Modern India

Modern History Events Before 1857

• Give a brief account of the contributions of social reformers in eradicating the social evils prevalentin 19th century India.
• Enumerate the reasons which led to the introduction of the Permanent Settlement system. Also, discuss its consequences.
• Trace the evolution of East India Company’s relations with the British State from 1765 to 1833.
• The numerous uprisings in the pre-1857 period were an indication of the rising resentment against the British rule and their policies in India. Discuss.
• Giving a brief overview of the three Carnatic Wars, discuss the factors that led to the success of the British against the French in the struggle for control over India.
• What combination of factors ultimately resulted in the occurrence of the Battle of Buxar?

Revolt of 1857

• Despite the fact that the revolt of 1857 failed, it gave a severe jolt to the British administration in India. The structure and policies of the British were re-established and drastically changed. Explain.

Freedom Movement Growth of Nationalism in India (1858-1905)

• Women revolutionaries made brave and unforgettable contributions to the freedom struggle in India. Discuss.
• Brief account of the various foreigners who joined the Indian freedom struggle against British imperialism.
• India’s war of independence was won by the efforts and sacrifices of different sections of the society. In this context, discuss the contributions made by tribal women in the national freedom struggle.
• Discuss the role played by the Indian diaspora in the freedom struggle of India, especially during the first half of the 20th century.
• Explain the meaning of the terms Swaraj and Purna Swaraj during the anti-colonial national movement in India. Also, trace the progression of the Indian National Congress in this context.
• Discuss the role of women in the Indian freedom struggle and its impact on gender dynamics during the British rule in India. Provide examples to highlight key moments.
• Examine how international upheavals, specifically World War II and the Russian Revolution, influenced the trajectory of Indian nationalism and shaped India’s anticolonial strategies. including shifts in political ideology and tactics.
• Highlight the role of popular movements led by Subaltern groups in India’s freedom struggle. How did their participation challenge or reinforce mainstream nationalist ideologies?

Growth of Militant Nationalism & Revolutionary Activities (1905-1918)

• Despite having a popular mass character, the Swadeshi movement fizzled out by mid-1908.
• Bringing out the factors that culminated into the Surat Split of the Indian National Congress, discuss its consequences for the national movement.
• Critically evaluate the strategies employed by the extremist leaders to create a sense of national unity and identity.

Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919-1939)

• The 1929 Lahore session of Congress shaped the vision for an independent India in many important ways. Explain.
• Provide an account of the evolution of the Home Rule movement in India along with its contributions.
• The initiatives in Champaran, Ahmedabad and Kheda marked Gandhiji as a nationalist with a deep sympathy for the poor. Discuss.
• Illustrate the reasons behind the rise of revolutionary activities post the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Examine the role played by the press in the early phase of the Indian national movement. Also, state the challenges faced by the Indianpress during the period.
• Trace the evolution of the Swaraj Party in India and highlight its achievements. Also, discuss its shortcomings.
• Discuss the nature and circumstances of the Communal Award and the reactions of various groups and parties towards it.
• The Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930-34 was marked by a unique character, regional spatial patterns and employment of new mobilization techniques. Elucidate.
• Despite the Chauri Chaura incident slowing down the momentum of Indian freedom struggle for a while, the Non-Cooperation Movement remains a watershed in the history of the Indian freedom struggle. Discuss.
• Examine the role played by the press in the early phase of the Indian national movement. Also, state the challenges faced by the Indian press during the period.
• Elaborate on the role of the Non-Cooperation Movement in advancing mass nationalism and promoting civil disobedience. Specifically, highlight the Gandhian principles that guided the movement and their influence on its outcomes.

