Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Thakkar Bappa- Used the word "Adivasi" for first time

Battle of Kharda 1795-Nizam vs. Marathas

Anglo-Sikh wars

The Anglo-Sikh wars were a series of 1840s conflicts between the British East India Trading Company and the Sikh Empire.

There were two Anglo–Sikh wars:

The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46)
The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49)

Battle of Chillianwala 1848-49

Battle of Chillianwallah

The battle of the Second Sikh War fought on 13th January 1849, notorious in early Victorian Britain and India for the conduct of Brigadier Pope’s brigade of light cavalry

Battle of Chillianwallah on 13th January 1849 during the Second Sikh War

The Battle of Chillianwala was fought during the Second Anglo-Sikh War in the Punjab, now part of Pakistan. Although the battle may be considered a draw, it was a strategic check to Britain, and damaged British prestige in India.

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Prelude

The Second Anglo-Sikh war broke out in the Punjab, which had recently been occupied by the British East India Company, in April 1848 when the city of Multan rebelled under Dewan Mulraj. The East India Company sent several forces of locally raised troops to help quell the revolt. One of these forces consisted largely of Sikhs under General Sher Singh Attariwalla. On September 14, General Sher Singh's army also rebelled. Other than opposition to the British, Mulraj and Sher Singh had no aims in common. Sher Singh decided to move his army north, to join that of his father, General Chattar Singh Attariwalla, who had also rebelled in Hazara.

The East India Company responded by forming an Army of the Punjab under Sir Hugh Gough. Gough wished to take the field immediately but was forced to delay operations until December when the monsoon season had ended. Meanwhile, Sher Singh fortified the crossings of the Chenab River.

In late November, Gough attacked Sher Singh's bridgehead at Ramnagar but was repulsed, raising Sikh morale. In December, Gough forged the River Chenab, but then halted, awaiting further instructions from Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India. Early in January 1849, news came that the British had recaptured Multan, but also that the garrison of the key fortress of Attock had defected, allowing Chattar Singh's army to move south. Dalhousie ordered Gough to seek out and destroy Sher Singh's main army before the Sikh armies could combine, without waiting for reinforcements from the army at Multan.

Initial Contact and Deployment

Marching towards the reported Sikh position at Rasul, on January 13 Gough's troops drove a Sikh outpost out of the village of Chillianwala. The village of Chilianwalla is situated on the left bank of the river Jhelum, about 85 miles (136 Km) north west of Lahore. At this point, Gough intended to march round to the north of the Sikh position and attack its left flank on the following day, but when some of his artillery engaged hovering Sikh cavalry, Sikh guns opened fire from hitherto concealed positions much closer than he had expected. Since the flank march was now a risky prospect, Gough determined to deploy immediately and attack frontally.

It was estimated by Frederick Mackeson, Gough's attached political officer, that Sher Singh's army numbered 23,000 (although most later British historians put it at 30,000 or more), with some 60 guns. It occupied an extended line almost six miles long, with the river Jhelum covering the left flank and rear. Most of the Sikh positions were concealed in or behind belts of scrub and jungle.

Gough's army was composed of two infantry divisions, each of two brigades, each in turn of one British and two Bengal Native infantry battalions. There was also a cavalry division of two cavalry brigades, of British and Indian cavalry regiments, and a brigade of Bengal Native troops in reserve. His artillery numbered 66 guns, from the Royal Artillery and the Bengal Horse Artillery.

The Left Division was commanded by Sir Colin Campbell. Because the jungle made it difficult to coordinate his two brigades, Campbell ordered the commander of his right-hand brigade, Brigadier Pennycuick, and its British regiment, the 24th Foot, to attack with bayonets, but then assumed command of his left-hand brigade. On his left flank was a cavalry brigade under Brigadier White.

The Right Division was commanded by the experienced Sir Walter Gilbert. On his right was a cavalry brigade under Brigadier Pope.

The battle

Gough ordered the advance to commence at about 3:00 pm. From the outset, Pennycuick's brigade was in difficulties. The 24th, newly arrived in India, advanced very rapidly, in the thick scrub they soon lost cohesion and communication with the rest of the brigade. They suffered heavily from Sikh artillery fire. When they reached the main Sikh positions, Sikh resistance was overwhelming and the 24th was driven back. Pennycuick's brigade eventually became completely disorganised and had to make its way back to the start line in small parties. Pennycuick himself was killed.

