The document provides information on important governors-general and viceroys of British India between 1772-1856 and some key events that occurred during their tenures. It notes that Warren Hastings was the first governor-general who established the Supreme Court and introduced the ijaredari system. Lord Cornwallis introduced civil services and a permanent land tax system. The document also summarizes Lord Dalhousie's doctrine of lapse policy and railway expansion under his leadership. Finally, it mentions the major rebellions and wars that occurred such as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

1. GOVERNOR-GENERALS
AND VICEROYS OF INDIA
& IMPORTANT EVENTS

2. WARREN HASTINGS(1772-1785)
 First Governor General of Bengal
 End to the dual system of administration
 Regulating Act of 1773: Governor of Bengal
became the Governor -General of Bengal with
an executive council of four to assist him, Establishment
of Supreme Court at Calcutta, Board of Directors of East
India Company to report British parliament periodically.
 Founded Madrasa 'Aliya at Calcutta in 1781
 First English translation of Bhagavad Gita
 Founding member of Asiatic Society of Bengal
 Ijaredari system: introduced in 1773 in Bengal; he
assumed that all land belongs to State; right of collecting
revenue of a particular area was auctioned to the highest
bidder; Peasants, shopkeepers, and merchants had to pay
their taxes to the Ijaredar.

3.  Ist Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782): between British and
Maratha Sardars (Holkers, Sindhiyas and Bhonsle led by
Nana Fadnis); Marathas defeated British at battle of
Wadgaon
 Treaty of Salbai (1782): peace treaty between British and
Marathas.
 2nd Anglo- Mysore War (1780-1784)
 Pitt‟s India Act(1784): For political matters, the Board of
Control was created and for commercial affairs, the Board
of Directors was appointed; the company was represented
by the Board of Directors and the British government by
the Board of Control; Governor General‟s council reduced
to 3 members, Governor General was given the right to
casting vote; presidencies of Madras and Bombay under
Bengal's control.

4. LORD CORNWALLIS (1786-1793)
 Introduction of Civil Services in India (High
and tax free salary to check corruption,
Higher rank posts reserved for British,
merit based selection)
 Established in 1791 a Sanskrit college for Hindus that is
now the Government Sanskrit College in Benares.
 Translation of existing Hindu and Muslim penal codes into
English
 Establishment of Appellate courts for both civil and
criminal cases in few urban centers.
 Introduced the position of Superintendent of Police
(reserved only for British), Modernized the old system
of Thanas and Darogas.

5.  Introduced Permanent Settlement System in Bengal in
1790; tax rates of land were fixed for a long period,
Property rights went to Zamindars/Jagirdars.
 3rd Anglo-Mysore War (1786-1792): between Tipu Sultan
and Travancore assisted by British
 Treaty of Seringapatam, 1792: Tipu had to cede half of
his kingdom to the English including the areas of
Malabar, Dindigul, Coorg and Baramahal, He also had to
pay Rs.3 Crore as war indemnity to the British, Tipu
also had to surrender two of his sons as surety to the
British till he paid his due.

6. SIR JOHN SHORE (1793-1798)
 Charter act of 1793: It continued the
company‟s trade monopoly in India for 20
years; The company was granted the authority
to grant licenses to individuals and company
employees to carry on trade in India. This was
known as „privilege‟ or „country trade‟. This led to
shipments of opium to China; This Act separated the
revenue administration and the judiciary functions of the
company leading to the disappearance of Maal Adalats
(revenue courts).
 He settled the question of the Awadh succession, by
substituting Saadat Ali Khan II for Wazir Ali Khan after
the death of Asaf-ud-Daula.
 Battle of Kharda,1795: between Marathas and Nizam of
Hyderabad, Marathas led by Nana Phadnavis, won
the battle; British applied policy of non-intervention.

7. LORD WELLESLEY (1798-1805)
 Introduced Subsidiary Alliance System: Indian kingdoms lost
their sovereignty to the British; An Indian ruler entering the
system, had to dissolve his own armed forces and accept British
forces in his territory, had to pay for the British army‟s
maintenance, If failed to make the payment, a portion of his
territory would be taken away; Indian state could not enter into
any alliance with any other foreign power; could also not
employ any other foreign nationals other than Englishmen in
service; A British Resident was also stationed in the Indian
Court.
 The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to accept
a well-framed subsidiary alliance in 1798
 Mysore 1799
 Tanjore (1799)
 Awadh (1801)
 Marathas (1802)

8.  4th Anglo- Mysore War,1799: between Tipu Sultan and
British assisted by Marathas and Hyderabad at the battle
of Seringapatnam; Tipu Sultan Died; Wodeyar dynasty
reinstated; Mysore entered into Subsidiary alliance treaty.
 Treaty of Bassein signed between British and Baji Rao II;
he ceded territory to the British and agreed to the
maintenance of British troops there and sought British
protection against Maratha Sardars.
 2nd Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805): between Baji Rao II
assisted by British and Maratha Sardars( Scindia,
Bhonsle, Holkars); Maratha forces were defeated by the
British; large parts of central India came under British
control.
 Founded Fort William College, Calcutta

9. SIR GEORGE BARLOW(1805-1807)
 Provisional governor-general
 Only governor-general who diminished the
area of British territory.
 Mutiny of Vellore,1806: outbreak against the British by
sepoys (Indian troops employed by the British) at Vellore,
The incident began when the sepoys broke into the fort
where the many sons and daughters of Tipu Sultan of
Mysore and their families had been lodged since their
surrender at Seringapatam, caused by resentment at new
British regulations that ordered changes in headgear and
shaving style and the prohibition of ornaments and caste
marks for the Indian troops.

10. LORD MINTO I (1807-1813)
 Treaty of Amritsar (1809): Minto-Metcalfe
Treaty or the treaty of „perpetual friendship.‟
Maharaja Ranjit Singh leader of the Sikh
empire of Punjab and Charles Metcalfe of the
British East India Company entered into a pact
agreeing on Indo-Sikh relation. It prevented Maharaja
Ranjit Singh from expansion south of the Sutlej, but
allowed complete freedom to the north of it. It further
enabled Maharaja Ranjit Singh to gain control of Peshawar
and Kashmir.
 Charter Act of 1813: Company‟s rule and trade monopoly
in India was extended to another 20 years. Monopoly was
ended except for the trade in tea and with China; granted
permission to the missionaries to come to India and engage
in religious proselytization; The company was also to take
up a greater role in the education of the Indians under
them, it set aside Rs.1 Lakh for this purpose.

11. MARQUESS OF HASTINGS(1813-1823)
 3rd Anglo- Maratha War (1817-1819): between
Baji Rao II supported by Maratha Sardars and
British; Marathas got defeated, Peshwaship
abolished, Britsh introduced the principle of Paramountcy
(there interest is supreme).
 Treaty of Sagauli,1816: signed between British and Nepal
King Gajraj Mishra after Anglo-Nepalese war; about 1/3rd
of Nepalese territories was lost including Sikkim, territory
to west of Kali river (Kumaon and Garhwal), territory to
the west of Sutlej river (Kangra) and terai region;
establishment of british representative in Kathmandu;
recruitment of Gurkhas to military service by British;
Nepal can not deploy any American and European in its
service.

12.  Ryotwari system: instituted by Sir Thomas Munro,
Governor of Madras in 1820, the peasants or cultivators
were regarded as the owners of the land, taxes were
directly collected by the government from the peasants,
rates were 50% in dryland and 60% in the wetland and they
were open to being increased, If they failed to pay the taxes,
they were evicted by the government.
 Paika Rebellion,1817: Paikas of Odisha were the landed
militia who were involved in performing policing functions
for the Gajapati rulers; During British rule, the Raja of
Khurda lost his primacy and the power and prestige of the
Paikas went on a decline; So, they rebelled back; Bakshi
Jagabandhu, Bidyadhar Mohapatra and Bharamarbar Rai
led the Paikas; British managed to put down the rebellion.

13. LORD AMHERST(1823-1828)
 Annexation of Assam and Manipur leading to
first Anglo-Burmese War 1824.
 Barrackpore mutiny,1824: Bengal army were
ordered to March to Chittagong and from
there to board the ships to reach Rangoon to
participate in the First Anglo Burmese War, But, even till
Chittagong, to take their belongings there were no
bullocks, The result was that the soldiers forbade going on
the march unless the emoluments are increased and
provided means to carry their belongings, British refused
these demands, The sepoys revolted and drove away the
British Officers, For 2 days the cantonment was under the
sepoys which were led by Binda.

