About the Book

This book gives a brief account of one hundred years of Indian history mainly from mutiny to emergence of Mahatma Gandhi and finally swaraj. It highlights the differences between Hindus and Muslims rulers which gave advantage to the Europeans traders to capture Indian market. Consequently, the British East India Company gained great power in India andruled until 1857. It discusses the reasons behind the transfer of power from Company to the Crown after the mutiny of 1857. The British divided India into provinces ruled directly by the British governors and the states ruled by the native princes. The book sheds light on Indian nationalist movements, both by the Indian National Congress and Muslim League, which compelled the colonial rulers to grant independence in 1947, not as united India but a divided India. One dominion kept the name India and the other took the name Pakistan. The book presents the contemporary situation of independent India which was confronting a varieties of tasks and challenges such as economic and political legacies left by the rulers and above all, to hold India together as a country and keep united a multi-religious, multi-cultural, multilingual nation within a democratic framework. Finally but importantly it also evaluates the impact of British rule which lasted for almost 190 years in India.

About the Author

Kamini Krishna is senior Lecturer at the University of Zambia, School of Humanities and SocialSciences.She had her Doctorate degree based on her research in Indian History and Archaeology from the University of Patna. She has M.A. and B. Eddegree from the same university. She was awarded Research Fellowship by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi India during 20092010 under the project titled "Possibilities of Overcoming Industrial Imbalances between India and The COMESAandSADC Region. She also had brief training in England in the field of Iconography based on which she authored a book titled 'Early Bronzes of Bihar'. She has also authored another book titled "India's Brewing Support for SubSaharan Africa (Trade relations). Dr. Krishna has several publications in international journals, proceedings and chapters in edited books. Dr.Krishna has presented her research articles in countries which include Italy (University of Turin, 2015), UK (University of Sussex, Brighton 2014), UK (The University of Glasgow, 2011), Republic South Africa (the University of Stellenbosch, 2011), Germany (the University of Leipzig, 2010), Portugal (University of Lisbon, 2010), Russia (The University of Moscow, 2009, 2010), Ghana (2007) r India (University of Mumbai, 2006, 2009), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa, 2004,2006), Sudan (University of Khartoum, 2006), the US(University of Cleveland, 2004), Australia (the University of Western Australia, Perth, 2004), India (JNU 2005,2009, 2013) and In Zambia (the University of Zambia, several times)