Campbell's other brigade and White's cavalry, supported by artillery, advanced more cautiously and had more success.

Gilbert's two brigades also successfully drove the Sikhs before them, capturing or spiking several guns. However, on their right Brigadier Pope (who was almost an invalid) first ordered an ineffective cavalry charge through thorn scrub which threw his brigade into confusion, and then panicked and ordered a retreat. One of his British cavalry regiments, the 14th Light Dragoons, was routed. The Sikhs fell upon the fleeing cavalry, capturing four of Pope's guns. They then attacked Gilbert's right-hand infantry brigade, commanded by Brigadier Godby, from the rear, halting Gilbert's advance.

By now, darkness was approaching. The Sikhs had been driven from many of their positions with heavy casualties, but were still fighting strongly. With some of his formations rendered ineffective, Gough ordered a withdrawal to the start line. Although his units brought back as many wounded as they could, many of them could not be found in the scrub. Many of the abandoned wounded were killed during the night by roving Sikh irregulars. Gough's retreat also allowed the Sikhs to recapture all but twelve of the guns the British had taken earlier in the day.

The final losses to Gough's army were 2,800 men killed, of whom nearly 1000 were Europeans and 89 were British and 43 native officers. HM 24th Foot suffered 590 casualties, over 50 percent. Sikh casualties were harder to estimate, but it is put at around 4,000. An obelisk erected at Chillianwalla by the British government preserves the names of those who fell in the battle.

Aftermath

Both armies held their positions for three days, at the end of which the British withdrew. Sher Singh later withdrew to the north. Both sides could claim a victory. However, the British repulse, together with the loss of several guns and the colours of the 24th and two other regiments, and the rout of the 14th Light Dragoons, dealt a severe blow to British morale and prestige.

Gough was severely criticised for his handling of the battle, and was relieved of command and replaced by General Charles James Napier. Before Napier could take over command, Gough had fought the decisive Battle of Gujarat.

The loss of British prestige at Chillianwala was one of the factors which contributed to the Indian Mutiny some nine years later. Within the British Army, such was the consternation over the events at Chillianwala that, after the disastrous 'Charge of the Light Brigade', when Lord Lucan remarked "This is a most serious matter", General Airey replied, "It is nothing to Chillianwala."

Durgeshnandini Novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Which political party published Vanguard?

Vanguard was mouthpiece of Radical Democratic Party which was founded by M N Roy. Its editor was Ram Singh.

Books

SN Banerjee-A nation in making.
MK Gandhi-Hind Swaraj
Subhash Chandra Bose-Indian Struggle
Lajpat Rai-Autobiographical Writing

The Report of William Adam

In 1830s William Adam, a Scottish missionary, was given the charge by the company to tour the district of Bengal and Bihar. He was asked to report on the progress of education in local schools.
Adam found that the system of education in the local schools, known as pathshala, was flexible. There were no fixed fees, no benches or chair, no system of separate classes, no annual examination. In some places classes were held under a banyan tree, in other places in the corner of a village’s shop or temple, or at the teacher’s home. Teaching was oral and teacher decide what to teach.

New Routines, New Rules

After the Company got Adam’s report, it immediately took decision to improve the system of vernacular education.
The Company appointed a number of pandits, each in charge of looking after four to five schools. The task of the pandit was to visit the pathshalas and try to improve the standard of teaching.
New routine and rules were introduced. Teaching was now to be based on textbooks and learning was to be tested through a system of annual examination. students were asked to pay regular fee, attend regular classes, sit on fixed seats and obey the new rules of discipline.

First European to take part in policy of taking Part in Indian Princes Quarrels

Indian (National) Social Conference

Indian (National) Social Conference was founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao. It was virtually the social reform cell of the Indian National Congress. Its first session was held in Madras in December 1887. The Conference met annually as a subsidiary convention of the Indian National Congress, at the same venue, and focused attention on social reform. The Conference advocated intercaste marriages and opposed kulinism and polygamy. It launched the famous “Pledge Movement” to inspire people to take an oath to prohibit child marriage.