14. WILLIAM BENTINCK(1828-1835)
 First Governor-General of India
 Suppression of Thugi (a community of robber-
murderers), organised thuggery was completely
eradicated by 1837
 Abolition of Sati: Sati was the practice of the immolation of a
Hindu woman on the death of her husband in his funeral pyre;
Raja Rammohan Roy was a vociferous campaigner against Sati,
He argued that the Vedas and other ancient Hindu scriptures
did not sanction Sati, He stressed with the East India Company
administration to ban this practice; The Bengal Sati Regulation
(Regulation XVII),1829 was passed by Lord William Bentinck
making the practice of Sati illegal in all of British India.
 Kol Uprising(1831-32): Kols were one of the tribes inhabiting
the Chhotanagpur area and Singhbhum areas of Bihar and
Odisha; The main reason for its outbreak was the imposition of
British law which threatened the power of the hereditary local
chiefs; They tried to destroy the properties of the outsiders
('suds') by setting them to fire. But in a few weeks, the British
were successful in suppressing it with the help of the British
Army.

15.  The Charter Act of 1833 or Saint Helena Act: The Governor-
General of Bengal was re-designated as the Governor-General of
India; The company‟s commercial activities were closed down, It
was made into an administrative body for British Indian
possessions; The company‟s trade links with China were also
closed down; Indian Law Commission was established with Lord
Macaulay as its first chairman; establishment of Christian
institutions in India.
 English Education Act, 1835: Western curriculum with English
as the language of instruction, promoting English as the
language of administration and of the higher law courts
(replacing Persian).
 Mahalwari System, 1833: introduced in North-West Frontier,
Agra, Central Province, Gangetic Valley, Punjab, etc; divided
the land into Mahals (one or more villages); Each individual
farmer gave his share; Revenue was collected by the village
headman; the settlement was agreed upon for 30 years;
ownership rights were with the peasants.
 Founded the Calcutta Medical college and Elphinstone College,
Bombay.
 Removed flogging as a punishment in the Indian Army.

16. CHARLES METCALFE(1835-1836)
 Liberator of the Indian press
 Removed restrictions on the press including
license requirements.

17. LORD AUCKLAND(1836-1842)
 He extended irrigation, inaugurated
famine relief, fought for the use of
the vernacular in education, and
expanded training in the professions,
thinking these the most practical measures
for India‟s progress.
 Auckland replaced Dōst Moḥammad with his
rival, Shah Shojā in Afghanistan who then
depended strongly on British support.
 The first Anglo-Afghan war

18. LORD ELLENBOROUGH(1842-1844)
 Gwalior War,1843: Between Scindiah
and British; Battle of Maharajpore and
Punniar fought on same day; Scindiahs
got defeated by British.
 Establishment of Bank of Madras in
1843
 Battles of Miani and Battle of
Hyderabad, 1843: between British and
Mirs of Sindh (now in Pakistan).

19. HENRY HARDINGE(1844-1848)
 1st Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46): between
British and Sikhs led by Lal Singh and
Tej Singh, Jind Kaur was regent of Punjab
at that time; Sikhs got defeated by British.
 Treaty of Lahore,1846: British got control over doab region
of Beas and Sutlej river and Kashmir
 Treaty of Amritsar,1846: British sold kashmir to Dogra
King Gulab Singh of Jammu for 7.5 million Rupees.
 Established Engineering College at Roorkee in 1847

20. LORD DALHOUSIE (1848-1856)
 The Doctrine of Lapse: any princely state
under the direct or indirect control of the
East India Company, should the ruler not
produce a legal male heir, would be annexed
by the company; any adopted son of the
Indian ruler could not be proclaimed as heir to the
kingdom; Many Indian states lost their sovereignty and
became British territories; led to a lot of unrest among the
Indian princes; this was one of the causes of the Indian
Revolt of 1857.
 Father of Indian Railways, 1st Railway line connecting
Bombay and Thane in 1855
 Establishment of Public Works Department

21.  Post Office Act, 1854
 Abolished female infanticide; abolished the practice of human
sacrifice practiced by the khonds of Orissa, Madras and Central
Provinces; passed the Religious Disability Act,1850 which
enabled the Hindu convert to inherit his ancestral property;
passed the Widow Remarriage Act in 1855.
 All ports of India were declared free, all the sea-trade was
captured by the English merchants.
 The first telegraph line from Calcutta to Agra was opened in
1854.
 Wood‟s Despatch of 1854: „Magna-Carta’ of English
Education in India; recommended Anglo Vernacular Schools
throughout the districts, Government Colleges in important
towns and a University in each of the three Presidencies in
India, English was made the medium of instruction for higher
studies; Bethune School (founded by J.E.D. Bethune) was
started for women education.

22.  The Charter Act of 1853: The Board of Directors could create
a new presidency or province (two new provinces of Sind and
Punjab were added); local representation was introduced into
the legislative council in the form of four members from the
local governments of Bengal, Bombay, Madras and North
Western Provinces; It gave birth to the Indian civil services and
was open to all including Indians, this ended the system of
appointments by recommendation and started a system of open
and fair competition.
 2nd Anglo-Sikh war (1848-1849): fought between Sikhs assisted
by Afghan ruler Dost Mohammad Khan and British; Punjab
was annexed by the British in March 1849 as per the Treaty of
Lahore; The famous Koh-i-Noor diamond went into British
hands.
 Santhal Rebellion(1855-56): Santhals were the agricultural
people settled in Chota Nagpur Plateau region; their life was
disrupted by the Zamindari system that British introduced,
They were rendered landless bonded labourers in their own
homes; Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu organised 10,000 Santhals
and proclaimed a rebellion against the Dikus(outsiders); British
created Santhal Pargana in 1866 and no outsiders were
allowed there to settle.

23. LORD CANNING(1856-1862)
 First Governor-General and Viceroy of India
 Indian Rebellion of 1857: The Indian rebellion was
fed by resentments born of diverse perceptions,
including invasive British-style social reforms, harsh land
taxes, Unequal pay for Indian sepoys, racial discrimination,
sepoys were Forced to travel overseas, Newly introduced
Enfield rifles had beef fat coatings (trigger point); The
rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the form of
a mutiny of sepoys of the Company's army in the garrison
town of Meerut, It then erupted into other mutinies and
civilian rebellions chiefly in the upper Gangetic
plain and central India; Bahadur Shah Zafar, was declared
the Emperor of Hindustan; however initially sepoys
managed to siege Delhi, Kanpur, Arrah, Lucknow, Jhansi,
Punjab but British took control in the later phase of the
revolt.

24.  Bombay, Madras and Calcutta universities were set up
in 1857
 Government of India Act,1858: Queen Victoria, who was the
monarch of Britain, also became the sovereign of British
territories in India; The representative of the British
government in India was the Governor-General and Viceroy
(both the same person); powers of the Company‟s Board of
Directors were vested with the Secretary of State for India,
Secretary of State was to be a British MP and a member of the
Prime Minister‟s cabinet, act also ended the doctrine of lapse;
Introduced principle of Subordination (Princely states would
have their independent status provided they accept British
suzerainty)
 First Secretary of State for India: Lord Stanley
 Introduction of Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Penal Code
(1858)
 Peel Commision,1859: on military affairs of India; Indian army
should be composed of different nationalities and castes, and
as a general rule, mixed promiscuously through each regiment.

25.  Indigo Rebellion(1859-60): Indigo cultivation started in Bengal
in 1777; cultivators were forced to grow indigo in place of food
crops; indigo farmers revolted in the Nadia district of Bengal by
refusing to grow indigo; revolt was backed by the Bengali
intelligentsia, Muslims and the missionaries, press also
supported the revolt and wrote articles in newspapers, the
play Nil Darpan by Dinabandhu Mitra written in 1858-59
portrayed the farmers‟ situation accurately; the revolt was
largely non-violent; the government appointed the Indigo
Commission in 1860; a notification was also issued which stated
that farmers could not be forced to grow indigo.
 Indian Councils Act 1861: introduction of the portfolio
system(each member was assigned a portfolio of a particular
department- home, military, law, revenue and finance); the
Governor-General‟s Council was enlarged by 6 and 12 additional
members; Lord Canning nominated three Indians to the Council
in 1862 namely, the Raja of Benares, the Maharaja of Patiala
and Sir Dinkar Rao; the legislative council had limited role, it
was chiefly advisory, no discussion on finance was permitted.

26.  Bengal Rent Act,1859: the Farmers who had been holding lands
for 20 years on the same rent were deemed to be entitled of this
right since 1793; unless an inquiry of a court was made, their
rent could not be enhanced; It also provided ryots right to sublet
their lands.
 Indian Income Tax Act,1860: India‟s First “Union Budget”
Introduced by Pre-independence finance minister, James
Wilson on 7 April, 1860; This act was enforced to meet the
losses sustained by the government on account of the military
mutiny of 1857.
 Indian Civil Services Act,1861: any person, whether Indian or
European could be appointed to any of the offices, some of
the principal civil offices in India were reserved to
the covenanted civil service (only British were eligible for
these).
 Indian High Courts Act,1861: fused the Supreme Courts, Sadar
Diwani Adalats and Sadar Fauzdari Adalats and also
established high courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.
 The Archaeological Survey of India was founded in 1861
by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-
General.

