, the conference ended in failure in December 1931. Gandhi came back to India and decided to resume the civil disobedience movement in January 1932.

For the next few years, the Congress and the government were locked in conflict and negotiations until what became the Government of India Act of 1935 could be hammered out. By then, the rift between the Congress and the Muslim League had become unbridgeable as each pointed the finger at the other acrimoniously. The Muslim League disputed the claim of the Congress to represent all people of India, while the Congress disputed the Muslim League's claim to voice the aspirations of all Muslims.

Elections and the Pakistan resolution

The 1935 act, the voluminous and final constitutional effort at governing British India, articulated three major goals: establishing a loose federal structure, achieving provincial autonomy, and safeguarding minority interests through separate electorates. The federal provisions, intended to unite princely states and British India at the center, were not implemented because of ambiguities in safeguarding the existing privileges of princes. In February 1937, however, provincial autonomy became a reality when elections were held; the Congress emerged as the dominant party with a clear majority in five provinces and held an upper hand in two, while the Muslim League performed poorly. 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1939, the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India's entrance into World War II without consulting provincial governments. In protest, the Congress asked all of its elected representatives to resign from the government. Jinnah, the president of the Muslim League, persuaded participants at the annual Muslim League session at Lahore in 1940 to adopt what later came to be known as the Pakistan Resolution, demanding the division of India into two separate sovereign states, one Muslim, the other Hindu; sometimes refered as Two Nation Theory. Although the idea of Pakistan had been introduced as early as 1930, very few had responded to it. However, the volatile political climate and personal hostilities between the leaders transformed the idea of Pakistan into a stronger demand. 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Victor Alexander John Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow (24 September 1887 - 5 January 1952) was a British statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943. ... Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah (referred to in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam, or Great Leader, which is a legally defined title) (December 25, 1876 - September 11, 1948) was an Indian Muslim nationalist, who led the movement demanding a separate homeland for Muslims in... Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the Great Leader of the Muslim League The All India Muslim League was a political party in British India and was the driving force behind the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim state on the Indian subcontinent. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

World War II

Subhash Chandra Bose

Subhash Chandra Bose

Main articles: Subhash Chandra Bose, Indian National Army

Though the Congress was initially reluctant to participate in World War II, it later decided to do so, with the Indian armed forces becoming the largest all-volunteer forces fighting alongside the allied powers. This was strongly opposed by Subhash Chandra Bose, who had been elected president of the Congress twice, in 1937 and 1939. After lobbying against participation in the war, he resigned from Congress in 1939 and started a new party, the All India Forward Bloc. He was placed under house arrest, but escaped in 1941. He surfaced in Germany, and enlisted German and Japanese help to fight the British in India. Subhash Chandra Bose File links The following pages link to this file: Indian independence movement Categories: Images with unknown source ... Subhash Chandra Bose File links The following pages link to this file: Indian independence movement Categories: Images with unknown source ... Netaji poster in Thiruvananthapuram Subhash Chandra Bose (January 23, 1897 - August 18, 1945) also known as Netaji, was a prominent leader of the movement to win independence from British rule. ... The Indian National Army was an auxiliary force to the Japanese Army in its southern mainland campaign during the Second World War. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Netaji poster in Thiruvananthapuram Subhash Chandra Bose (January 23, 1897 - August 18, 1945) also known as Netaji, was a prominent leader of the movement to win independence from British rule. ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The All India Forward Bloc is a leftwing nationalist political party in India. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1943, he travelled to Japan from Germany on board German and Japanese submarines. In Japan, he helped organize the Indian National Army (INA) and set up a government-in-exile. During the war, the Andaman and Nicobar islands came under INA control, and Bose renamed them Shahid (Martyr) and Swaraj (Independence). The INA engaged British troops in northeastern India, hoping to liberate Indian territories under colonial rule. Its attempts ended with the surrender of Japan in 1945, and Subhash Chandra Bose was himself killed in an air crash in August 1945. 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... The Indian National Army was an auxiliary force to the Japanese Army in its southern mainland campaign during the Second World War. ... Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind (literally translated from Urdu) meant the Provisional Government of Free India. ... Map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with an extra detailed area around Port Blair The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Quit India

In an effort to bring the British to the negotiating table, Gandhi launched the Quit India movement in August 1942. He issued the call "to do or die" from a large meeting ground in Bombay (since re-named August Kranti.) However, almost the entire Congress leadership was arrested within a span of 24 hours after Gandhi's speech. Large scale violence resulted in the aftermath of the Quit India movement. The Quit India Movement (Bharat chhodo) was a call for immediate independence of India from British rule. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Independence

World War II not only changed the map of the world and reduced Britain to a second rate power, it also helped mature British public opinion on India. The Labour Party's victory in 1945 helped reassess the merits of the traditional policies. While the British prepared to transfer power to India, the Muslim League renewed its demand for the formation of Pakistan. When it appeared that the Congress had no desire to share power with the Muslim League at the center, Jinnah declared August 16, 1946 as Direct Action Day, which brought communal rioting in many places in the north. Partition seemed preferable to civil war. On June 3, 1947, Viscount Louis Mountbatten, the Viceroy (1947) and Governor-General (1947-48), announced plans for partition of the British Indian Empire into secular but Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan, which itself was divided into east and west wings on either side of India. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The Partition of India was the process by which British dependencies and treaty states in the Indian subcontinent were granted independence in the 1940s. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (June 25, 1900 – August 27, 1979) was a British admiral and statesman and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ...

At midnight, on August 15, 1947, amidst ecstatic shouting of "Jai Hind" (Long Live India), India became an independent nation, with its first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru delivering his famous speech on India's "tryst with destiny." Concurrently, the Muslim northwest and northeast of British India were separated into the nation of Pakistan. Violent clashes between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs followed this partition. The area of Kashmir in the far north of the subcontinent quickly became a source of controversy that erupted into the First Indo-Pakistani War which lasted from 1947 to 1949. August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू, Javāharlāl Nehrū) (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964), also called Pandit (Teacher) Nehru, was the leader of the socialist wing of the Indian National Congress during and after Indias struggle for independence from the British Empire. ... Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. ... This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism, a religious faith originating in the Punjab. ... The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 sometimes known as the First Kashmir War was a war fought between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir from 1947 to 1949. ...

References

• Library of Congress: India - A country study (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html#in0022)
• The Indian Mutiny 1857-1858 by G W Forest. ISBN 8175361964
• Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru. ISBN 0195623592
• An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments With Truth by Mohandas Gandhi. ISBN 0807059099
• Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins, Dominique Lapierre. ISBN 0006388515
• Sofri, Gianni. 1995. Gandhi and India: A Century in Focus. English edition translated from the Italian by Janet Sethre Paxia. The Windrush Press, Gloucestershire. 1999. ISBN 1-900624-12-5
• Emergence of Indian Nationalism: Competition and Collaboration in the Later Nineteenth Century (1968) by Anil Seal ISBN 0521062748

Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू, Javāharlāl Nehrū) (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964), also called Pandit (Teacher) Nehru, was the leader of the socialist wing of the Indian National Congress during and after Indias struggle for independence from the British Empire. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी), called Mahatma Gandhi, was the charismatic leader who brought the cause of Indias independence from British colonial rule to world attention. ...

External Links

• Independence movement (http://www.freeindia.org/dynamic/)
• Mahatma Gandhi (http://web.mahatma.org.in/flash.html)
• Subhash Chandra Bose (http://netaji.netfirms.com/)
• Bhagat Singh (http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/)

Incorporates text from the Library of Congress Country Studies (Public Domain).