Match the following Correctly :

Match the following Correctly :
[A] Governor General of Presidency of Fort William in Bengal (Under Regulating Act 1773) 1. Lord Dalhousie
[B] Governor General of India (Under Charter Act 1833) 2. Lord Minto
[C] Governor General & Viceroy of India (under Indian Councils Act 1858) 3. Lord Cornwallis
[D] Governor General & crown representative (Under Government of India Act 1935) 4. Lord Wavell
[A]A-1, B-2 , C-3, D-4
[B]A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
[C]A-3, B-2 C-2, D-4
[D]A-3, B-1, C-4, D-3

A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4

Sarabandi Campaign

Servants of India Society was founded on 12 June 1905

Servants of India Society was founded on 12 June 1905 by Gopal Krishna Gokhale to build a dedicated group of people for social service and reforms. In the field of famine relief, union organisation, cooperatives and uplift of tribals and depressed, the Society did commendable work.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was supported by a group of dedicated persons such as Gopal Krishna Deodhar, Anant Patwardhan, Natesh Appaji Dravid etc. The society worked in the fields of promotion of education, removal of untouchability, promotion of sanitation and healthcare etc. From 1911, it also published its newsletter titled “Hitavada” in English from Nagpur. The society still exists and has its headquarters in Pune.

Delhi Conspiracy Case 1912- Rasbehari Ghosh, Sachin Sanyal

On the crisp morning of 23 December 1912, Delhi was decked up to welcome the then Viceroy Lord Hardinge on the occasion of the capital’s transfer from Calcutta to Delhi. At a building in Chandni Chowk, a petite woman could be seen waiting with the crowd to see the Viceroy, and then a bomb exploded. Basant Biswas, a young boy of 16 years, had dressed up as a woman and thrown a crude bomb at the elephant carrying the Viceroy. Hardinge escaped with injuries. Rash Behari was the mastermind behind the attack and helped make the bomb. After the blast, Bose went back to his government job at the Forest Research Institute and even organised an honorary reception for Hardinge a few months later.

The Delhi Conspiracy case, also known as the Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy, refers to a conspiracy in 1912 to assassinate the then Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, on the occasion of transferring the capital of British India from Calcutta to New Delhi. Hatched by the Indian revolutionary underground in Bengal and Punjab and headed by Rash Behari Bose, the conspiracy culminated on the attempted assassination on 23 December 1912 when a homemade bomb was thrown into the Viceroys's Howdahwhen the ceremonial procession moved through the Chandni Chowk suburb of Delhi. Although injured in the attempt, the Viceroy escaped with flesh wounds, but his Mahout was killed in the attack. Lady Hardinge was unscathed. Lord Hardinge himself was injured all over the back, legs, and head by fragments of the bomb, the flesh on his shoulders being torn in strips.^[1]

In the aftermath of the event, efforts were made to destroy the Bengali and Punjabi revolutionary underground, which came under intense pressure for some time. Rash Behari successfully evaded capture for nearly three years, becoming involved in the Ghadar conspiracy before it was uncovered, and fleeing to Japan in 1916.

The investigations in the aftermath of the assassination attempt led to the Delhi Conspiracy trial. The case was filed against Lala Hanumant Sahai, Basant Kumar Biswas, Bhai Balmukund, Amir Chand and Avadh Behari. On 5 October 1914, Lala Hanumant Sahai was sentenced to life imprisonmemt in the Andamans and the other four were sentenced to death for their roles in the conspiracy. Rash Behari Bose^[2] was identified as the person who threw the bom

Alipore Bomb Case 1908

In 1908 a revolutionary conspiracy was intrigued to kill the Chief Presidency Magistrate D.H. Kingford of Muzaffarpur. The task was entrusted to Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki. They threw the bombs on a vehicle coming out of the magistrate’s home on April 30, 1908. The magistrate could not be killed as he was not in the vehicle, but two British ladies were killed in the attack. Prafulla Chaki committed suicide after cornered by the Police and Khudi Ram Bose was arrested.

The Indian policewalla Nandalal Bannerjee, who had arrested Khudi Ram Bose was later shot dead by Narendranath Bhattacharya.