27. LORD LAWRENCE(1864-69)
 Establishment of summer capital at Shimla in 1864
 Bhutan War(1864-65): fought between British and
Bhutanese, later had to cede territories of Assam and
Bengal Duars to former through the treaty of Sinchula.
 Establishent of Famine Commission headed by Henery
Kempbell in 1866.
 Submarine telegraphy system started in 1865 between
India and Europe via Persian Gulf.
 Policy of Masterly inactivity in foreign affairs

28. LORD MAYO(1869-1872)
 Organized the Statistical Survey of India
which conducted India‟s First Census in
1871.
 Indian Evidence Act in 1872: introduced a
standard set of law applicable to all Indians
irrespective of religion.
 Opening of Rajkumar college in
Rajkot and Mayo College at Ajmer for
political training of Indian Princes.
 He was the first Viceroy to be murdered in
office by a Pathan Sher Ali in Port Blair.

29. LORD NORTHBROOK(1872-1876)
 Deposition of Gaekwad of Baroda in 1875
 Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) was
established at Kolkata on 15 January 1875
 Abolition of Income tax
 The Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Victoria visited
India in 1876, the intent of this visit was to inspire the
local princes‟ loyalty to the British Empress and affirm
their central role in the maintenance of the empire.
 Execution of 66 Kukas by cannon in 1872, Kuka was a
religio-political movement in Punjab established on the
basis of saying only God‟s name, They wanted caste-
abolition, permission of intermarriages, widow-
remarriages, abstinence from desi liquor, meat and drugs,
founded by Bhagat Jawhar Mal aka Sian Sahib.

30.  Deccan Riots (1874-75): In the ryotwari areas of Pune and
Ahmadnagar; land revenue was very high; American civil
war,1860 led to boom in demand of cotton export, but In
1864, war ended, cotton export declined, yet government
raised land revenue; Farmers had taken loans from
moneylenders, but now they cannot repay, Moneylenders
took away their land; villagers led by traditional headmen
revolted, Violence was used only when the moneylenders
refused to hand over the documents; Later got support
from Poona Sarvajanik Sabha led by Justice Ranade.
 Bombay Stock Exchange,1875: established with the name
of The Native Share & Stock Broker's Association in
Mumbai; Asia‟s first exchange.

31. LORD LYTTON(1876-1880)
 The Royal Titles Act of 1876: A Grand Darbar was
organized at Delhi on January 1, 1877, in which
Queen Victoria was proclaimed empress of India.
Queen Victoria was proclaimed with title “Kaisar-i-Hind” at this
Darbar.
 Vernacular Press Act 1878: magistrates of the districts were
empowered to call upon a printer and publisher of any kind to
enter into a Bond, undertaking not to publish anything which
might “rouse” feelings of disaffection against the government;
magistrate was also authorized to deposit a security, which
could be confiscated if the printer violated the Bond and if
violation repeated his press could be seized.
 Eden Commission,1879: recommended that each infantry
brigade should comprise of two British and two Indian
battalions (then called regiments). It also recommended the
inclusion of one British regiment in each cavalry brigade

32.  Agriculturists Relief Act,1879: enacted after Deccan
agrarian revolt; peasants could not be arrested and sent to
jail if they failed to pay their debts.
 The maximum age to enter into the Civil Services
Examination was reduced from 21 years to 19 years.
 The Indian Arms Act of 1878: no Indians could keep
unlicensed arms; However, the English people could hold
arms without license.
 Treaty of Gandamak: After 2nd Anglo Afghan War, Sher
Ali‟s Son, Mohammad Yaqub Khan signed a treaty of
Gandamak in May, 1879 to prevent British Invasion in
rest of the country
 Used to write poems with the Pen name of Owen
Meredith. Lucile was a verse novel written by Lord Lytton.

33. LORD RIPON(1880-1884)
 The Vernacular Press Act was repealed in
1882
 Factory Act 1881: This act is applicable only
to factories using mechanical powers,
employing not less than 100 workers; The act prohibited
employment of children under the age 7; children between
the age 7-12 were to work for maximum 9 hours; provision
of one hour rest; 4 days leave in a month
 Local Self Government (Resolution of 1882): Lord Ripon is
known as Father of Local Self Government in India; His
scheme of local self government developed the Municipal
institutions; Local bodies should have mostly elected non-
governmental members and chairman; bodies must be
endowed with adequate financial resources to carry out
their functions;

34.  Hunter Education Commission,1882: responsibility for the
Primary Education must be given to the Local Boards and
Municipal Boards; There should be literary and vocational
training in secondary education; Missionary schools were
discouraged and Indian participation in the private school
system was solicited.
 Ilbert Bill,1884: allowed Indian judges and magistrates
the jurisdiction to try British offenders in criminal cases at
the District level; never passed
 Criminal Procedure Code Amendment Act 1884:
jurisdiction to try Europeans would be conferred on
European and Indian District Magistrates and Sessions
Judges alike. However, a defendant would in all cases
have the right to claim trial by a jury of which at least half
the members must be European
 The age for entry in the Civil Services was once again
raised to 21 years

35. LORD DUFFERIN(1884-1888)
 Birth of Congress 1885: A O Hume secured the
Viceroy‟s approval to create an “Indian National
Union”, which would be affiliated with the
government and act as a platform to voice Indian
public opinion; On 28 December 1885, the Indian National
Congress was founded at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit
College in Bombay, with 72 delegates in attendance. The
first session was presided by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee;
Congress adopted a resolution expressing the
dissatisfaction on the current system of Governance and
demanded reforms in the Councils.
 3rd Anglo-Burmese War,1886: fought between King
Thebau and British; Burma Annexed by British.
 Allahabad Session of Congress,1888: presided by George
Yule, first non-Indian to served as the President of INC

36. LORD LANSDOWNE(1888-1894)
 Set up Durand Commission in 1893 for demarcation
of Border between Afghanistan and India (now
between Pakistan and Afghanistan).
 Indian Councils Act 1892: beginning of the parliamentary
System in India; the members were allowed to ask questions on
domestic matters with prior permission of
the Governor General; A system of indirect elections was
introduced to elect the members of the councils; the
universities, district board, municipalities, Zamindars and
chambers of commerce were empowered to recommend
members to provincial councils; women had no right to vote.
 Opium Commission 1893: to inquire into the results of using
opium in India; reported in 1895 favoring use of Opium as it is
used by the holy saints of India, Opium is not associated to
any disease and it is widely used as a remedy in Malaria and
Fever.

37. LORD ELGIN(1894-1899)
 Welby Commission,1895: a royal commission to
examine military and civil expenditures of government;
Dadabhai Naoroji was it‟s only Indian member.
 Epidemic Diseases Act,1897: aims to provide for the
better prevention of the spread of dangerous epidemic diseases;
Section 2A of the Act empowers the central government to take
steps to prevent the spread of an epidemic. It allows the
government to inspect any ship arriving or leaving any post and
the power to detain any person intending to sail or arriving in
the country; Section 3 provides penalties for disobeying any
regulation or order made under the Act; Section 4 gives legal
protection to the implementing officers.
 Famine Commission/Lyall Commission,1898: recommended
increasing the minimum wage in the "relief works," and
extending gratuitous (or charitable) relief during the rainy
season, generous remissions of land revenue.
 Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote inflammatory articles in the Kesari
newspaper, arrested, declared in court “Swaraj is my birthright
and I shall have it”. Inspired by this, Plague commissioner W C
Rand were murdered in Pune by Chapekar Brothers.

38. LORD CURZON(1899-1905)
 Punjab Land Alienation Act,1900: 15 year
limitation on all land purchases and mortgages;
no non-peasant could buy lands from the peasants;
and no one could attach the land for non-payment of debts.
 MacDonnell Commission,1901: setup after great famine of 1899-
1900, Chappania Akal
 Irrigation Commission,1901: headed by Sir Colin Scott-
Moncrieff; construction of irrigation works including a network
of canals in Punjab
 Police Commission/Frazer Commission,1902: attached
Department of Criminal Intelligence (DCI) to the Government of
India while set up the Criminal Investigation
Departments (CIDs) in the provinces of British India; in 1903,
the Thugi and Dakaiti Department was abolished.
 Raleigh Commission,1902: for University reforms; Commission
had only one Indian member, Syed Hussain Belgrami, when
Hindus protested about this, Justice Guru Das Banerjee was
called from the High Court of Calcutta and made a member.

