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Miscellaneous - Indian History

Important Dates

I. ANCIENT INDIA
BC
2500-1750	Indus Valley Civilization.
563-483	Buddha's life-span.
540-468	Mahavir's life-span.
327-326	Alexander's invasion of India. It opened a land route between India and Europe.
322	Accession of Chandragupta Maurya.
305	Defeat of Seleucus at the hands of Chandragupta Maurya.
273-232	Ashoka's reign.
261	Conquest of Kalinga.
145-101	Reign of Elara, the Chola king of Sri Lanka.
58	Beginning of Vikram era.
AD
78	Beginning of Saka era.
78-101	Kanishka's reign.
319-320	Commencement of Gupta era.
380	Accession of Chandragupta 11 'Vikramaditya'.
405-411	Visit of Chinese traveller Fahien.
415	Accession of Kumaragupta 1
455	Accession of Skandagupta.
606-647	Harshavardhan's reign.
II. MEDIEVAL INDIA
712	First invasion of Sindh by Arabs (Mohd. Bin Qasim).
836	Accession of King Bhoja of Kannauj.
985	Accession of Rajaraja, the Chola ruler.
998	Accession of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni.
1001	First invasion of India by Mahmud Ghazni who defeated Jaipal, ruler of Punjab.
1025	Destruction of Somnath Temple by Mahmud Ghazni.
1191	First Battle of Tarain.
1192	Second Battle of Tarain.
1206	Accession of Qutubuddin Aibak to the throne of Delhi.
1210	Death of Qutubuddin Aibak.
1221	Chengiz Khan invaded India (Mongo! invasion)
1236	Accession of Razia Sultana to the throne of Delhi.
1240	Death of Razia Sultana.
1296	Accession of Alauddin Khilji.
1316	Death of Alauddin Khilji.
1325	Accession of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
1327	Transfer of Capital from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad) in Deccan by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
1336	Foundation of Vijayanagar Empire in the South.
1351	Accession of Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
1398	Timur's Invasion of India.
1469	Birth of Guru Nanak.
1494	Accession of Babur in Farghana.
1497-98	First voyage of Vasco da Gama to India (discovery of sea mute to India via the Cape of Good Hope)
1526	First Battle of Panipat; Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi foundation of Mughal dynasty by Babur.
1527	Battle of Khanwa - Babur defeated Rana Sanga.
1530	Death of Babur and accession of Humayun.
1539	Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa and became India's emperor.
1555	Humayun recaptured the throne of Delhi,
1556	Second Battle of Panipat (Akbar defeated Hemu).
1565	Battle of Talikota (Rakshasa-Tangadi).
1576	Battle of Haldighati - Rana Pratap was defeated by Akbar.
1582	Din-i-llahi founded by Akbar.
1600	English East India Company established.
1605	Death of Akbar and accession of Jahangir.
1606	Execution of Guru Arjun Dev, the 5th Guru of Sikhs.
1611	Jahangir married Nurjahan.
1615	Sir Thomas Roe visited Jahangir.
1627	Birth of Shivaji and death of Jahangir.
1628	Shahjahan becames emperor of India.
1631	Death of Mumtaz Mahal.
1634	The English permitted to trade in India (in Bengal)
1659	Accession of Aurangzeb, Shahjahan imprisoned.
1665	Shivaji imprisoned by Aurangzeb.
1666	Death of Shahjahan.
1675	Execution of Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Guru of Sikhs
1680	Death of Shivaji.
1707	Death of Aurangzeb.
1708	Death of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs
1739	Nadir Shah invaded India.
III. Modern INDIA
1757	Battle of Plassey (establishment of British political rule in India at the hands of Lord Clive).
1761	Third Battle of Panipat,
1764	Battle of Buxar.
1765	Clive appointed Company's Governor in India.
1767-69	First Anglo—Mysore War.
1780	Birth of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
1780-84	Second Anglo-Mysore War.
1784	Pitt's India Act.
1790-92	Third Anglo-Mysore War.
1793	The Permanent Settlement of Bengal.
1799	Fourth Anglo-Mysore War—Death of Tipu Sultan.
1802	Treaty of Bassein.
1809	Treaty of Amritsar.
1829	Practice of Sati prohibited.
1830	Raja Kaminohan Roy visited England.
1833	Death of Raja Rammohan Roy at Bristol, England.
1839	Death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Suppression of thagi by Colonel William Henry Sleeman
1839-42	First Anglo-Afghan War.
1845-46	First Anglo-Sikh War.
1852	Second Anglo-Burmese War.
1853	First Railway line opened between Bombay and Thane and a Telegraph line in Calcutta.
1857	The Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence.
1861	Birth of Rabindranath Tagore.
1869	Birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
1885	Foundation of Indian National Congress.
1889	Birth of Jawaharlal Nehru.
1897	Birth of Subhash Chandra Bose.
1903	Tibet Expedition (Young Husband delegation).