Lahore Conspiracy

The First Lahore Conspiracy, also known as the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial in the aftermath of the Ghadar conspiracy in 1915

The Lahore Conspiracy Case trial, also known as the First Lahore Conspiracy Case, were the trials held in Lahore (then part of the undivided Punjab of British India) in the aftermath of the failed Ghadar conspiracy in 1915. The trial was held by a Special tribunal constituted under the Defence of India Act 1915. Out of a total of 291 convicted conspirators, 42 were executed, 114 got life sentences and 93 got varying terms of imprisonment. 42 defendants in the trial were acquitted. The uncovering of the conspiracy also saw the initiation of the Hindu German Conspiracy trial in the United States.

The Second Lahore Conspiracy Case, the trial of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev in 1931

The political parties boycotted the Simon commission and this was followed by a wave of demonstrations all over India. In Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was leading an anti-Simon Commission demonstration on 30 October 1928, when the brutal Lathicharge claimed his life.

The death of Lala Lajpat Rai led the HSRA again take the path of assassination of the British.

The death of Lala Lajpat Rai led the HSRA again take the path of assassination of the British. To avenge the killing of Lal Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Raj guru, Jai Gopal and Sukh Dev conspired to kill the police chief, Scott. But they shot on the DSP – J. P. Saunders, who was killed on the spot. Bhagat Singh immediately fled from Lahore and to avoid recognition, he cut his beard and hair. Later he was trailed in this Lahore Conspiracy Case when he was captured after throwing bomb in Delhi Assembly.

Kakori Conspiracy (or Kakori train robbery or Kakori Case)

The Kakori Conspiracy (or Kakori train robbery or Kakori Case) was a train robbery that took place between Kakori and, near Lucknow, on 9 August 1925 during the Indian Independence Movement against the British Indian Government. The robbery was organised by Hindustan Republican Association (HRA).

Photo of German made Mauserpistol. Four Mausers were used by the Indian freedom fighters.

The robbery was conceived by Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan who belonged to the HRA, which later became the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. This organisation was established to carry out revolutionary activities against the British Empire in India with the objective of achieving independence. Since the organisation needed money for purchase of weaponry, Bismil and his party decided to plunder a train on one of the Northern Railway lines. The robbery plan was executed by Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sachindra Bakshi, Keshab Chakravarty, Manmathnath Gupta, Murari Lal Gupta (fake name of Murari Lal Khanna), Mukundi Lal (Mukundi Lal Gupta) and Banwari Lal. One passenger was killed unintentionally

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Kakori Conspiracy, also called Kakori Conspiracy Case or Kakori Train Robbery, armed robberyon August 9, 1925, of a train in what is now central Uttar Pradesh state, north-central India, and the subsequent court trial instituted by the government of British India against more than two dozen men accused of involvement, directly or otherwise, in the crime.

The robbery took place at the town of Kakori, about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Lucknow, the train’s final destination. On board the train was money that had been collected from various railway stations enroute and that was to be deposited at Lucknow. In a well-planned operation, Ramprasad Bismil led a band of 10 revolutionary activists who stopped the train, subdued the train’s guard and passengers, and forced open the safe in the guard’s quarters before fleeing with the cash found within it. The raiders were members of the newly established Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), a militant organization dedicated to freeing India from British rule through revolution, including armed rebellion. To fund their activities, the HRA carried out raids such as the train robbery.

Within a month of the attack, more than two dozen HRA members had been arrested for conspiracy and for having perpetrated the act. More arrests followed, and in all, some 40 people were rounded up. Eventually, 29 individuals were put on trial before the special magistrate at Lucknow. Of those, three—including Chandrasekhar Azad, a leader of the HRA—remained at large, and two others became witnesses for the prosecution in return for lighter sentences. The trial continued for nearly 18 months, with many leading nationalist lawyers providing defense counselfor the accused.

The final judgments were pronounced on April 6, 1927. Three (later four) men were sentenced to death, and one was given life imprisonment. Most of the remaining defendants were given prison sentences of up to 14 years, although two were acquitted, and two more were pardoned. Azad remained unapprehended and was killed in an encounter with police in February 1931. The severity of the sentences—particularly of capital punishment—provoked considerable outcry among the general Indian populace. Several attempts were made to save the four who were sentenced to die, including passage of a motion in the legislative council of the United Provinces (the colonial precursor to Uttar Pradesh) and a petition to the British viceroy, but they were rejected. The four men were executed in December 1927

Nehru Report and All Party Convention

The Motilal Nehru Report 1928 was a report by a committee headed by Pt. Motilal Nehru. This committee was created when Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of State of India asked the Indian leaders to draft a constitution for the country. The report, which demanded a Dominion Status for India was considered by the Congress.

