Notes and Study material for Exams
The First Anglo-Sikh War: A Clash of Empires in the Punjab The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-1846) marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Punjab, India, and the British Empire. It was a clash of two powerful forces: the burgeoning Sikh Empire, a formidable military power in the region, and the ever-expanding British East … Read more
The majority of Gorkhas who are living in Himachal Pradesh were till recently a part of Punjab. One of the oldest associations of gorkhas in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is the Himachal Punjab Gorkha Association, which was established on October 29, 1916. Its first president was Madho Singh Rana (Magan Pathik, Hamro Sanstha Pachattari Barsa, … Read more
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919: Dyarchy In a system called “dyarchy,” the nation-building departments of government — agriculture, Education, public works, and the like — were placed under ministers who were individually responsible to the legislature. The departments that made up the “steel frame” of British rule — finance, revenue, and home affairs — were retained by … Read more
The Simon Commission: A Catalyst for Change in British India The Simon Commission, formally known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was a landmark event in the history of British India. Appointed in 1927, the commission was tasked with reviewing the existing constitutional framework and recommending changes to the government of India. While its initial purpose … Read more
After being released in 1914, Tilak sought re-entry into Congress. Annie Besant and Gokhale supported. But finally Pherozshah Mehta won and Tilak was not admitted. Tilak and Besant decided to start The Home Rule Movement on their own. In early 1915, Annie Besant (and S Subramaniya Iyer) launched a campaign through her two newspapers, New … Read more
World War I and Indian Nationalism Increasing number of Indians from Punjab were emigrating to North America. The British government thought that these emigrants would be affected by the idea of Liberty. Hence, they tried to restrict emigration. Tarak Nath Das, an Indian student in Canada, started a paper called Free Hindustan. The Hindi Association … Read more
Literary and Scholarly studies during british India Bengali Literature Before the impact of the West, the Bengali literature had two distinct sources—that of the learned and the well-to-do, and of the common people. The aristocratic type of literature, that is the former type, was patronised by the Courts, the Chiefs, the landlords. The poets who … Read more
Lord Ellenborough, 1842-44 INTRODUCTION Lord Ellenborough served as the Governor General of India from 28 February 1842 to 15 June 1844. He is credited with bringing the Afghan War to an end. His tenure of office was marked by a successful expedition to Kabul which went a long way in enhancing the prestige … Read more
The Subsidiary Alliance System: A Tool of British Imperialism in India The Subsidiary Alliance System, a cornerstone of British imperial expansion in India, was a complex and multifaceted strategy that ultimately paved the way for the British East India Company’s dominance over the subcontinent. This system, implemented in the late 18th century, aimed to establish … Read more
The economic consequences of the British rule can be studied under three heads: Decline of Indian Handicrafts and progressive ruralisation of the Indian economy Growth of the new land system and the commercialisation of Indian agriculture Process of industrial transition of India Decline of Handicrafts While India was an exporter of Handicrafts before the … Read more