August Offer -1940

Prior to this offer INC passed a resolution  that it will support British in War if provisional National Government is setup at Centre. In response to this British Government made August Offer.

Viceroy - Lord Linlithgow 
British Prime Minister - Winston Churchill (1940–45).
What British made August Offer?- To get Indian Cooperation in War Efforts from Germany - in fear of Nazi Occupation.
Date of Offer: 8th August 1940

Proposals of August Offer:

1. After the war a representative Indian body would be set up to frame a constitution for India.

2. Viceroy's Executive Council would be expanded without delay.
3. War Advisory Council will be setup.

4. Interest of minorities in making of Constitution will be given priority. British agreed to accept that no future constitution will be recognized by the Government without the approval and consent of the minority communities, specially Muslims. This clause was accepted by Muslim League.

Advertisements

Viceroys of India & Important Events in their Tenure

While the British ruled India, the head of the British administration in India was the Governor General and Viceroy of India. This office was created in 1773, where the officer had direct control only over Fort William, but supervised other British East India Company officials in India. Complete authority over all of British India was granted in 1833 and the official became known as the Governor-General of India. And in 1858, India came under the direct control of the British Crown.

The title "Governor General" applied to his relationship to the British Provinces of India (Punjab, Bengal, Bombay, Madras, United Provinces, etc.). But much of British India was not ruled directly by the government and the territory was divided into hundreds of nominally sovereign princely states or "native states" whose relationship was not with the British government, but directly with the monarch.

To reflect the Governor General`s role as representative from the monarch to the feudal rulers of the princely states, the term Viceroy of India was applied to him. The title remained in existence from 1858 till 1947, when India became independent in 1947. The office of Governor General continued to exist until India adopted a republican constitution in 1950. The offices of the Viceroys, included the following:

Lord Dalhousie

Lord Dalhousie was appointed Governor General of India in 1848. His eight years of rule is considered one of the greatest periods of British rule. His policy of Annexation was a lethal weapon of conquest that raised the rule of the East India Company to the height of glory. Dalhousie annexed Satara in 1848, Jhansi in 1853 and Nagpur in 1854 on the ground of misgovernment. Dalhousie annexed Oudh in 1851 and Berar was taken over from the Nizam in 1853 as he had delayed his tribute to the paramount power, the British. The titular Rajaship of Tanjore was abolished in 1855. On the death of the ex-Peshwa Bajirao II- 1853, his adopted son Nana was refused his pension. Dalhousie recognized the heir to the last of the Mughals on his agreeing not to use the imperial title.

Advertisements

60+ Indian History Practise Bits in Telugu Medium

Indian History Mcq bits in Telugu Medium

Advertisements

Points to Learn - Early Medieval India

(Indian History for UPSC Civil services Preparation, SSC , Bank Po & APPSC Exams)

1. The Bhakti movement, in true sense, emerged from the south India when Alvar and Nayanar saints popularized the worship of Vishnu and Shiva respectively.
2. The Ratha temple at Mahabalipuram was built by Narsimhavarman.
3. The port city of Mahabalipuram of Mamallapuram was founded by Narsimhavarman.
4. In post Gupta period we find the practice of worshipping Brahma, Ganapati, Vishnu, Shakti and Shiva which were collectively called Panchdeva or five divinities.
5. The temples, having Panchdeva in its inner shrine, were called Panchayatana in post Gupta period.
6. Hiuen Tsang has called the Shudras as agriculturists.
7. Sushruta samhita is a work on medicine by Sushruta in which he describes the method of operating catraract, stone diseases and several other ailments.

Advertisements

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GROWTH OF COMMUNALISM AND THE FORMATION OF THE MUSLIM LEAGUE?

The reasons for the rise of communal-ism and the formation of the Muslim League were many.

THE BRITISH POLICY OF DIVIDE AND RULE

After the Revolt of 1857, the British followed the well-proven policy of “divide and rule”. Their purpose was to keep themselves in power by causing disagreements within various sections who might otherwise unite against the rulers. On the one hand, they appeased the Princes and the Zamindars, and on the other, they sowed the seeds of disunity between the Hindus and the Muslims. For over three decades after the Revolt, the Muslims were treated with suspicion by the British. They held them guilty of the Revolt of 1857. In fact, the Muslims were suppressed systematically. In the army their recruitment was limited. Even civilian offices were denied to them. Gradually, the entire scene began to change. As the Congress movement gained force, Government’s hatred towards the Hindus also grew. The Government wished to keep Muslims aloof from the Congress. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Theodore Beck, the first Principal of the Mohammedan College at Aligarh, tried to convince the Muslims that “the Congress was Hindu Organisation which should be avoided at all cost”. Henceforth more and more Muslim young men looked to the British for the protection of their interests against the Hindu majority. Partition of Bengal was a clear example of an application of the policy of divide and rule.  Many Muslims disliked the loyalist policies pursued by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Badruddin Tyabji presided over the Congress Session at Chennai in 1887.