Contents

Background
Key Points of Nehru Report
Was Nehru Report a Reversal of Lucknow Pact?

Background

in its annual session of 1928 held at Calcutta. While Jawahar Lal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose were in favour of complete swaraj, most of leaders were satisfied with the dominion status for the time being.
At the annual session of the Congress in Madras in December 1927, a resolution was passed which advocated the boycott of the Simon Commission “at every stage and in every form“. Other factions of the politicians also joined the suit.
On February 3, 1928 a complete Hartal was observed in Mumbai on the day when Simon Commission landed in Bombay. Wherever the commission goes, people came out in processions and show him “Simon Go Back”.
But the commission had to do its duty. It visited twice in 1928 and 1929 and finally submitted its report in May 1930.
But, it was not to be accepted by the Indian Leaders. The secretary of state for India was Lord Birkenhead, who threw a challenge to these congressmen to prepare a draft of constitution of India. The political leaders accepted the challenge and this was followed by a call for All party conference in February and May 1928.
The outcome of the All Parties Conference was that a committee was appointed under the Chairman ship of Motilal Nehru, to draft the proposed constitution. Jawaharlal Nehru was secretary of the committee and Ali Imam, Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.S. Aney, Mangal Singh, Shuaib Qureshi, Subhas Chandra Bose and G. R. Pradhan were its members.
The committee prepared a draft constitution called
The draft constitution was prepared which was called “Nehru Committee Report“. This report was submitted on August 28, 1928 at the Lucknow conference of all the parties. But Jinnah Voted against this report.

Key Points of Nehru Report

The main points of the Nehru report were as follows:

India would be given Dominion status. This means independence within the British Commonwealth.
India will be a federation which shall have a bicameral legislature at the centre and Ministry would be responsible to the legislature.
Governor General of India would be the constitutional head of India and will have the same powers as that of British Crown.
There will be no separate electorate.
The draft report also defined the citizenship and fundamental rights.

The novel features of the Nehru Committee Report were almost accepted by the Indian leaders. The next session of the Congress was held in Calcutta in December 1928. In this session, the Nehru Report was accepted by a majority vote. The congress gave an ultimatum to the British Government to accept the recommendation of the report by December 31, 1929, and also threatened for another mass movement in case the report is not accepted. The report was not accepted by the Government.

Was Nehru Report a Reversal of Lucknow Pact?

Yes. The Motilal Nehru Committee Report, published in 1928 recommended reservation of seats for Muslims only in provinces where they were in a minority. The report proposed to abolish separate electorates, to discard reservation of seats for Muslim majorities in the Punjab and Bengal and to reject the principle of weightage for Muslim minorities. This was a reversal of the Lucknow Pact. The Nehru Report asked for a political status of India as a dominion, which should be the same as that of British dominions like Canada, south Africa. It asked for a similar reservation for Hindus in NWFP. The provinces of Sindh and Karnataka shall be separate any further reorganization of proposed report was good but not practical. The joint and mixed concept was practically unacceptable for the Muslim league.

Thuggee

Theodore Beck- British Educationalist

Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny 18 Feb1946

On February 18, 1946, a section of non-commissioned officers and sailors known as Ratings, serving in the Royal Indian Navy, mutinied against the British Officers.

The mutiny started as a strike by the ratings to protest against the hardships regarding pay, food and racial discrimination.

In the same night, a Naval Central Strike committee was created by the Ratings.
This committee was presided by Signalman M.S Khan and Vice president was Petty Officer Telegraphist Madan Singh.

The populace of India was already fascinated by the heroic tales of the Indian National Army. So, the strikes and hartals spread from Bombay to Calcutta, Madras and even Karachi. The foolish British commander made some derogatory remarks on the nationality of these personnel and the result was that they took possession of some ships, mounted guns over there and started firing.
The mutineers hoisted three flags tied together on the ships which they had captured -One of Congress, One of Muslim League, and the third Red Flag of the Communist Party of India.