1905	Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon.
1906	Foundation of Muslim League by Salimullah (Nawab of Dhaka) at Dhaka.
1911	Delhi Darbar, King and Queen visit India; Delhi becomes the capital of India.
1914	World War I begins.
1916	Lucknow Pact signed by Muslim League and Congress.
1918	World War I ends.
1919	Montngue-Chelmsford Reforms introduced, JaIlianvvala Ragh massacre at Amritsar.
1920	Khilafat Movement launched.
1927	Boycott of Simon Commission, broadcasting started in India.
1928	Death of Lala Lajp.it Rai.
1929	Resolution of 'Poorna Swaraj' (complete independence) passed at Lahore Session of INC.
1930	Civil Disobedience Movement launched, Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi (April 6, 1930).
1931	Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
1935	Government of India Act.
1937	Provincial Autonomy, Congress formed ministries.
1939	World War II began (September I).
1941	Escape of Subhash Chandra Bose from India, Death of Rabindranath Tagore.
1942	Arrival of Cripps Mission in India, Quit India movement launched (August 8).
1943-44	S-C. Bose formed Provisional Government of Free India and reorganised Indian National Army in Singapore; Bengal famine.
1945	Trial of Indian National Army at Red Fort; Shimla Conference; End of World War II.
1946	British Cabinet Mission visited India; Interim government formed at the Centre.
1947	End of British rule and partition of the sub-continent into India and Pakistan, Jawahar Lai (J. L.) Nehru sworn in as first Prime Minister by Lord Mountbatten (the last British Governor-General of Indiaj. Hundreds of thousands die in communal bloodshed.
1948	Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari became the first and last Indian Governor-General, War with Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir, India won London Olympic hockey gold, Indian Atomic Commission created.
1949	Constitution of India adopted by the Constituent Assembly (26 November.).
1950	Constitution of India came into force with universal aduit franchise, Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel dies.
1951-52	Congress won first general election under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru.
1953	Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary climbed Mount Everest, UGC established.
1954	Sahitva Akademi established, Panchsheel Agreement signed between India & China
1955	Untouchability (offence) Act came into force, Hindu Marriage Act passed.
1956	State Reorganisation Act passed.
1957	All India Radio renamed as Akashvani.
1958	Metric system introduced, Nationwide Panchayati Raj launched.
1959	Swatantra Party formed by C. Rajagopalachari, For the first time in India television programme started, Dalai Lama got political asylum in India.
1960	Bombay bifurcated into Maharashtra and Gujarat states.
1961	India occupied the Portuguese enclaves of Goa, Daman and Diu.
1962	India lost brief border war with China.
1962	Sino-Indian war.
1963	Rajendra Prasad died.
1964	Jawahar Lal Nehru died, Lai Bahadur Shastri became India's second Prime Minister.
1965	Second war with Pakistan over Kashmir. Taskent Agreement, Lai Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent (USSR)
1966	Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister, Homi Jehangir Bhabha died in a plane crash. The states of Haryana and Punjab come into existence.
1967	Naxalbari Peasant Revolt began from Naxalbari village, Darjeeling district. West Bengal State.
1968	Hargobind Khorana shared Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology.
1969	14 leading banks nationalised.
1970	Former Indian rulers' Privy purses abolished.
1971	Third war with Pakistan over creation of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan.
1972	Shimla Agreement (on Kashmir) signed between India and Pakistan by Indira Gandhi and Z.A. Bhutto.
1973	Manekshaw named India's first Field Marshal, State of Mysore renamed Karnataka state.
1974	India exploded first nuclear device (Code name; 'Smiling Buddha') in an underground testatPokharan, Rajasthan.
1975	Indira Gandhi declared state of emergency, Satellite 'Aryabhata' launched.
1975-77	Nearly 1,000 political opponents imprisoned and programme of compulsory birth .control introduced, Emergency withdrawn (March 21,1977).
1977	Indira Gandhi's Congress Party lost general election, Janata Party won general election, Morarji Desai became Prime Minister.
1978	Hindi novelist and poet Sachidanand Hiranand Vatsyayan 'Ajneya' won the 1978 Jnanpith Award for 'Kitani Navon Mein Kitani Baar'.
1979	Mother Teresa wins Nobel Peace Prize.