39.  Indian Universities Act,1904: placed the final decision concerning
the affiliation and disaffiliation of colleges in the hands of the
Government of India; act allowed the Government to appoint a
majority of the fellows in a university; for better education and
research a grant of Rs. 5 Lakh per year for 5 years.
 Ancient Monuments Preservation Act,1904: established the
Archaeological Department which was to collect the historical
documents and importance, conduct excavations and bring the
ancient historical information into light; act made any injury to the
protected monuments an offence punishable.
 Imperial Cadet Corps,1904: to provide military education and
special officer commissions to Indian princes and aristocrats, their
education was to be at one of the Chief‟s college at Rajkot, Indore,
Lahore or Ajmer
 The Agriculture Research Institute in Pusa (Bihar-Bengal
Presidency) was established.
 the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) was established which
covered roughly the areas of upper course of River Indus.
 Central Hindu Girls School, Benaras established by Annie Besant
in 1904.
 Ladies Social Conference founded by Ramabai Ranade in 1904
focused on child marriage, condition of widows, dowry and other
evil customs.

40.  Indian Official Secrets Act,1904: to muzzle the voice of
nationalist publications
 Delhi Durbar of 1903: held to celebrate the succession
of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark as Emperor and
Empress of India
 Partition of Bengal,1905: Province of Bengal included
present-day West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Bangladesh and
Assam; For administrative ease, the partition of the province
had been proposed into the two provinces- Bengal (including
modern West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar) and Eastern Bengal
and Assam; Bengal would have a Hindu majority and Eastern
Bengal and Assam would have a Muslim majority population;
Many people in Bengal regarded this partition as an insult to
their motherland; Rabindranath Tagore composed the famous
song „Amar Sonar Bangla‟ which later became the national
anthem of Bangladesh; The Swadeshi and Boycott movements in
the national struggle started; On the date of the partition(16
Oct,1905), people observed a day of mourning; Tagore asked
Hindus and Muslims to tie rakhis to each other as a mark of
protest. Partition was annulled in 1911

41. LORD MINTO(1905-1910)
 Calcutta session of Congress,1906: presided by
Dadabhai Naoroji; passed four resolutions- Resolution
on Partition of Bengal, Resolution of Self Government
(Swaraj), Resolution on Swadeshi, Resolution on Boycott.
 All-India Muslim League (AIML),1906: founded in Dhaka; Aga
Khan III was first president; chief aim was to promote and
secure civil rights for Muslims; espoused loyalty to the British
government as a means to achieve more political and civil
rights.
 Shimla Deputation: A group of elite Muslims led by Aga Khan
met Lord Minto in 1906 and placed their demand for a separate
electorate for the Muslims.
 Surat Split of Congress,1907: splitting of the Indian National
Congress into two groups - the Extremists and the Moderates at
the Surat session in 1907 presided by Rash Behari Ghosh; The
key extremist leaders were Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar
Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal).

42.  Prevention of Seditious Meetings act,1907: to restrict the public
meetings which were likely to promote sedition or to cause a
disturbance.
 News Paper Act,1908: act provided to confiscate the press if it
published anything against the Government and incited the
public outrage
 Explosive Substances Act,1908: act prohibited the use of any
explosive substance with intention of taking life or cause serious
injury to property.
 India House was an organisation in London involved in the
freedom struggle of India mainly engaging Indian students in
the UK as its participants; Patrons of this organisation included
Shyamji Krishna Varma and Bhikaiji Cama; liquidated after the
assassination of an army officer Curzon Wyllie by its member
Madan Lal Dhingra in 1909.
 Alipore Bomb Case,1908: Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki
threw a bomb to kill D.H. Kingford, the Chief Presidency
Magistrate of Muzaffarpur; magistrate survived the attack but
two British ladies were killed; Prafulla Chaki committed suicide;
Khudi Ram Bose was arrested and hanged.

43.  Nasik Conspiracy Case,1909: In 1904, VD Savarakar had
launched an Abhinav Bharat Society; In 1909, Anant
Lakshaman Karkare, a member of this organization shot dead
AMT Jackson, the district magistrate of Nasik; 27 members of
Abhinav Bharat Society were convicted and punished.
 Indian Councils Act,1909 (Morley Minto reforms): legislative
councils at the Centre and the provinces increased in size;
legislative councils were to have four categories of members as
follows- Ex officio members: Governor-General and members of
the executive council, Nominated official members, Nominated
non-official members, indirectly elected members; The local
bodies elected an electoral college who would elect members of
the provincial legislative councils, these members would, in
turn, elect the members of the Central legislative council;
separate electorates for the Muslims.
 Press Act of 1910: imposed stringent censorship and restriction
of on all types of publications to curtail and restrict the
emerging Indian freedom struggle.
 Bharat Stree Mahamandal: formed by Sarala Devi
Chaudhurani in 1910 to bring together women of all castes,
creeds, classes, and parties on the basis of their common
interest in the moral and material progress.

44. LORD HARDINGE(1910-1916)
 Delhi Durbar,1911: to commemorate the coronation of
King George V and Queen Mary; transfer of capital
from Calcutta to Delhi; annulment of the partition of
Bengal.
 Partition of Bengal to form Bihar province (modern Bihar and
Orissa), 1912
 Delhi Conspiracy case,1912: some members of Yugantar threw
bomb in Chandni Chwok of Delhi to kill Lord Harding, the
Viceroy survived; it was thought that this conspiracy was
hatched by Ras Behari Bose, who then went underground and
fled to Japan; in the trial, Basant Kumar Biswas, Amir Chand
and Avadh Behari were convicted and executed.
 Ghadar Party,1913: Lal Hardayal set up Pacific Coast
Hindustan Association with Sohan Singh Bhakna as its
president, which was called Ghadar Party.
 B.H.U. Act,1915: BHU act was passed by which Pandit Madan
Mohan Malviya established the Banaras Hindu University.

45.  Komagata Maru incident,1914: a Japanese steamship
called „Komagata Maru‟ that voyaged from Hong Kong to
Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada carrying 376
passengers from Punjab, out of all the passengers 24 were
admitted to Canada, but the other 352 passengers were not
allowed inside Canada, and the ship was forcefully returned to
Calcutta in September 1914, the passengers were asked to take
Punjab-bound train, which they refused and in a conflict 22
people died.
 Begin of World War I, June 1914: World war-I started and India
naturally became a belligerent in the war; the moderates
supported the war because, who knows their demands of self
Government may be fulfilled after the war.
 Ghadar Movement,1914: leaders of Ghadar party decided to
move to India and mobilise the anti-Britain sentiments amongst
the civilian population and the Indian recruits into the British
army; Ailan-e-Jung or Proclamation of War was issued and
circulated among Indians settled in various countries to arouse
them to go to India and give shape to an armed rebellion;
government CID broken into the Ghadar movement; all the
main brass of the Ghadar was immediately arrested on their
arrival at India.

46.  Indian Independence Committee/Berlin Committee: was an
organization formed in Germany in 1914 during World War I by
Indian students and political activists residing in the country to
promote the cause of Indian Independence; Famous members of
the committee included Virendranath Chattopadhyaya,
Chempakaraman Pillai and Abinash Bhattacharya
 Defense of India Act,1915: to curtail the nationalist and
revolutionary activities of the Indian Independence Movement
during and in the aftermath of World War I; law made it illegal
to communicate with the enemy, obtaining information,
spreading false reports, as well as any activities that the
government saw prejudicial to the war effort; allowed local
governments to make rules to detain indefinitely, without
representation, and to try by special tribunals persons
“reasonably suspected” of being of hostile origin or acting in a
manner prejudicial to the safety of the empire.
 Indian Home Rule League,1916: Bal Gangadhar Tilak launched
the Indian Home Rule League at Belgaum and Annie
Besant launched the Home Rule League at Madras; To achieve
self-government in India; To promote political education and
discussion to set up agitation for self-government; leagues
organized demonstrations and agitations, public meetings.

47. LORD CHELMSFORD(1916-1921)
 Lucknow Session of Congress,1916: presided by Ambica
Charan Majumdar; moderates and extremists came
together for the first time since Surat split 1907.
 Lucknow Pact/Tilak-Jinnah Pact,1916: agreement
between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the All India
Muslim League reached at a joint session of both the parties
held at Lucknow; Self-rule in India; 1/3rd representation to the
Muslims in the Central Government; Separate electorates for all
communities; Introduction of a system of weightage for minority
representation; Half the members of the Imperial Legislative
Council to be Indians; All elected members to be elected directly
on the basis of adult franchise; Sarojini Naidu gave Jinnah the
title „the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity‟.
 Montague Declaration,1917: Samuel Montagu made a statement
in the British Parliament; The title of this statement
was: “Increasing association of Indians in every branch of
administration, and the gradual development of self governing
Institutions with a view to the progressive realization
of responsible governments in India as an Integral part of the
British Empire”; called “sunless dawn” by Tilak.