Table of Contents:
List of Maps 15 List of Plates 17 Preface 19 1. Europeans as Explorers 23 Introduction 23 British East India Company 23 The British Conquest of India 27 Competition in North and South India 28 Forces and Factors for British Success in India 30 British Conquest of India : An Analysis 32 2. Indian Culture and Society before British Colonisation and Westernisation 35 Introduction 35 Historical Background 35 Culture and Society 36 Place of Women in Society 38 Slavery 39 Education 40 Religion 40 Reform Movements and Westernisation, 1820-185 42 The Western Impact 43 The Two Categories of Reform Movements 44 The Brahmo Samaj (The Society of God) 45 The Arya Samaj 46 The Ramakrishna Movement 46 The Theosophical Movement 47 Muslim Reform Movements 48 Social Reform Movements in the nineteenth and twentieth Centuries 49 Sati or Satti 50 Infanticide 51 Widow Remarriage and Prohibition of Child Marriage 51 Education of Women 53 Abolition of Slavery 53 3. The 1857 Revolt: Causes, Resistance and Aftermath 55 Introduction 55 Historians Views 56 Causes of Revolt 57 The Beginning and Spread of the Mutiny 65 Descriptive Notes on the Spread of Mutiny and the Civil Rebellion in the Period 1857-1858 66 Reasons for Failure of the Revolt 68 The Transfer of Power in 1858: From Company to the Crown 71 New Administrative Set Up 71 The Secretary of State and the Indian Office 72 The Government of India 72 Reorganisation of the Army 73 Administrative Decentralisation 75 Local Bodies 76 Economic Policy 77 Civil Services 79 Relations with Princely States 79 4. British Policy towards Indian Princely States and its Neighbouring Countries 83 Introduction 83 The Policy of Subordinate Union, 1857–1935 84 Viceroy Lord Curzon and the Indian States 88 Policy of Subordinate Union – The Chamber of Princes 88 Working of the Chamber of Princes 89 Policy of Equal Federation, 1935 – 1947 91 Integration and Merger of States 92 British Captured Afghanistan, Burma,Nepal and Tibet 93 The Nepal War, 1814-1816 93 The Treaty of Sangauli – 1816 94 Tibet 95 Burma (now Myanmar) 97 Afghanistan 98 5. The Rise of the Nationalist Movements by 1914 and World War One 101 Introduction 101 Factors Favouring Growth of Indian Nationalism 102 Growth of Modern Political Ideas and Political Associations 108 First Phase, 1885 – 1905 (Period of Moderate Politics) 111 Second Phase, 1905 – 1919 (Rise of Extremism or Radical Politics) 114 World War One and Its Effects on India 115 India’s Contribution to the War Effort 116 The Impacts 117 Economic Sphere: Industries 117 Political Awakening 118 Indian Munitions’ Board 118 Administrative Sphere 119 Attitude Towards the Europeans 119 Russian Revolution 119 Wilson’s Fourteen Points 119 6. Mahatma Gandhi and Emergence of Mass Politics and Muslim India 121 Introduction 121 Early Life of Mahatma 122 In South Africa 122 Gandhi in India 124 Gandhi as Leader of Nationalism in India 126 The Non-Cooperation Movement 127 The Civil-Disobedience Movement to Government of India Act of 1935 129 World War Two and the Constitutional Deadlock 131 Cultural and Social Division 132 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Drift from Nationalism to Communalism 133 Colonialism in Writing of Indian History 134 Communal Side Effects of Religious Reform Movements 135 Myths and Communal Overtones 135 Patronage in Government in Services Used to Foster Colonialism 136 The Simla Deputation (1st October 1906) and Acceptance of the Principle of Communal Electorate 136 Foundation of the Muslim League, 30th December 1906 137 Congress Ministries and the Muslim League, 1937 – 1939 138 The Two-Nation Theory and the Pakistan Movement 139 The Hindu Mahasabha 140 The Second World War and Furtherance of the Pakistan Plan 141 7. World War Two and Struggle for Freedom 143 Introduction 143 World War Two 143 Last Great Struggle of the Congress to Oust the Imperialism 147 Assessment of Quit India Movement under Bose 152 World War Two and India’s Independence 154 8. The Drive to Independence, Partition and Transfer of Power 1939-47 159 Introduction 159 The Drive to Independence 159 Congress Demand for One Nation 160 Transfer of Power 162 Formation of Pakistan 162 9. Fate of Princely States and Consolidation of India as a Nation 167 Introduction 167 Regional Cases 168 Sardar Vallabbhai Patel: Tough Negotiator 168 Compensation to the Princely States 183 Consolidation of the Nation 183 Unity in Diversity 184 The Language Problem 188 Economic Imbalances and Regionalism 188 The Rooting of the Electoral Process 189 Establishment of Democratic Institutions 190 The Administrative Structure 192 Development of Science and Technology 192 Social Change 194 Education 195 Community Development Programme 197 10. Debates on Economic and Social Alternatives 199 Introduction 199 Agriculture System 199 India’s Economic Sectors 200 Structure of Indian Industry 201 Irrigation 201 Power 202 India’s Money System 203 Communications 203 Foreign Economic Relations 203 Economic and Social Problems 204 Directives Taken by Ruling Party for Economic Revival 209 The First Plan (1951-52 to 1955-56) 210 The Second Plan (1956-57 to 1960-61) 213 11. The Government of India 217 Introduction 217 The Structure of Government 219 Political Conditions in India after Formation of Self- Rule 222 Ruling Party: Congress 222 Decline of Congress 225 Opposition Parties: The Socialist Party, The Communist Party, Bharatiya Jan Sangh, The Swatantra Party 228 Communal and Regional Parties 229 12. India under Jawaharlal Nehru: Democracy and Development 231 Introduction 231 Early Life 232 Consolidation of Indian Independence 233 Forging National Unity 234 Nurturing Democracy and Parliamentary Government 235 Building Socialism 236 Planning for Economic Development 238 Opposing Communalism 239 Opposing Conservation 240 Pursuing Foreign Policy 240 Assessing Nehru as the First Prime Minister of India 241 Indian Democracy and Development 243 Democratic Political Systems 244 Entrenchment of Democracy 245 Forms of Political Protest 246 Economic Performance 247 Economic Problems and Dangers 248 The Areas of Darkness 249 Poverty 249 The Health Care and Education 251 Promises to Keep 252 13. The Impact and Legacy of British Rule in India 253 Introduction 253 Political 254 Law and Administration 257 Education, Oriental Studies and Indian Renaissance 259 Social and Cultural Impact 261 Economic Impact. 262 Bibliography and Notes 267 Appendices 275 Index 279The Health Care and Education 251 Promises to Keep 252 13. The Impact and Legacy of British Rule in India 253 Introduction 253 Political 254 Law and Administration 257 Education, Oriental Studies and Indian Renaissance 259 Social and Cultural Impact 261 Economic Impact. 262 Bibliography and Notes 267 Appendices 275 Index 279