Advertisements

Alexander's Invasion & its impact on Indian History

Alexander’s Invasion

• He defeated the last king of the line of Darius, Xerexes in 333 BC and 331 BC. After! occupying the realm of the Persian king, Alexander crossed the Hindukush mountains in eastern Afghanistan in 327 BC.
• He fought many tribes and took the city of Pushkalavati (near the junction of Swat and Kabul rivers) before crossing the river Indus in 326 BC.
• It is stated that the Indian sources are silent on Alexander's campaign. Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund in A History of India comment that "The memory of Alexander the Great returned to India only very much later with the Islamic conquerors..."
• The king of Taxila accepted Alexander's sovereignty. Alexander met with stiff resistance from the elder Paurava king whom he defeated. He later returned the kingdom to Paurava.
  
• Conquering the tribal territories around the kingdom of the elder Paurava, he crossed River Akesines (Chenab) and the Hydraotes (Ravi). Over-running the Kathasoi stronghold Sangala, he reached River Hyphasis (Beas). Here, it is said, his troops were unwilling to press on farther.

Advertisements

The Mahajanpadadas and The Mauryas (Points to Learn)

Aryan tribes known as Janas were led by Janardhans (Tribal chiefs) during their nomadic phase. During this phase wars were fought not for territory but for the possession of cattle known as Gavasthi. During the later Vedic period Janapadas (territorial kingdoms) emerged. In this period, battles were fought not only for the possession of cattle but also for tat of territory. For example, the famous Mahabharata battle known as Kurukshetra was fought between the Pandavas and Kauravas for territory. From the 6th century BC large territorial states known as Mahajanapadas (big kingdoms) emerged.

• The 16 Mahajanpadas have been first listed in Buddhist literature Anguttar Nikaya.
• Bimbisara was a contemporary of Buddha.
• The earliest capital of Megadh was at Rajgir, which was called Girivaraja at that time.
• The city of Pataliputra was founded by Udayin of Haryanka dynasty.
• The Shishunagba dynasty had temporarily shifted the capital to Vaishali.
• The Nandas were the first to invade and acquire Kalinga.
• The Greek writers called Chandragupta Sandrokottas.
• The Achaean ruler of Iran, Darius invaded India in 516 B. C., penetrated into north west and annexed Punjab, west of Indus and Sindh. This area constituted the twentieth province or Satra of Iran.
• The Indian subjects were also enrolled in the Iranian army for their long wars against the Greeks.
  

Advertisements

The Chandellas : Kingdoms of South India

(Indian History for UPSC Civil services Preparation, SSC , Bank Po Clerical & APPSC Exams)

• The Chandellas who were also known as Chandratreyas, ruled the country of Bundelkhand.
• The dynasty had been founded by Nannuka in the early years of the 9th century and his capital was Kharjuravahaka, the modern village of Khajuraho in the erstwhile Chhatarpur state, Madhya Pradesh.
• The first king of note was Harsha who ruled from c. AD. 900 to 925. Like his predecessors, Harsha was a vassal of the Pratiharas. His son and successor ‘Yasovarman, who reigned in the third quarter of the 10th century, conquered Kalinjara and extended his kingdom up to the Yamuna on the north.
• He fought successfully against the piuamaras and the Kalachuris and pushed the southern boundary of his state up to the borders of Malawa and Chedi.
• He came into conflict with the Gurjaras and successfully invaded Gauda and Mithila then under Pala rule. His son Dhanga succeeded him sometime after AD. 951.

Advertisements

Important Eras of Ancient India (Points to Learn)

Vedanga Jyotisa: The earliest method of reckoning time in India was mentioned in Vedanga Jyotisa, astronomy ancillary to the Vedas. The extant of Vedanga Jyotisa is a short work in a verse of indefinite date, perhaps not later than 400 B.C. It recognizes a cycle (Yuga) of five year of 360 days each completed by an additional month of 30 days, making a total of 1830 days (solar), as against an actual 1826.

Buddha Era: The Buddha era dates from 544 B.C., according to Ceylonese reckoning. Modern criticism has shown that the Eeylonese epoch of the Buddha’s Nirvana is some 60 years too early, the true date being 483 B. C. Another view based on Chinese evidence puts it in 486 B. C.

Mahavira Era: The Mahavira era starts from 527 B.C. and used mostly in Jaina works.