1980	Indira Gandhi returned to power heading Congress Party splinter group, Congress (Indira), Mother Teresa awarded 'Bharat Ratna'.
1981	International Court of Justice re-elected Nagendra Singh as ]udge for another 9-year term, Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for community leadership, for developing the 'Jaipur Foot', Salman Rushdie's 'Midnight's children' won the Booker Prize (later adjudged the 'Booker of Bookers').
1982	EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) used for the first time for assembly byelection in Kerala, Delhi Doordarshan began its telecast in colour, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, environmentalist and Chipko movement leader got Ramon Magsaysay Award for community leadership, 9th Asian Games held at New Delhi.
1983	Indian-born S. Chandrashekhar shared the 1983 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work on dwarf stars and their limit of mass (Known as Chandrashekhar Limit), Bhanu Athaiya became the first Indian to win an Oscar for costume design in the Richard Attenborough's film 'Gandhi' shared with John Mollo, Led by kapil Dev India won the Prudential World Cup of cricket.
1984	Rakesh Sharma became India's first spaceman, Troops stormed Golden Temple-Sikhs' most holy shrine-to flush out militants pressing for self rule (Operation Bluestar).
1984	Indira Gandhi assassinated by the Sikh bodyguards. Her son Rajiv took over as Prime Minister (October), The toxic gas (methyl-iso-cyanate) leaked at Union Carbide pesticides plant in Bhopal. Thousands killed immediately, many more subsequently died or left disabled. (December)
1985	Murlidhar Devidas Amte alias Baba Amte, lawyer and social worker, got the Ramon Magsaysay Award for public service, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)established to promote distance education system.
1986	Shah Bano, a Muslim divorcee won alimony and inhexitance case in Supreme Court.
1987	India deployed troops for three years, peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict.
1988	Pakistan confers its highest civil award 'Nishan-e-Pakistan' on Morarji Desai, 'The Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie banned in India.
1989	Foundation stone laid for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple at Ayodhya, Vishwanath Pratap (V.P.) Singh became Prime Minsiter and Devi Lai became Deputy Prime Minister.
1990	Muslim separatist groups began campaign of violence in Kashmir, V.P. Singh-led Government announced reservation of 27% jobs for other Backward Classes (OBCs) in pursuance of the Mandal Commission recommendations, Lai Krishna (L.K.) Advani started a rath yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya, Prime Minister V.P. Singh resigned, Chandra Shekhar sworn in as Prime Minister.
IV. POST MODERN INDIA
1991	Rajiv Gandhi assassinated at Sriperumbdur near Chennai by a suicide bomber sympathetic to Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers, P.V. Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister, Economic reform programme begun by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.
1992	The Supreme Court upheld constitutional validity of 27% reservation in government jobs for OBCs, Hindu extremists demolished Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, triggering widespread Hindu-Muslim violence, Noted filmmaker Satyajit Ray received an Oscar for lifetime achievement.
1993	73rd Constitution Amendment Act or Panchayati Raj Act came into effect (April 24, 1993; April 24 commemorated as 'Panchayati Raj Diwas').
1994	Sushmita Sen became the first Indian to win the Miss Universe title, Aishwarya Rai crowned Miss World 1994.
1995	Mobile phone and Internet service launched in India.
1996	Congress suffered worst ever electoral defeat as BJP emerged as largest single party, Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister for 17 days, H.D. Deve Gowda became Prime Minister.
1997	I.K. Gujral sworn in as PM., I.K. Gujral resigned as PM.
1998	BJP formed coalition government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India carried out nuclear tests (code Name-Operation Shakti) at Pokhran, Amartya Sen won the Nobel Prize for Economics.
1999	A.B. Vajpayee made the historic bus trip to Pakistan to meet Premier Nawaz Sharif and signed bilateral Lahore peace declaration (February), Tension in Kashmir led to a brief war with Pakistan-backed forces in the icy heights around Kargil in Indian-held Kashmir (Operation Vijay) (May).
2000	India marked the birth of its billionth citizen (May Creation of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand states (1, 9 and 15 Nov. respectively).