48.  Southborough Committee,1916: appointed to work out the details
of the post-war package of constitutional reforms, known as the
Montagu-Chelmsford reforms; The seven-member Southborough
Committee had three Indian members, Surendranath Banerjee,
V S Srinivasa Sastri and Sahibzada Aftab Ahmad Khan.
 Saddler University Commission,1917: to study and report on the
problems of the Calcutta University following the enactment of
The Universities Act of 1904; It included two Indians, Dr.
Ziauddin Ahmed and Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee; it reviewed the
entire field of education from the school to the university stage.
 Indian Constitutional Reforms Report/ Montague-Chelmsford
Report,1918: This report became the basis of Government of
India Act 1919; India is a part of British Empire; A beginning of
responsible government should be done in the provinces;
Enlargement of the provincial Legislative Councils and more
freedom to them from outside control; devolution of powers from
the center should be extended and legalized.

49.  Government of India Act/Montagu-Chelmsford reforms,
1919: At provincial level Dyarchy was introduced, i.e., there were
two classes of administrators – Executive councilors and
ministers; Governor was the executive head of the province;
Governor was in charge of the reserved list along with his
executive councilors, subjects under this list were law and order,
irrigation, finance, land revenue, etc. Ministers were in charge of
subjects under the transferred list, subjects included were
education, local government, health, excise, industry, public
works, religious endowments, etc. The size of the provincial
legislative assemblies was increased. Now about 70% of the
members were elected; separate electorates for other
communities e.g. Sikhs, Dravidian, Anglo-Indians; educated and
land holder women were given voting rights for the first time. A
bicameral legislature was set up with two houses – Legislative
Assembly (forerunner of the Lok Sabha) and the Council of State
(forerunner of the Rajya Sabha). The legislators could ask
questions and also vote a part of the budget. This act provided
for the first time, the establishment of a public service
commission in India; also created an office of the High
Commissioner for India in London.

50.  Champaran Sathyagraha,1917: Champaran, a district in Bihar
where farmers were forced to grow indigo at least 3/20 part of
their land(Tinkhatia system);continued cultivation led to decline
of soil fertility; bought at a very low price; government levied a
heavy tax on them; peasants in Champaran revolted against the
government in indigo plant cultivation in 1914 (at Pipra) and in
1916 at (Turkaulia). Raj Kumar Shukla who was an indigo
cultivator, persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to go to Champaran who
arrived in Champaran on 10 April 1917 with a team of eminent
lawyers i.e.Brajkishore Prasad, Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah
Narayan Sinha and Acharya Kripalani; Gandhi demanded
abolition of Tinkhatiya system and British agreed.
 Kheda Satyagraha,1918: District in Gujrat; peasants were
frequently plagued by poverty, famines, Plague disease and
government increased taxes; revolt was against the taxes
organized by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Gandhi as spiritual
leader; no rent strikes was organized; Tax for the current year
and next year was suspended and all confiscated property was
returned by Government.

51.  Ahmedabad Mill Strike,1918: In March 1918, there was a conflict
between the Gujarat Mill owners and workers on the question of
Plague Bonus of 1917. The Mill Owners wanted to withdraw the
bonus whole the workers demanded a 35% wage hike; Gandhi
was invite by Anasuya Ben Sarabai; Gandhi used the weapon of
Hunger strike in a non-violent disciplined way; the strike was
successful and the workers got a 35% wage hike.
 Indian National Liberal Federation,1919: the Montagu report of
1918 was made public; The moderates welcomed it while the
extremists opposed it; this led to a schism in the Congress with
moderate leaders forming the "Indian National Liberal
Federation“; founded by Surendra Nath Banarjea and some of its
prominent leaders were Tej Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa
Sastri and M. R. Jayakar; They preferred gradual constitutional
reform as the means of achieving independence.
 Treaty of Rawalpindi,1919: signed between British and Afghan
king Amanullah Khan after 3rd Anglo-Afghan war; British
India would not go past Khyber Pass; Afghan king recognized
Durand line as international border between Afghanistan and
British India.

52.  Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act/Rowlatt Act,1919:
law authorized the government to imprison any person suspected
of terrorism for a period of maximum 2 years without trial; a
special cell of 3 high court judges for speedy trial of terrorism
offenses, but there was no court of appeal above that panel;
accept some evidences which were hitherto unacceptable in
Indian Evidence Act.
 Rowlatt Satyagraha,1919: On 6 April, 1919, Mahatma Gandhi
started a non-violent Satyagraha against the unjust Rowlatt Act;
People would refrain from going to work and hold meetings
against the repressive act; The protests were very intense in
Punjab. Two Congress leaders Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin
Kitchlew were arrested.
 Jallianwalla Bagh tragedy,1919: There was martial law in
Amritsar and Lahore; Amritsar was under Brigadier-General
Reginald Dyer; On April 13, 1919 (Baisakhi Day) in Amritsar,
more than 5,000 people had gathered at Jallianwalla Bagh to
peacefully protest the arrest of two leaders, Satyapal and
Kitchlew; the General ordered fire upon the crowd which killed
at least 400 people, many of whom had jumped into a well to
save themselves from bullets; Gandhi called it a “Himalayan
Blunder” also returned the Kaiser-i-Hind title; Rabindranath
Tagore renounced his knighthood.

53.  Hunter Commission,1919: To investigate the Jallianwalla Bagh
Incident, the British Government set up a seven members
committee, four British members and three Indians namely, Sir
Chimanlal Setalvad; Pandit Jagat Narayan and Sardar Sultan
Ahmed Khan; Dyer was removed from the job and sent to
London, but he was never charged of any offence.
 Khilafat Movement, 1919: organized by Indian Muslims to
protest against the shabby treatment meted out to Turkey by the
Allies in World War I.
 Nagpur Session of Congress,1920: presided by C.
Vijayaraghavachariar; decided to launch Non Coperation
Movement under the leadership of Gandhi.
 Non-Cooperation Movement(1921-22): launched by Mahatma
Gandhi for peaceful and non-violent protest against Jallianwalla
Bagh Massacre; it included boycott of British Goods, adoption of
Swadeshi, picketing of liquor shops, boycott of government
offices, councils, law courts, educations institutions and
constructive programs such as Khadi and Charkha. Gandhi also
mixed the Khilafat Movement with Non-cooperation Movement
to strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity.
 Imperial Bank of India established in 1921 by merging Bank of
Bombay, Bengal and Madras (precursor of SBI).

54. LORD READING(1921-1926)
 Moplah Rebellion,1921: revolt of Kudiyaan (tenant
Moplahs) against Jenmis (Hindu Landlords) and
British in Malabar, Kerala; prominent leaders of the
rebellion were Ali Musaliyar and Variyankunnath
Kunjahammed Haji; large-scale violence; rebellion was crushed
by the British who had raised a special battalion, the Malabar
Special Force for the riot.
 Wagon Tragedy: In November 1921, 67 Moplah prisoners were
killed when they were being transported in a closed freight
wagon from Tirur to the Central Prison in Podanur; they died of
suffocation.
 Prince of Wales visited India on November,1921; boycotted by
Congress as a part of NCM.
 Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College,1922:
Inaugurated by Prince of Wales in Dehradun; established on the
recommendations of Rawlinson committee(1921); It was meant
as a military school for training the Indian boys for an entry into
the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

55.  Foundation of Visva-Bharti University at Shantiniketan, West Bengal
in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore.
 Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE),1921: to offer expert
advice on important education matters referred to it; abolished in 1923
 Rowlatt act was repealed on 1922.
 University of Delhi was established in 1922
 Lee Commission,1923: to consider the ethnic composition of the
superior Indian public services; proposed that 40 percent of future
entrants should be British, 40 percent Indians directly recruited, and
20 percent Indians promoted from the provincial service.
 Inchcape Committee/Retrenchment Committee,1923: to look into the
finances of India.
 Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha,1924: formed by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
for removing difficulties of the untouchables and placing their
grievances before government.
 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS),1925: founded by Keshav Baliram
Hedgewar, a doctor working in Nagpur.
 Hilton Young Commission: Royal Commission on Indian Currency and
Finance; In 1926, this commission had recommended to the government
to create a central bank called the 'Reserve Bank of India' in the
country. On the basis of mainly this commission, the RBI act was
passed in 1934.