Kaliyuga Era: It is a fictitious epoch confirmed by Aryabhatta (5th century AD.) and employed in astronomical textbooks with a starting date at Feb 18,3120 B.C. This date is sometimes taken to be that of the Mahabharat War. A Chola inscription from Graman (South Arcot) is dated Kali year 4,044 or Kaliday 14,77,037 corresponding to Saturday, January 14, A.D. 943. This era is still shown in current almanacs at least in south India.

Saptarsi Era: The Saptarsi (also called Laakika) era beings after the expiry of 25 Kali years, in 3,076 B.C. and it was in use in Kashmir and its neighborhood at the time of Alberuni (11th century AD.)

Vikram Era: The era starts in 58 B.C. and is said to have been founded by king Vikramaditya to commemorate his victory over Sakas in Ujjaini.

Saka Era -Months & Days

Saka Era: The most famous Kushana ruler Kanishka is credited to have started this era in A.D. 78. This era is used by the Government of India. It is the most popular era in south India, and is known there as Salivahana Sakabda.

Advertisements

The Gahadavalas of Kannauj: Kingdoms of South India

• A dynasty known as Gahadavalas ruled in Kannauj from the third quarter of the 11th century. Chandradeva the first great ruler of the dynasty established himself in Kannauj and made it his capital.
• He defeated the ruler of Panchala and was in possession of Ayodhya and Varanasi in addition to Kannauj and it is stated that he protected the holy places of Kusika (Kannauj), Kasi, Dttara Kosala (Ayodhya) and Indraprastha from the Muslims.
• He seems to have conquered the region from Allahabad to Varanasi from the Kalachuri Yasahkajna and made the letter place his second capital.

Advertisements

50+ Important Organisations and their founders in Indian History

Important Organisations and their founders in Indian History

Movement/Organisation	Founder
Abhinav Bharat	Vir Savarkar
Aligarh movement	Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Amnesty International	Peter Benenson
Arya Samaj	Dayanand Saraswati
Bahiskrit Hitkarni Sabha	Dr BR Ambedkar
Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan	Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi
Brahmo Samaj	Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Advertisements

The Chahamanas & Paramaras : South & Central India Kingdoms

(Indian History for UPSC Civil services Preparation, SSC , Bank Po & APPSC Exams)

The Chahamanas

• There were several branches of the Chahamans, known in the later times as the Chauhan Rajputs and the most important of them ruled in Sakambharidesa also known as Sapadalaksa, the capital of which was Sakambhari, modem Sambhar in Rajasthan.
• The Chahamana rulers had been feudatories of the Pratiharas till Simharaja declared independence in the middle of the 10th century. His successor, Vigraharaja II, defeated Mularaja I and overran Gujrat Vigraharaja II was succeeded by a large number of kings, one after the other, and. in the first quarter of the 12th century, Ajayaraja was on the throne of Sakambhari. He founded a city which was called after his name Ajayameru, modem Ajmer.

Advertisements

The advent of the Europeans in India

Portuguese:-

1. The Cape route was discovered from Europe to India by Vasco da Gama. He reached the port of Calicut on May 17, 1498 and was received by the Hindu Ruler of Calicut Zamorin.

2. Cochin was the early capital of the Portuguese in India. Later Goa replaced it.

3. Francisco de Almeda was the first Governor of Portuguese from 1505 A.D to 1509, he introduced the “Policy of blue water”.

4. Alfonso de Albuquerque was the second Governor of Portuguese from 1509-1515 introduced the “Policy of Imperialism”. He captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur in 1510.

5. Nino da Cunha transferred his capital from Cochin to Goa.

6. Martin Alfonso de Souza, the famous Jesuit Saint Fransisco Xavier arrived in India with him.

7. In 1661 the king of the Portugal gave Bombay to Charles-II of the England as dowry when he married his sister to him.

Dutch:-

Advertisements

Important Dates in Indian History

• 2300 B.C- 1750 B.C- Indus Valley Civilization.
• 563 B.C- Birth of the Gautama Buddha.
• 483 B.C- Death of the Buddha.
• 540 B.C- Birth of the Mahavir.
• 486 B.C- Death of the Mahavir.
• 326 B.C- Invasion of the Alaxender The Great.
• 305 B.C- Defeat of Selecus at the hand of the Chandragupta Maurya.
• 261 B.C- Kalinga war.
• 58 B.C- Beginning of the Vikram era.
• 78 A.D- Beginning of the Saka era.
• 319-320 A.D- Commencement of the Gupta era.

