Independence

War of Independence: the Mutiny

• May 10, 1857 • In Meerut • Northern and central India • Sepoy Rebellion • The Great Mutiny • The Revolt of 1857 • Sepoy - an Indian soldier in the service of the British [from Urdu

army

] • Reasons:

sipāhī

, from Persian:

horseman

, from

sipāh

1. annexation of Oudth 2. Greased with animal fat Lee-Enfield rifle cartridges • Last battles at Gwalior on June 21, 1858 and Sirwa Pass on May 21, 1859

After the Mutiny

• Liquidation of the Mughal Empire • Last Emperor Bahadur Shah II exiled to Burma • Abolishment of the British East India Company • Establishment of the British Raj • Queen Victoria became the Empress of India in 1877 • The Indian Civil Service: the governor general (viceroy), executive and legislative councils, provincial governors • 40% of territory, 20-25% of population was under the control of 562 princes • The separation of the army into the 3 presidencies • The British were confined to cantonments

The Congress and the League

• Inspired by A.O. Hume , 73 Indian delegates founded the Indian National Congress in Bombay in 1885 • By 1900 – all-India political organization • Sayyid Ahmad Khan movement • George Curzon 1905 intiated Muslim regeneration ordered the partition of Bengal in • Boycotting British products (

swadeshi

) • All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906 • King Emperor George V reversed the partition of Bengal, moved the capital to New Delhi

Independence

• Dual mode of administration, dyarchy, in 1919 • Rowlatt Acts/Black Acts issued in 1919 vesting the viceroy with unprecedented powers • The rise of discontent inspired by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi • Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on April 13, 1919 • Muslim League Session in 1940 demanded the separation of India (the Pakistan Resolution) • Two abortive agitations against the British and participation in Word War II, organized by the Congress in 1940-1942, resulted in arresting 60,000 Congress members • The Muslim League supported the British during WWII • To avoid the war between Hindus and Muslims, partition was the only option • On August 15, 1947, India strode to freedom

Additional Lecture

•

7 апреля (воскресенье)

•

16.00

•

«Индия от Ариев до Гуптов»

•

Музей Востока

•

Никитский бульвар, 12А

Next class

Lecture: Politics. Government Philosophy. Religion Presentations: Jawaharlal Nehru

Indira Gandhi

Discussion: One religion – many manifestations?