Towards Freedom & Partition (1939-1947)

• Examine the role played by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the Indian freedom struggle.
• The significance of the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) mutiny in 1946 laid in the fact that it convinced the British government that it could no longer hold on to India. Discuss.
• The Quit India Movement differed radically from the earlier Gandhi-led mass movements such as Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience. Discuss.
• The Radcliffe line was not created dispassionately with clinical precision and attention to details, but was drawn hastily and ignorantly. Comment.
• Examine the emergence of parallel governments during the Quit India Movement of 1942 and highlight their influence in accelerating India’s journey towards independence.
• Highlight how British objectives during World War II shaped the agenda of the Cripps Mission. Analyze the various factors that led to the failure of the Cripps Mission. Discuss the ripple effect this had on the subsequent Quit India Movement.

Socio-Religious Reforms

• Bring out the contributions of Jyotiba Phule in social upliftment of the masses, especially the vulnerable sections in India.
• There have been arguments that the rediscovery and revival of India’s past and its glorious tradition had a mixed impact on the freedom struggle. Do you agree? Discuss.
• Examine the ideological underpinnings of Brahmo Samaj and the Arya Samaj as social reform movement. How did they attempt to modernize Indian thought?

Development of Education

• Discuss how the introduction of English education in India by the British helped strengthen anti- colonialism in the country.
• Elaborate the long-term impact of Macaulay’s Minute on Indian education. Debate the role of British language policies, such as the imposition of English, in the erosion or preservation of regional languages and cultures in India.

Development of Indian Press

• Critically examine how did the Press started by prominent Indians both in English and vernacular languages influence the freedom struggle. Also examine how the British reacted to this medium of national awakening.

Economic Impact of British Rule

• Trace the development of land revenue policies within the context of British colonial rule in India.

Working Class Movements

• Discuss the phases of the working class movements in pre-independent India.

Peasant Movements

• It can be argued that the peasant movements of the 20th century when compared to those in the 19th century, were more organized and nationalistic in nature.

British Policies in India

• The colonial forest policies were driven by the needs of the British Empire with no concern for the well-being of the locals and the environment. Discuss in the context of India.

Administrative Policies

Social and Cultural Policy

• The British had not only commercial and territorial interests in India, but they were also on a cultural mission. Discuss.

Policy Towards Princely States

• Discuss the evolution of British policy towards the princely states in India. How did the freedom movement impact the people of these Princely states?

Foreign Policy

• In evolving Indian foreign policy, the ‘Russian Peril’ was a factor to reckon with throughout the nineteenth century. Examine.

British Governance

Constitutional Development (1773-1858)

• ‘The object of the Act (Regulating) was good, but system that it established was imperfect.’ Comment.

Constitutional Development (1858-1947)

• The Act of 1935 as a whole was important. It not only acted as an interim constitution but also provided a basis for the constitution of Free India. Elucidate.

Evolution of Civil Services

• Assess the role of Indian Civil Services in facilitating and furthering the British Rule in India.

Evolution of Police System

• Critically examine police reforms In british India.

Military Under the British

• Discuss the role of Indian soldiers in the first world war.

Development of Judiciary

• How did the new judicial administration system introduced in mid nineteenth century, which was different from the Mughal judicial system, affect ordinary people in the British India? Examine.

Contribution of Personalities

• The essence of Gandhiji’s constructive programme went well beyond the anti-imperialist nationalist struggle.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was instrumental in creating a national consciousness and giving political voice to the masses during the course of national movement. Discuss.
• Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.
• Bring out the contributions of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in the fields of education and foreign affairs.
• Despite being celebrated as the champion of Dalit rights, the contributions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar went far beyond that and encompassed a wide range of issues. Elaborate.
• Bring out the key principles underlying Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of nationalism m during during the the Indian freedom struggle.
• In the context of the socio-cultural milieu of the 19th century, the contribution made by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in the field of education and women’s rights is immeasurable. Discuss
• Shed light on the use of symbols and symbolic language by Mahatma Gandhi for both, integrating masses into the National Movement and against social evils.
• Discuss the impact of Marxism and anarchism on Bhagat Singh’s concept of revolutionary nationalism. Analyze the enduring significance of his ideas within the contemporary Indian sociopolitical landscape.
• Discuss SC Bose’s innovative military tactics within the INA. Provide examples to substantiate the effectiveness or limitations of these tactics in influencing anti-colonial movements in India.