The mutiny was ended by intervention of Sardar Patel, who after a meeting with M. S. Khan made a statement of ending the strike. The similar statement was made by Jinnah in Calcutta. The mutineers surrendered but despite the assurances of Congress and Muslim League, many mutineers were arrested, subjected to court martial and dismissed from the services.

The violence broke out in Mumbai and over 200 people lost lives in this disturbance. The mutiny made an impression on the British, that it would be better to leave the country. On February 19, the second day of this mutiny, Cabinet Mission was sent to India.

End of INA and INA Trials (Red Fort Trials) November 1945 to May1946

Ras Bihari Bose had died in January 1945 in Tokyo. Subhash Chandra Bose was also presumed to have died. Before the war ended, the INA soldiers started falling into the hands of the allies. These were taken as Prisoners of Wars and the Court martial began as early as 1943.

INA had around 43000 recruits out of which many perished, many fled and mixed with the civilians, but 16000 were captured. They were stuffed into the ships and sent to India via Rangoon. Various detention camps had been organized in Jhingergacha and Nilganj near Calcutta, Kirkee near Pune, Attock, Multan and at Bahadurgarh near Delhi.

The officers of the INA were taken to court martial at the Red Fort of Delhi from November 1945 and May 1946. Around ten courts-martial were held.

The first of these was the joint court-martial of Colonel Prem Sahgal, Colonel Gurubaksh Singh Dhillon and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, who had been taken Prisioners of Wars in Singapore.
They were charged of “Waging War against the King Emperor” as well as Murder and abetment of Murder.
The Indian National Congress and the Muslim League both made the release of the three defendants, one Hindu, One Muslim and One Sikh !
They were sentenced to death, but under pressure from the political parties from India, Army Chief Claude Auchinleck was forced to commute the sentences of the three defendants in the first trial

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

Rowlatt Act

It was also called Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act.
It was a legislative act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi on March 18, 1919,under the Viceroyalty of Lord Chemsford(1916-21).
Power- To imprison any person suspected of terrorism living in the Raj for up to two years without a trial, and gave the imperial authorities power to deal with all revolutionary activities. Purpose- to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in the country.
Swami Shradhananda advice to start a movement of non-payment of land revenue to the British. On 6th April 1919, Gandhiji called for national-level Strike.
On 10th April two leaders of the congress, Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, were arrested.

Jallianwala Bagh massacre

13th April, 1919 at Amritsar,Punjab.

Rabindranath Tagore renounce his knighthood as "a symbolic act of protest on 30th May 1919. In the repudiation letter, dated 30 May 1919 and addressed to the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, he wrote "I ... wish to stand, shorn, of all special distinctions, by the side of those of my countrymen who, for their so called insignificance, are liable to suffer degradation not fit for human beings."
Shankar Ram Nayar resigned from the membership of the Viceroy’s Council.
The Hunter Commission(14 October 1919), a committee of inquiry into the events in Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Michael O'Dwyer, aged 75, was shot dead at a joint meeting of the East India Association and the Central Asian Society in Caxton Hall, London on 13 March 1940, by an Indian revolutionary, Udham Singh, in retaliation for the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
Edwin Montagu, condemned O'Dwyer's severity, and called it as “Preventive Murder”.
C.F.Andrews called Jallianwala Massacre as ruthless Murder.

Komagata Maru May 1914

कामागातामारू (Komagata Maru) भापशक्ति से चलने वाला एक जापानी समुद्री जहाज था, जिसे हॉन्ग कॉन्ग में रहने वाले बाबा गुरदित्त सिंह ने खरीदा था। जहाज में पंजाब के 351 लोगों को बैठाकर बाबा 4 मार्च 1914 को वेंकूवर (ब्रिटिश कोलम्बिया, कनाडा) के लिए रवाना हुए। 23 मई को वहां पहुंचे लेकिन, अंग्रेजों ने सिर्फ 24 को उतारा और बाकी को जबरदस्ती वापस भेज दिया। इस जहाज में ३४० सिख, २४ मुसलमान और १२ हिन्दू थे।