56.  Chauri-Chaura Incident,1922: On 5 February 1922, participants
of the Non-cooperation movement clashed with police resulting in
the deaths of about 22 policemen and 3 civilians at Chauri
Chaura in the Gorakhpur district,Uttar Pradesh; NCM was
called off by Gandhi and he went on fast for five days; Gandhi
charged with sedition got arrested.
 Gaya Session of Congress,1922: No changers wanted to continue
non-cooperation, Pro changers wanted to end the legislature
boycott and contest elections; at Gaya session presided by C R
Das moved a proposal to enter the legislatures but it was
defeated.
 Swaraj Party,1923: Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party was
formed on 1 January 1923 by C R Das and Motilal Nehru(Pro
changers); Prominent leaders of the Swaraj Party included N C
Kelkar, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Subhas Chandra
Bose; Swaraj Party won 42 out of 104 seats to the Central
Legislature in 1923; Vithalbhai Patel became speaker of the
Central Legislative Assembly in 1925.
 Muddiman Committee,1924: to go into the provisions of the
Government of India Act 1919 and pinpoint the defects. The
members of this committee included Sir Sivaswami Aiyar; Dr. R
P Paranjape; Sir Tejbahadur Sapru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
 Belgaum Session of Congress1924: presided by Gandhi; Swaraj
party returned to Congress.

57.  Peshawar Conspiracy,1923: Many Muslims from Peshawar went to
Moscow and started getting training related to Military and
Communist regimes; When they returned to create disturbances, the
Government caught them on the way and were sentenced to long
imprisonment.
 Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case,1924: Some newly turned
communists named M N Roy, Muzaffar Ahamed, S A Dange, Shaukat
Usmani, Nalini Gupta, Singaravelu Chettiar, Ghulam Hussain were
caught by the Government and were trailed for conspiring against the
Government; the case was much hyped in newspapers and introduced
communism to Indian public; Communist Party was founded by M N
Roy at Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 1920.
 Hindustan Republican Association (HRA),1924: first armed militant
group formed by Ramprasad Bismil at Allahabad; prominent members
of the party were Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee,
Sukhdev, Rajguru.
 Vaikom Satyagraha,1924: movement in Travancore (modern-day
Kerala) for temple entry of the depressed classes.
 Kakori Train Conspiracy,1925: was a work of members of HRA; they
wanted to carry out a political dacoity to secure money from
Government. The loot was done successfully but the plot was soon
unearthed. Some 30 people were arrested and trial led to execution of
Swaran Singh (uncle of Bhagat Singh), Ram Prasad Bismil,
Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Roshan Singh.

58. LORD IRWIN(1926-1931)
 Simon Commission,1928: group of 7 MPs from Britain who was
sent to India in 1928 to study constitutional reforms and make
recommendations to the government; Commission was
composed entirely of British members; this was seen as an insult to
Indians; Congress Party decided to boycott the Commission at their
session at Madras in 1927,Congress members resigned from legislative
council in protest against commission; Muslim League led by M A
Jinnah also boycotted it, certain section of members led by Muhammad
Shafi supported the government; When the Commission landed in
February 1928, there were mass protests, hartals and black flag
demonstrations all over the country; people were chanting the slogan,
„Simon Go Back.‟ Commission recommended the abolition of diarchy
and the setting-up of representative governments in the provinces;
recommended the retention of separate communal electorates; The
Simon Commission led to the Government of India Act, 1935.
 All India Association of People‟s Council,1927: first session held in
Bombay under the leadership of Balwantrai Mehta, Maniklal Kothari,
G R Abhyankar; established to encourage political dialogue between
Princely class and British Raj upon the issues of governance, political
stability and future of India; demanded responsible government and
rights of citizenship for the people of princely states.

59.  Death of Lala Lajpat Rai: At Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai organized a
massive protest and was fatally wounded in lathicharge.
 Nehru Report,1928: Secretary of State for India, Lord Birkenhead
challenged the Indian leaders to draft a constitution for India; political
leaders accepted this challenge and an All Party Conference was held
and a committee appointed with the task of drafting a constitution,
headed by Motilal Nehru with Jawaharlal Nehru as the Secretary;
major components of the Nehru Report were- Dominion status to India
within the British Commonwealth; Bill of Rights; Assigning Equal
rights to men and women as citizens; Formation of a federal form of
government with residuary powers in the hands of Centre; Proposal for
the creation of Supreme Court; No state religion; reservation of
minority seats; No separate electorates for any community.
 Delhi Proposals: many Muslim leaders met Motilal Nehru at Delhi and
suggested a few proposals; 1/3rd representation of Muslims in the
Central Legislature; Representation to Muslims in Punjab and Bengal
in proportion to their populations; Formation of three new provinces
with a Muslim majority – Sindh, Baluchistan and North-West Frontier
Province (NWFP); Residual powers to be vested with the provinces;
Since these demands of Jinnah were not met, he gave the „Fourteen
Points‟ in March 1929, which served as the basis of all future agenda of
the Muslim League.

60.  Poorna Swarajya Resolution,1929: In the Lahore session of 1929
(presided by Jawaharlal Nehru), the congress passed a Poorna
Swarajya Resolution (drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru) for complete
independence; As per this resolution, the Central and Provincial
legislatures, and future elections would be boycotted; and a
program of Civil Disobedience would be launched. On midnight
of December 31, 1929 and January 1, 1930, Nehru unfurled the
Flag of India‟s independence in Lahore at bank of river Ravi;
January 26, 1930 was decided to be observed as Poorna Swarajya
Day; On that day, a “Declaration of Independence” pledge
(drafted by Mahatma Gandhi) was taken.
 Dandi March and Salt Satyagrah,1930: Salt Satyagraha began
with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930 as a part of Civil
Disobedience Movement. Gandhi led the Dandi march from
Sabarmati Ashram to the sea coast near the village of Dandi; In
this journey of 24 days and covering a distance of 390 kilometres,
thousands of people joined him. He reached Dandi on April 6,
1930, and broke the salt law. This was formal inauguration of
CDM and millions of Indians jumped in the tumult.

61.  Dharsana Salt march led by Sarojini Naidu; Madras salt march
led by C Rajgopalachari; North West Frontier province march by
Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan; other parts of Gujrat by Sardar Patel
 Civil Disobedience Movement: Violation of the laws such as Salt
Law; Non payment of Land Revenue, Taxes and Rent; Boycott of
courts of law, legislatures, elections, Government functionaries,
Schools and Colleges; Peaceful picketing of liquor shops; Boycott
of Civil Services, Military and Police services; Sixty thousand
people were arrested in less than one year; Properties of tax
defaulters were confiscated; Gandhi and all important leaders
were arrested.
 First Round Table Conference,1930: Held in London, chaired by
PM Ramsay MacDonald; to deliberate upon and bring about
constitutional reforms in British India; boycotted by Congress;
but attended by Muslim League, Hindus, Justice Party, Sikhs,
liberals, Parsis, Christians, Anglo-Indians etc; Dr B R Ambedkar
demanded separate electorates for the „untouchables‟. Tej
Bahadur Sapru moved the idea of an All-India Federation; not
much was implemented and the Conference was regarded as a
failure.

62.  Allahabad Address,1930: speech by Muhammad Iqbal during 25th
annual session of the All-India Muslim League at Allahabad; Iqbal
outlined a vision of an independent state for Muslim-majority
provinces in northwestern India, thus becoming the first politician to
articulate what would become known as the Two-nation theory.
 Gandhi-Irwin Pact/Delhi Pact,1931: a political agreement concluded by
Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin; these talks which proposed that-
Gandhi would discontinue the Civil Disobedience Movement, Congress
agreed to participate in Second Round Table Conference, The
ordinance promulgated in wake of CDM would be withdrawn, Those
detained in connection with CDM would be released, People living in
areas near sea coast would be allowed to collect duty free salt,
Government allowed the people peaceful picketing of liquor shops; two
Demands of Gandhi not agreed to by Irwin- A public inquiry into police
excesses during its suppression of the movement and Commuting the
death sentences of Bhagat Singh and his associates to life sentences.
 Karachi Session of Congress,1931: presided by Sardar Patel; congress
formally endorsed the Gandhi Irwin Pact and he was also nominated to
represent congress in 2nd Round Table Conference; Karachi
Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy was also
adopted drafted by Nehru and MN Roy.