Important Places

Ahichhatra: Originally Ahikshetra in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, it was once the capital of the Panchalas.

Aihole: In Karnataka contains the chief sites of Chalukyan architecture – nearly 70 structural stone temples important in the development of Hindu architecture and sculpture.

Ajanta Caves: 66 miles north of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State. These are rock-cut Buddhist caves, 29 in number. These caves represent a record of unique painting sculpture and architecture of the period from about the 2^nd century B.C. to 7th century A.D.

Amaravati: It is the legendary capital of Svarga. also historical site near modern Vijaywada, believed to have flourished under the Satavahana dynasty.

Arikamedu: It was a sea-portnear Pondicherry in Chola times.

Ayodhya: A few miles from modem Faizabad, near Lucknow, it was the capital of the Kosala and the Solar kings of ancient India. Rama was the most prominent among them.

Badami (or Vatapi): In Karnataka it is well-known for Chalukyan sculpture found in the cave temples here. These are groups of Hindu temples dating back to 7th or 8^th century and are examples of pure Dravidian architecture. Besides cave temples and rock-cut pillared halls, there is also the famous Malegitti Shivalaya temple.

Belur: In Karnataka it is famous for its elaborately sculptured Cheena Kesava temple of the Hoysala period.

Bhubaneswar: In Orissa it is known for ancient temples viz., Rajarani; Lingraja; Brahmesvara.

Bodh Gaya: It is situated 6 miles south of Gaya in Bihar State on the western bank of Falgu river and connected by two metalled roads. It is famous as the place where Buddha enlightenment. There are modern monasteries, rest houses and a museum here.

Chidambaram: A town 150 miles south of Chennai known as Tillai in ancient times, it was once the capital of the Chola kingdom. Its temples are among the oldest in India and are gems of Dravidian architecture. It is famous as the abode of Natraja, the Dancing Shiva.

Daulatabad: Situated near Aurangabad in Maharashtra State it is famous for rock-cut fortress of 12^thcentury near the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Elephanta Caves: On the island of the same name about 6 miles from Mumbai harbour these are rock-cut caves of the 7th and 8th centuries. The name Elephanta is due to the Portuguese, who were apparently struck by the stone elephants which were once found in their landing place.

Ellora Caves: About 15 miles north-west of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State these are about 34 caves excavated in the face of a hill.

Fatehpur Sikri: 23 miles from Agra in Uttar Pradesh it was the city founded by Akbai in 1571 but abandoned soon after. The place contains a number of palaces, shrines, mosques. The most notable among them is Buland Darwaza, 176 feet high and built to commemorate the conquest of Gujarat.

Halebid: In Karnataka, 10 miles from Belur it is well-known for its elaborately sculptured temples of the Hoysala period. The monuments rank among the masterpieces of hindu art.

Hampi: In Karnataka, 9 miles from Hospet railway station it is the ruined capital of the Vijayanagar Empire.

Harappa: In Montgomery district of Punjab, now in West Pakistan it is known for excavations carried out here showing signs of Indus Valley Civilization.

Junagadh: In Gujarat State it is one of the most ancient cities of India. It is situated below the Gimar on the Hill. The temples the Hill are known for their architecture and paintings.

Kalibangan: In Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan Where excavations brought to light the varied achievements of Indus Valley Civilisation—town planning and use of mt bricks.

Kannauj: Capital of Harshavardhana.

Kanchipuram: Or the "Golden City", 45 miles south-west of Chennai it is known for Kailashnath temple. It was the capital of successive dynasties of Hindu rulers.

Kanheri: 20 miles from Mumbai it is known for its Buddhist caves dating back to the 1st century A.D.

Kanyakubja: Or modern Kannauj is an ancient city, it was the cultural centre of northern India from the seventh century to the time when the Muslims came.

Kapilvastu: A small ancient kingdom in the north of India associated with Mahatma Buddha.

Khajuraho: In Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh it is famous for its group of highly ornate medieval Hindu temples.

Kusinagar: In the district of Deoria (U.P.) it is the place where Buddha died.

Lothal: Ancient town, situated on the sea-plain of former Saurashtra, 450 miles south-east of Mohenjodaro. The excavation made here represents the Indus Valley Cilization.

Madurai: Popularly known as the "City of Festivals", it was till the 14th century the capital of the Pandyan kingdom which had sea-borne trade with Rome and Greece. It is famous for Minakshi Temple.

Mammalapuram (now Mahabalipuram): Situated 53 miles from Chennai, it is known for rock-cut temples, monolithic figures and carvings of the 7th and 8th centuries.A.D. The chief points of interest here are the Five Rathas or temples modelled as chariots – "Arjuna Ratha", "Draupadi Ratha "Dharamraja Ratha" etc. also famous for Shore Temple.

Mandu: In Madhya Pradesh, it is one of the largest medieval city sites. It has extensive remains—fortifications and palaces – a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles in architecture litecture and painting; Jama Masjid (of Mandu).

Mithila: It was the home of the three scholar sages – Gargi, Maitreya and Kapila. It was the capital town of Raja Janak's kingdom.