जहाज कोलकाता के बजबज घाट पर पहुंचा तो 27 सितंबर 1914 को अंग्रेजों ने फायरिंग कर दी। इसमें 19 लोगों की मौके पर मौत हो गई। इस घटना ने आजादी की लहर को और तेज कर दिया था। यह घटना उन अनेकों घटनाओं में से एक थी जिनमें २०वीं शताब्दी के आर्म्भिक दिनों में एशिया के प्रवासियों को कनादा और यूएस में प्रवेश की अनुमति नहीं थी (exclusion laws)।

२०१४ में भारत सरकार ने इस घटना की याद में 100 रूपये का एक सिक्का जारी किया।

The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship that sailed from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada via Japan in May, 1914. It was carrying 376 passengers who were immigrants from Punjab, India. Of these, only 24 were granted admittance in Canada when the ship docked in Vancouver. At that time, Canada had laws restricting entry of migrants of Asian origin. Following a two month stalemate, the ship and its 352 passengers were escorted out of the dock by the Canadian military and forced to sail back to India.
The ship returned to Calcutta on 27 September and was stopped by the British. The passengers were put under guard and the ship was allowed to dock in Budge Budge, Calcutta. The British believed that the passengers were law breakers and political agitators. When the police sought to arrest the persons it viewed as leaders of the group, there was resistance and a riot ensued. The police fired shots and 19 passengers were killed. Baba Gurdit Singh, who was one of the persons the British wanted to arrest, escaped with some other persons. Most of the remaining passengers were either arrested or sent back to Punjab. Baba Gurdit Singh later surrendered to the police.

Contents

Legacy

In 1951, the Indian government erected a monument at Budge Budge to commemorate the massacre that occurred there. A host of actions have been taken by the Canadians also to mark the incident. A plaque commemorating the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the Komagata Maru steamship was placed at the Vancouver harbour in 1994. A monument in remembrance of the incident was unveiled in 2012 in Vancouver. A stamp commemorating the centenary anniversary of the steamship was released by Canada Post in May, 2014.

Government Apology

In 2008, the Canadian PM, Stephen Harper, officially apologized for the Komagata Maru incident on behalf of the Canadian government. A resolution calling for the same had been earlier passed by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (the province where Vancouver is situated).

Cripps Proposals 1942

Cripps Mission was sent by the British Government in March 1942 to India with key objective to secure Indian cooperation and support for British War Efforts. Headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, this mission sought to negotiate an agreement with Indian leaders.

Contents

Background

Year 1942 saw the advancement of British forces in India. Apart from that there was a pressure from the American President F. Roosevelt and Chinese premier Chiang Kai-Shek to concede the real political power to the people of India. The fall of Burma was enough to frighten the British and when the Japanese army began to knock the doors of India after Burma and Singapore, the war cabinet of Britain sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India on March 1942 to elicit cooperation from the Indians. It promised for the fulfillment of past promises to self government to Indian people.

Key Proposal

The proposal of the Cripps mission was that:
“India would be a dominion associated with the United kingdom”.
It promised that immediately after the war is stopped, steps would be taken up to set up an elected body charged with the task of making the constitution for India and provisions would be made so that the Indian states could participate in the framing of the constitution.

Important Facts on Cripps Mission

Through the Cripps mission for the first time, British government recognized the “Right of Dominion’ for India.
Indians were given promise of liberty to frame their own constitution.
The Cripps mission which was a move to appease the Congress, Muslim League and Indian states at the same time was rejected by all of them.
Gandhi wanted an undivided India, Muslim league wanted a separate Pakistan , Congress demanded a full control over defense “stating that a slave country cannot have any inspiration” .
Muslim league said there was inadequate representation of Muslims.
Sikhs rejected because of non accession of provinces.
Hindu Mahasabha rejected because the “Pakistan Virus” was alive.
The Dalits and depressed classed also rejected because there was nothing new for them.

Why Cripps Mission failed?