63.  Hindustan Republican Socialist Association(HSRA): in 1928, Hindustan
Republican Association was changed to HSRA primarily because of
Bhagat Singh‟s insistence. In 1929, the HSRA also bombed a train
carrying Lord Irwin, He was unharmed
 Lahore Conspiracy Case,1928: Bhagat Singh and Rajguru shot a police
officer John Saunders in a case of mistaken identity. They had intended
to shoot James A Scott who ordered lathicharge on Lala Lajpat Rai.
 Meerut Conspiracy,1929: Communist International is commonly known
as 'Comintern' was operating in Russia; Two Britishers, Philip Sprat
and B.F. Bradly were sent out to India by the Communist International
to carry out its design and to strengthen its movement; They formed a
Workers and Peasant Party and held its conference at Meerut; This
worried the Government; They raided and arrested 31 persons;
The Public Safety Bill of 1929 especially introduced in order to repress
the growing communist activities in India
 Central Assembly bombing case,1929: Bhagat SIngh and BK Dutt
bombed the Central Legislative Assembly, Delhi on 8th April 1929 to
protest against two bills- Public Safety Bill and Trade Dispute Bill;
Their only intention was to “make the deaf hear” and not to harm
anyone. In 1931, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to
death for it in Lahore jail.
 Chittagong Armory Raid,1930: Indian Republican Army led by Surya
Sen raided the armory of the Police and Auxiliary forces from the
Chittagong armory in Bengal; leader Surya Sen took a military salute,
hoisted the National Flag and proclaimed a Provisional Revolutionary
Government; He was arrested and hanged in 1934.

64. LORD WILLINGDON(1931-1936)
 Second Round Table conference,1931: Gandhi
represented Indian National Congress and Sarojini
Naidu represented Indian women; British decided to
grant a communal award for representing minorities
in India by providing for separate electorates for minority
communities, Gandhi was against this; The second round table
conference was deemed a failure because of the many
disagreements among the participants.
 Census of 1931 provides information regarding the size and
characteristics of various castes in India
 Poona Pact,1932: Dr Ambedkar was in favor of a separate
electorate for the Depressed Classes and this was laid down by
him in the 1st RTC; Gandhi was against this idea and when PM
Macdonald decided to grant communal awards to minorities and
the Depressed Classes, he undertook a fast whilst in jail in
Poona; Dr Ambedkar and Gandhi made the Poona Pact which
laid down reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in the
provincial legislatures for which elections would be through joint
electorates.

65.  Civil Disobedience Movement -Second Phase(1931-34): Once
Gandhi returned from London, Congress decided to resume the
Civil Disobedience Movement; within a week Gandhi was
arrested; in next four months some 80 thousand people were
jailed; Protests started all over India including picketing the
liquor shops, burning of foreign cloths and processions; Congress
and other political parties were declared illegal; Offices and
funds of the parties were seized; All Ashrams of Gandhi were
occupied by Police. In a few months, the movement was crushed.
 Mev Uprising,1931: uprising in Alwar Rajasthan, where Mevs
rose against the local raja against his revenue enhancement
measures; the Raja was sent to Europe and his administration
came under central government for many years.
 Third Round Table Conference,1932: Congress was not invited;
Only some 46 people attended this conference. In this, a college
student Chaudhary Rahmat Ali proposed the name of Pakistan,
the new “holy land” specially carved out from India for the
Muslims (Pakistan Decalaration); At the end of this conference, a
White Paper was released on the basis of which the Government
of India Act, 1935 was drafted.
 The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 in
accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act,
1934 in Calcutta; private entity, nationalized in 1949.

66.  Government of India Act,1935: Creation of an All India
Federation consist of British India and the princely states; Act
divided powers between the center and the provinces; There were
three lists which gave the subjects under each government-
Federal List (Centre),Provincial List (Provinces), Concurrent List
(Both), Residuary subjects (Viceroy); Diarchy at center {subjects
under the Federal List were divided into two: (1)Reserved
(Governor-General) subjects are defense, external affairs, press,
police, taxation, justice, power resources and tribal affairs (2)
Transferred (Elected Ministers) subjects are local government,
forests, education, health, etc.}; The Act gave more autonomy to
the provinces; Diarchy was abolished at the provincial levels;
bicameral legislature with Federal Assembly (lower house) and
the Council of States (upper house); separate electorates for the
minority communities, women and the depressed classes; About
10% of the whole population acquired voting rights; Indian
Council was abolished; Sindh was carved out of Bombay
Presidency; Bihar and Orissa were split; Burma was severed off
from India; establishment of federal, provincial and joint Public
Service Commissions; Federal Railway Authority was set up; A
federal court was established at Delhi; Bicameral legislatures
were introduced in some provinces also like Bengal, Madras,
Bombay, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces.

67. LORD LINLITHGOW(1936-1943)
 Provincial Elections,1937: elections were held in 11
provinces with only 11.5% people were eligible to
vote; The Congress kept “demand for constituent
assembly” at top of its election manifesto, won with
absolute majority in five provinces (Central Province,
Bihar, Orissa, Assam, United Province); In Punjab,
Unionist party with Congress formed coalition government;
Muslim league formed the coalition government in Bengal;
while in Sind, Sind United Party won; In Madras, Congress
was in coalition with Justice party; In North-West Frontier
Province and Bombay, Congress was in coalition with
Regional Party.
 Pirpur Committee,1938: established by Muslim league; to
prepare a report regarding the atrocities of Congress
ministries; report charged the Congress for interference
with religion, suppression of Urdu, denial of representation
to Muslims.

68.  Begin of Second World War,1939: September 3, 1939, Lord
Linlithgow declared India as belligerent and at war; Subhash
Chandra Bose advocated a campaign of mass civil disobedience
to protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow‟s decision to declare
war on India‟s behalf; On 22 October,1939 Congress ministries
from provinces resigned; Muslim league supported British on its
war decisions
 Day of deliverance, 22 December 1939: Jinnah put out an appeal
calling for Indian Muslims to celebrate the day as day of
deliverance from Congress.
 Forward Bloc,1939: socialist political party; Subhash Chandra
Bose resigned from Congress President Ship and declared the
formation of Forward Bloc from Calcutta.
 Lahore Session of Muslim league,1940: Fazlul Haq moved a
resolution which said: “the areas in which Muslims are
numerically in majority, as in north-western and eastern zones
of India, should be grouped to constitute the Independent States
in which the Constituent units would be autonomous and
sovereign”. This resolution was passed and then gave the two
nation theory
 Ramgarh Session of Congress,1940: Congress passed a
resolution in which it offered Government support in war if a
provisional National Government is set up at Centre.

69.  August Offer,1940: by Linlithgow to Indians; Dominion status to
India; representative Indian body would be framed after the war
to frame a constitution for India; INC rejected this offer at its
meeting at Wardha in August 1940.
 Individual Satyagraha,1940: Mahatma Gandhi initiated the
Individual Satyagraha to affirm the right to free speech, He
avoided a mass satyagraha because he did not want violence;
The first three satyagrahis were Vinoba Bhave, Nehru and
Brahma Datt; All three were jailed; The satyagrahis also started
a march towards Delhi which was called the „Delhi Chalo
Movement‟.
 Arrest and exile of Bose,1941: Forward Bloc held its first All
India Conference in Nagpur in 1940; The conference passed a
resolution titled 'All Power to the Indian People', urging militant
action for struggle against British colonial rule; Bose was
arrested and detained in Presidency Jail, Calcutta; in January
1941 he escaped from house arrest, and clandestinely went into
exile; He travelled to the Soviet Union, seeking Soviet support
for the Indian independence struggle, Stalin declined Bose's
request, and he then travelled to Germany.
 Indian Legion,1941: Bose founded the Indian Legion out of
about 4500 Indian soldiers who were in the British army and
had been taken prisoners by the Germans from North Africa.

70.  The Atlantic Charter: signed August 14, 1941 was an agreement
between the United States and Great Britain that established
the vision of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill for a
post-World War II world; The eight major points of the document
focused on territorial rights, freedom of self-determination,
economic issues, disarmament, and ethical goals, including
freedom of the seas and a determination to work for "a world free
of want and fear.“
 Cripps Proposals,1942: The Cripps Mission was sent by the
British government to India in March 1942 to obtain Indian
cooperation for the British war efforts in the 2nd World War,
headed by Sir Richard Stafford Cripps- Dominion status to India;
A Constituent Assembly to frame a new constitution comprising
of members elected by the provincial assemblies and also
nominated by the princes; Any province unwilling to join the
Indian dominion could form a separate union and have a
separate constitution; Mission was rejected by the INC, Muslim
League and other Indian groups; INC wanted complete
independence.