Advertisements

Rigvedic Age - Bird’s eye view (Points to Remember)

• Rigvedic age forms part of the proto-historic period of Indian history and belongs to bronze age like that of Indus Valley Civilization.
• The only clear archaeological evidence outside India of the coming of Aryans in India is found at Boghazkoi in Asia Minor.
• The first scholar to find out a similarity between Sanskrit and the principal languages of Europe was, Phillipo Sesseti.
• But this similarity was due to a common racial stock it was suggested by Sir Willian Jones in his address to the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
• The earliest Aryans settled in the Saptasindhava region i.e. the Land of the Seven Rivers.
• River Sindhu was the ‘par excellence’ of the Aryans.
• But of all rivers, Saraswati was the first and the foremost from religious and ritualistic point of view.’
• In Rigveda Ganga has been mentioned only once while Yamuna is twice mentioned.

Advertisements

Rivers mentioned in Rig veda - Old Name & New Names

Old Name	New Name
Gomati	Gomal
Kmrni	Kurram
Kubha	Kabul
Suvastu	Swat
Sindhu	Indus
Sarasvati	Sarsuti
Drishadvati	Ghaggar

Advertisements

Gopal Krishna Gokhale & his contribution to Indian Freedom Struggle

Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915) Best known as "the Political Guru of Gandhi", Gokhale was born in 1866 at Kolhapur in Maharashtra. He graduated from Elphinstone College, Mumbai in 1884. At the young age of 20, he became Professor of History and Economics at the Fergusson College, Poona. For four years he edited the 'Sudharak', a quarterly journal of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha. In 1904 he was awarded the title of CIE (Companion of the Indian Empire). During his visit to England in 1905, he tried to persuade the British statesmen not to give effect to the Partition of Bengal. He, however, failed in his efforts.

Gokhale's Contribution to the Freedom Struggle:

1.            Foremost among the Congress Leaders: Gokhale was one of India's most respected leaders. He presided over the Varanasi Session of the Congress in 1905. He was a man with moderate views and had immense faith in British liberalism. Gokhale urged that "the goal of the Congress should be the attainment of a form of government similar to that which existed in the self-governing colonies of the British empire."

"The field of constitutional agitation was a very wide one... Three things were excluded—rebellion, aiding or abetting a foreign invasion, and resort to crime. ; Roughly speaking, barring these three things, all else was constitutional." —Gokhale

Advertisements

The Rohilla War (A.D. 1774) - Indian History

The Rohilla War (A.D. 1774)

The Rohillas were Afghans and were frequently attacked by the Marathas. They sought the help of the Nawab Oudh to subdue the Marathas. The Nawab demanded Rs.40 lakhs and the Rohillas accepted the demand. When the Marathas appeared in Rohilkhand in 1773, they saw the forces of Nawab of Oudh behind the Rohillas, so the Marathas retreated without fighting Shuja-ud-daulah. The Nawab of Oudh demanded the promised 40 lakhs from the Rohillas. The Rohilla Chief refused to pay the money. The Nawab of Oudh approached the English for help. He even agreed to pay 40 lakhs to the British. So warren Hastings send an army against the Rohillas. Rohillas were defeated and their territory was annexed to Oudh.

Advertisements

LORD CORNWALLIS (A.D. 1786 - A.D. 1793) & His major reforms

LORD CORNWALLIS (A.D. 1786 - A.D. 1793)

Lord Cornwallis became the Governor General of India in 1786. He tried to follow the policy of non-intervention.In 1793, Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement of Bengal. The Zamindars were required to pay a fixed amount in cash on a fixed date as land revenue to the treasury, irrespective of what they could collect. Slowly the Zamindars brought more areas under cultivation and made more money while they paid the same fixed amount to the company. Many Zamindars benefited more than either the company or the peasants.

Merits

This system was beneficial to the Zamindars. They were the owners of the lands and they became very loyal to the company. This system secured a fixed and stable income for the company. This settlement avoided the evils of periodical settlements.

Demerits

1)            Zamindars became the masters of the land and were benefited.

2)            The worst affected people were the cultivators who were left at the mercy of the zamindars.

3)            To meet the increasing expenses the government had to increase the tax in other provinces.

4)            The government had no direct contact with the people.

Advertisements

Surendranath Banerjea & his contribution to Freedom Struggle

Surendranath Banerjea (1848-1925) Bom in 1848 Surendranath Baneijea is often called "the Indian Burke". Like Edmund Burke he combined 'knowledge' with 'the capacity to move audience' through his oratory.

Surendranath graduated in 1868. He successfully competed for the ICS examination in 1869 and was appointed Assistant Magistrate of Sylhet. Some charges were framed against him. As a result, in 1873 he was dismissed from the Service.

Professor of English:

After his dismissal from the Indian Civil Service, Surendranath became Professor of English in the Metropolitan Institution. Later he joined the Free Church College at Kolkata. In 1882, he started a school which later grew into a college (Lord Ripon College).

His Contribution to India's Freedom Struggle

Advertisements