The main reasons for failure of Cripps mission include (1) its rejection by almost all political dispensations in the country (2) its proposals included no real transfer of power (3) the Viceroy and Secretary of State worked behind the door to sabotage the mission e

From Empire to Europe: Imperial Preference

With reference to British policies in India. What is the term imperial Preferences'.
Related to?
(a) Preference given' to certain Indian' industries for expanding the reach of
Their Products to every corner of the country.
(b) The extensive personal wealth amassed by British Indian (Government officials
Which influenced domestic politics of England?
(c) Special tariff protection provided to British imports in India.
(d) Favoritism shown by British towards princely states that support them against the tribal and Peasant revolts'.
Answer. C
British adopted discriminatory approach towards Indian Industries from the very beginning. However, with the growth of National Movement by 1920 and 30's the extensive pressure forced British’s to grant Tariff protection to Indian industries. However even in its implementation discrimination was being pursued. Indian owned industries were given inadequate protection whereas British imports were given special privilege under the stated system of imperial preferences. Hence (c) is the correct answer.

At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon which one of the following Governors-General kept the British flag flying high

“Forward” Policy towards Afghanistan?

Who among the following was the governor general who followed a spirited “Forward” Policy towards Afghanistan?
[A]Lord Dufferin
[B]Lord Mayo
[C]Lord Elgin
[D]Lord Ellenborough (1842-44)
Lord Ellenborough

A Forward Policy is a set of foreign policy doctrines applicable to territorial ambitions and disputes, in which emphasis is placed on securing control of targeted territories by invasion and annexation, or by the political creation of compliant buffer states. Such foreign policies have been used by a number of countries including Austria, France, Britain, India, China etc to achieve their tactical aims over external countries. The term has been candidly employed as an unvarnished sobriquet for two military 'forward policies' in two periods of history relating to the Central Asian border disputes: The Great Game, and in events leading to the Sino-Indian War in 1962.

Cabinet Mission Plan 1946

Cabinet Mission was composed of three Cabinet Ministers of England

Sir Pethick Lawrence, Secretary of State for India.
Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade,
Alexander, the First Lord of the Admiralty

The mission arrived on March 24, 1946. The objective of this mission was to

Devise a machinery to draw up the constitution of Independent India.
Make arrangements for interim Government.
Thus the mission was like a declaration of India’s independence.

The mission spent some 3 weeks to discuss with the leaders of various political parties, but could not arrive at any agreed solution. So finally it announced its own recommendations on May 16, 1946.

The cabinet mission plan of 1946 proposed that there shall be a Union of India which was to be empowered to deal with the defense, foreign affairs and communications.
The cabinet mission recommended an undivided India and turned down the Muslim league’s demand for a separate Pakistan. The Cabinet mission restricted the Communal representation
It provided that all the members of the Interim cabinet would be Indians and there would be minimum interference by the Viceroy.
It also provided for formation of the constituent assembly on democratic principle of population.
It recognized Indian Right to cede from the Commonwealth.
The Union Government and its legislature were to have limited powers, dealing with Finance, Foreign Affairs and Communications. The union would have powers necessary to raise the finances to manage the subjects. Thus, the Cabinet Mission plan proposed a weak Centre. We can realize what would have been of the country if this plan was approved and implemented.
All subjects other than the Union Subjects and all the residuary powers would be vested in the provinces.
The Princely states would retain all subjects and all residuary powers.
A Constituent Assembly will be formed of the representatives of the Provincial Assemblies and the Princely states. Each province had to be allotted a total number of seats in proportion to the its population. The Constituent assembly had to comprise 293 Members from the British Provinces and 93 members from the Princely states.
The representation of the Provincial legislatures was to be break up into 3 sections.
- Section A: Madras, UP, Central provinces, Bombay, Bihar & Orissa
- Section B: Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Baluchistan
- Section C: Assam and Bengal.

Thus we see that though the Cabinet Mission plan rejected the idea of separate Pakistan, yet it grouped the provinces in such a way that it gave weightage to the idea of Pakistan, because the Section B would get almost complete autonomy.

Reaction to the Cabinet Mission Plan

The Congress accepted the proposals related to the Constituent assembly. But since, the Muslim league had been given disproportionate representation; it rejected the idea of the Interim Government. Congress also rejected the idea of a weak centre and division of India in small states. Congress was against decentralization and the idea was to have a strong centre.
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.
On July 27, the Muslim League Council met at Bombay where Jinnah reiterated the demand for Pakistan as the only course left open to the Muslim League.
On July 29, it rejected the plan and called the Muslims to resort to “Direct Action” to achieve the land of their dream “Pakistan”. August 16, 1946 was fixed as “Direct Action Day“