71.  Indian National Army,1942: formed with Japanese aid and
support after the Fall of Singapore and consisted of
approximately 12,000 of the 40,000 Indian prisoners of war who
were captured either during the Malayan campaign or
surrendered at Singapore and was led by Mohan Singh;
Disagreements between Singh and the Japanese, over both the
intended size and the specific role of the INA, led to Singh‟s
dismissal in December 1942; revived by Subhas Chandra Bose in
1943.
 Quit India Movement, August 1942: Congress Working
Committee met at Wardha and passed a resolution that
demanded immediate end of British rule in India “Quit India
Resolution”. It was ratified in the All India Congress Committee
at Bombay on August 7, 1942; a nonviolent mass struggle under
the leadership of Gandhi was sanctioned in the Gowalia Tank
Maidan (August Kranti Maidan). In a speech on 8th August,
Gandhi gave the famous “do or die” speech; government started
arresting the congress leaders and within a week stuffed most
leaders including Gandhi in Jails; The INC was banned; in the
absence of leadership, there were stray incidences of violence and
damage to government property; New leaders like Jayaprakash
Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and Aruna Asaf Ali (hoisted the
Indian National flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan) emerged out
of the vacuum of leadership.

72. LORD WAVELL(1943-1947)
 C R Formula/Rajaji Formula,1944: The Congress and Muslim
league were adamant on single and two nation theory
respectively; To resolve the deadlock, C Rajagopalachari (CR)
came up with a formula. This formula proposed that- For the
time being (till a provisional interim government is formed), Muslim
league would support the congress demand of complete freedom and
single dominion; After the war, a commission would be entrusted with
the task of demarcating those areas with an absolute majority of
Muslims and a plebiscite to be held in those areas where all the
inhabitants (Muslims and non-Muslims) would vote on the basis of
adult suffrage whether to form a separate sovereign nation or not; In
case of partition, joint agreements to be made for the safeguarding of
defense, communications and commerce and transfer of population
would be on voluntary basis.
 Gandhi-Jinnah Talks,1944: Gandhi proposed to engage in talks with
Jinnah on his two nation theory and, the CR formula was used as a
basis of these talks; Gandhi and Jinnah met in September 1944, talks
failed after two weeks of negotiation; Jinnah wanted only the Muslims
of North-West and North-East to vote in the plebiscite and not the
entire population; Jinnah claimed for 6 Muslim majority provinces
(Baluchistan, Sindh, N.W.F.P, Punjab, Bengal and Assam) to form
Pakistan.

73.  Bhulabhai-Liaquat Ali Talks,1945: In January 1945, there were
talks between the Congress leader Bhulabhai Desai and Muslim
leader Liaquat Ali Khan to resolve a deadlock. As per the
pact, both Congress and Muslim league would be given equal
(40% each and 20 per cent reservation for the rest) of seats in
Interim Government to be created under existing constitution
but having all Indians except Viceroy and Commander in chief. A
settlement would be worked out after interim government had
taken office; It was later rejected by Jinnah as well as Congress.
 Wavell Plan/Breakdown Plan,1945: Wavell visited London and
discussed his ideas with the British Government known as
Wavell Plan; The Viceroy‟s Executive Council was to have all
Indian members except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-
Chief; The council was to have a „balanced representation‟ of all
Indians including „caste-Hindus‟, Muslims, Depressed Classes,
Sikhs, etc. Muslims were given 6 out of 14 members which
accounted for more than their share of the population (25%); The
foreign affairs portfolio would be transferred from the Governor-
General to an Indian member; The defense would be handled by
a British general until the full transfer of power was made; The
Viceroy/Governor-General would still have the power of veto but
its use would be minimal.
 All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was
established in November,1945.

74.  Simla Conference,1945: In the summer of 1945, Lord Wavell
organized the Conference to solve the constitutional tangle; Both
the Congress and the Muslim League took part in the Shimla
Conference but the Conference could not succeed; Jinnah
insisted that only League members could be the Muslim
representatives in the Council, and opposed to the Congress
nominating Muslim members; This was because Jinnah wanted
the League to be the sole representative of Muslims in India,
Congress would never agree to this demand.
 Royal Indian Navy Revolt,1946: began at HMIS Talwar,
Bombay harbor on 18 February 1946 by Ratings (non-
commissioned officers and sailors) against the British; strikers
were inspired by the INA trials and the persona of Subhas
Chandra Bose; They took control of Butcher Island where the
entire ammunition of the Bombay Presidency was stored; RIN
soon spread to other parts of British India. Over 10000 sailors
came to be involved in the mutiny which was suppressed by the
British using force.
 Cabinet Mission Plan,1946: Cabinet Mission was a high-
powered mission sent in February 1946 to India by the Atlee
Government (British Prime Minister); The mission had three
British cabinet members- Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, &
and A.V. Alexander; aim was to discuss the transfer of power
from British to Indian leadership.

75.  Cabinet Mission Plan,1946: the Dominion of India would be
granted independence, without any partition; Centre would have
powers over the defense, foreign affairs, communications and
currency, The rest of the powers would be vested with the
provinces; A constituent assembly would be set up for writing a
new constitution for the country; An interim government would
be established until a new government was formed on the basis
of the constitution written by the constituent assembly; The
provinces would be divided into three groups- Sections
A comprising Madras, Bombay, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Central
Province and Orissa (Hindu Majority Provinces); Section
B consisting of Punjab, NWFP and Sind (Muslim Majority
Provinces); Section C comprising Bengal and Assam (Muslim
Majority Provinces); The Muslim league first approved the plan,
But when Congress declared that it could change the scheme
through its majority in the Constituent Assembly, they rejected
the plan.
 Direct Action Day, August 16, 1946: Jinnah called the Muslims
to resort to “Direct Action” to achieve the land of their dream
“Pakistan”; In Calcutta, the communal tension was whipped up
by both Hindu and Muslim newspapers; The result was Great
Calcutta Killing in which 6000 Hindus and Muslims butchered
each other.

76.  Constituent Assembly,1946: the elections to the Constituent
assembly had taken place in September and it met for the first
time on 9 December 1946. The arrangement was: (i) 292
members were elected through the Provincial Legislative
Assemblies; (ii) 93 members represented the Indian Princely
States; and (iii) 4 members represented the Chief
Commissioners' Provinces. The total membership of the
Assembly thus was to be 389; Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the
temporary Chairman of the Assembly; First Session 9-23
December; On 13 December, 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the
Objectives Resolution, Resolution was unanimously adopted by
the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947; The Interim
Government or the Provisional Government, formed in 2
September 1946 from the newly elected Constituent Assembly of
India, had the task of assisting the transition of British India to
independence; remained in place until 15 August 1947.
 Atlee‟s Declaration- February 20, 1947: The Prime Minister of
Britain Clement Atlee declared in the House of Commons that
the British would quit India after transferring power into the
responsible hand not later than June 1948; He also announced
the appointment of Lord Mountbatten as Viceroy in place of Lord
Wavell.

77. LORD MOUNTBATTEN(1947-1948)
 Pakistan Day 27 March,1947: Muslim League observed
Pakistan Day, which resulted in riots, massacre and
atrocities.
 Mountbatten Plan/Dickie Bird Plan,1947: the provinces be
declared independent successor states and then be allowed to
choose whether to join the constituent assembly or not;
Jawaharlal Nehru opposed it saying it would lead to balkanization
of the country. Hence, this plan was also called Plan Balkan.
 Mountbatten Plan/June 3 Plan,1947: British India was to be
partitioned into two dominions- India and Pakistan; the
legislative assemblies of Bengal and Punjab met and voted for the
partition. Accordingly, it was decided to partition these two
provinces along religious lines; legislative assembly of Sind would
decide whether to join the Indian constituent assembly or not, it
decided to go with Pakistan; A referendum was to be held on
NWFP (North-Western Frontier Province) to decide which
dominion to join, NWFP decided to join Pakistan while Khan
Abdul Gaffar Khan boycotted and rejected the referendum; The
princely states were given the choice to either remain independent
or accede to India or Pakistan.

78.  Partition Committee and Partition Council,1947: Partition
Committee was formed which was chaired by Lord Mountbatten
and its members were Vallabh Bhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad,
Liaqat Ali Khan and Abdur Rab Nishtar. Later this committee
was replaced by a Partition Council. In this council, Congress
was represented by Sardar Patel and Dr. Rajendra Prasad, with
C. Rajgopalachari as alternate member. Muslim league was
represented by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Liaqat Ali Khan and
Abdur Rab Nishtar as alternate member.
 Indian Independence Act,1947: based upon the Mountbatten
plan of 3rd June 1947 and was passed by the British parliament
on July 5, 1947 and received royal assent on July 18, 1947; To fix
the international boundaries between the two countries, the
Boundary Commission was established chaired by Sir Cyril
Radcliffe; The commission was to demarcate Bengal and Punjab
into the two new countries. The Constituent assembly then
appointed Lord Mountbatten as the First Governor General of
the Indian Dominion. In the Morning of August 15, 1947, a new
cabinet headed by Jawahar Lal Nehru was sworn in.