Modern Indian History Timeline (நவீன இந்திய வரலாறு காலவரிசை)
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Modern Indian History Timeline
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This timeline covers the modern period of Indian history, detailing the establishment of British rule, the socio-religious awakening, the sustained freedom struggle, and the birth of independent India.
European Arrival & British Consolidation (ஐரோப்பியர் வருகை & பிரிட்டிஷ் ஒருங்கிணைப்பு)
- Arrival of European Powers: The period began with the arrival of several European powers for trade.
- Portuguese (1498): Vasco da Gama's arrival marked the beginning. They established key bases in Goa, Daman, and Diu.
- Dutch (1602): The Dutch East India Company focused on the spice trade but was eventually surpassed by the British.
- French (1664): The French established their main base in Pondicherry but their political ambitions were thwarted by the British in the Carnatic Wars (1746-63).
- British (1600): The British East India Company gradually outmaneuvered other powers.
- British Consolidation:
- Battle of Plassey (1757): A decisive victory that marked the beginning of British political dominance in India.
- Battle of Buxar (1764): Consolidated British control over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
- Key Policies: The British used policies like the Subsidiary Alliance (introduced by Lord Wellesley) and the Doctrine of Lapse (introduced by Lord Dalhousie) to annex numerous Indian states, which created widespread discontent.
Administrative and Constitutional Reforms (நிர்வாக & அரசியலமைப்பு சீர்திருத்தங்கள்)
The British gradually introduced a series of acts to regulate the East India Company and govern India, which laid the foundation for India's modern administrative and legal systems.
- Regulating Act of 1773: The first step by the British government to control the affairs of the East India Company.
- Pitt's India Act of 1784: Established a Board of Control to oversee the Company's political functions.
- Charter Act of 1833: Made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India.
- Government of India Act 1858: Transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown after the 1857 Rebellion.
- Morley-Minto Reforms (1909): Introduced separate electorates for Muslims, a move that sowed the seeds of communal politics.
- Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Introduced a system of 'Diarchy' in the provinces.
- Government of India Act 1935: Provided for provincial autonomy and became a major basis for the Constitution of India.
Social and Religious Reform Movements (சமூக & மத சீர்திருத்த இயக்கங்கள்)
The 19th century witnessed a major intellectual and cultural awakening, with several movements aiming to reform Hindu and Muslim societies.
- Hindu Reform Movements:
- Brahmo Samaj (1828): Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, it advocated for monotheism and social reforms like the abolition of Sati.
- Arya Samaj (1875): Founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, it gave the call to "Go back to the Vedas" and opposed idol worship.
- Ramakrishna Mission (1897): Founded by Swami Vivekananda, it emphasized service to humanity as service to God.
- Muslim Reform Movements:
- Aligarh Movement: Led by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, it focused on promoting modern education among Muslims.
- Deoband Movement: An orthodox movement that aimed to preserve Islamic culture and opposed British rule.
The Great Rebellion of 1857 (1857-ம் ஆண்டு பெரும் புரட்சி)
Often called India's First War of Independence, this was a major uprising against British rule.
- Causes: The rebellion was caused by a combination of political (Doctrine of Lapse), economic (heavy taxation), social (interference in customs), and military (greased cartridges) grievances.
- Key Centers and Leaders:
- Delhi: Bahadur Shah Zafar
- Kanpur: Nana Saheb
- Jhansi: Rani Lakshmibai
- Lucknow: Begum Hazrat Mahal
- Impact: The rebellion led to the end of the East India Company's rule and the beginning of direct rule by the British Crown. It also led to a policy of "divide and rule" and a major reorganization of the British army in India.
Rise of Nationalism (1885-1919) (தேசியவாதத்தின் எழுச்சி)
This period saw the birth and growth of organized nationalism in India.
- Formation of Indian National Congress (1885): Founded by A.O. Hume, the INC provided a platform for political dialogue.
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905): Led by figures like Dadabhai Naoroji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, this phase focused on constitutional methods like petitions and memorials. Dadabhai Naoroji's "Drain of Wealth" theory provided a powerful economic critique of British rule.
- Extremist Phase (1905-1919): Sparked by the Partition of Bengal (1905), this phase was led by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal (the "Lal-Bal-Pal" trio). They advocated for more assertive methods like Swadeshi (boycott of foreign goods) and passive resistance. Tilak famously declared, "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it."
The Gandhian Era (1919-1947) (காந்தியின் சகாப்தம்)
This era was dominated by the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, who transformed the freedom struggle into a mass movement based on the principles of Satyagraha (truth force) and Ahimsa (non-violence).
- Early Satyagrahas: Gandhi's first successes in India were the Champaran Satyagraha (1917), Kheda Satyagraha (1918), and the Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918).
- Major Movements:
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22): Launched in response to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) and the Khilafat issue, it involved a widespread boycott of British institutions.
- Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34): Began with the iconic Dandi March, where Gandhi broke the salt law. This movement saw massive participation from all sections of society, including women.
- Quit India Movement (1942): The final major mass movement, launched with Gandhi's call to "Do or Die."
Partition and Independence (பிரிவினை & சுதந்திரம்)
The final years of British rule were marked by intense negotiations and rising communal tensions.
- Key Plans: The Cripps Mission (1942) and the Cabinet Mission (1946) failed to find a solution acceptable to both the Congress and the Muslim League.
- Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947): The final plan proposed by the last Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, which partitioned India into two dominions, India and Pakistan.
- Indian Independence Act (1947): Passed by the British Parliament, this act formalized the partition and granted independence to India on August 15, 1947.
- Aftermath: Independence was accompanied by one of the largest and most violent mass migrations in history, leading to immense suffering and a deep-seated refugee crisis.
Post-Independence Consolidation (சுதந்திரத்திற்குப் பிந்தைய ஒருங்கிணைப்பு)
The newly independent India faced the enormous tasks of national integration and nation-building.
- Integration of Princely States: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the "Iron Man of India," played a crucial role in persuading and pressuring over 565 princely states to join the Indian Union.
- Drafting the Constitution: The Constituent Assembly, chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as the head of the Drafting Committee, created the Constitution of India. It was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a sovereign, democratic republic.
- States Reorganization Act (1956): Indian states were reorganized on a linguistic basis to promote administrative efficiency and preserve cultural identity.