Mohenjodaro: In the Larkana district of Sindh (now in Pakistan) it is the site of excavation revealing Indus Valley Civilization.

Nalanda: In Bihar it was the seat of an ancient Buddhist University. It contains a group of Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Palitana: In Saurashtra it is famous for its holly hill Shatrunja. It is the most sacred place for Shvetambara Jains.

Pandharpur: It is in Sholapur district (Maharashtra State). It stands on Bhima river and is one of the most sacred places of pilgrimage in the State.

Prabhaspatan (or Somnath) :In Gujarat State it is the site of the famous Somnath temple which was destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni.

Pragjyotishpu: The capital of an ancient tribal kingdom in Kamarupa or modem Assam.

Rajgir: 8 miles south-west of Nalanda by road it is an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. It was the capital of Bimbisara in ancient times. Buddh, preached at Rajgir and so did Mahavira, the great preceptor of the Jains.

Sanchi: In Madhya Pradesh it is famous for the largest and the most well-preserved Buddhist Stupa (108-foot in diameter and 42-foot in height).

Samath: Near Varanasi it is the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon after he became the "Enlightened One". The place is known for Buddhist temples and remains.

Seringapatam: In Karnataka it was the ancient capital of Tipu Sultan. (Now known as Seringapatnam.)

Somnathpuram: In Karnataka it is known for temples of Hoysala period, Kesava Temple.

Sravanbelgola: In Karnataka it is famous for its Jain temples and the colossal statue of (lomateswara (Babubali)-65-foot high erected in A.D. 983, the tallest monolithic statue in the world.

Srirangam: An island on the Cauvery river two miles north of Tiruchirapalli. It contains one of the largest temples in south India of the Vijayanagar period.

Sringeri: In Karnataka it is a place of pilgrimage on the banks of Tung river where the great philosopher tankara founded one of the principal naths (monasteries).

Tamralipti: A flourishing sea port in ancient India.

Tanjore: It was the capital of Cholas. It is situated in the delta of the Cauvery river in Tamil Nadu. Also known for Brihadeeswara temple.

Taxila: Ancient capital of Gandhara and one of the most renowned cities of ancient north-west India.

Tirupati: In Andhra Pradesh state, situated about 100 miles to the north-west of Chennai it is one of the holiest places in South India. This hill temple of Sri Venkateswara is an example of early Dravidian architecture and is one of the finest in the south.

Ujjain: Known to be the seat of king Vikrarm it is situated on the bank of Sipra river in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the seven sacred cities also known as anti.

The Oriental Museum here has some valuable manuscripts and pieces of sculpture. Mahakaleshwar Temple here is known as a pilgrimage centre.

Vaishali: In the district of Vaishali in Bihar it was the capital of the famous Vajji kingdom in ancient times.

Vatapi: See Badami.

Vikramasila: A great Tantrik University established by the Pala King Dharampala in A.D. 810. It was a hotbed of moral corruption, sorcery and idolatry. In AD 1198, the soldiers of Ikhtiar Khilji destroyed the structure to the ground and killed all the monks in the university.

Association of Places

Place	Associated with	Place	Associated with
Bardoli	Sardar Patel	Pondicherry	Aurobindo Ghosh
Belur	Rama Krishna Paramhans	Porbandar	Mahatma Gandhi
Chittor	Rana Pratap	Rajghat	Mahatma Gandhi
Fatehpur Sikri	Akbar, the Great	Sabarmati	Mahatma Gandhi
Jallianwala Bagh	Massacre of Indians by the British on April 13,1919	Seringapatnam	Tipu Sultan
Haldighati	Rana Pratap	Shanti Van	Jawahar Lai Nehru
Kapilvastu	Mahatma Buddha	Shantiniketan	Rabindranath Tagore
Lumbini	Mahatma Buddha	Talwandi	Guru Nanak
Macedonia	Alexander, the Great	Ujjain	Mahavira
Mecca	Prophet Mohammed	Vrindaban (UP)	Lord Krishna

Important Foreign Travellers/Envoys

Megasthenes (302-298 BC): An ambassador of Selecus Nikator, who visited the court of Chandragupta Maury a. He wrote an interesting book 'Indica' in which he gave a vivid account of Chandragupta Maurya's reign.

Fa-Hien (405-411 AD): He came to India during the reign of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya. The object of his visit was to see the holy places of Buddhism and to collect Buddhist books and relics. He was the first Chinese pilgrim to visit India.

Hiuen-Tsang (630-645 AD): He visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana.

I-tsing (671-695 AD): A Chinese traveller, he visited India in connection with Buddhism. His work Biographies of Eminent Monks, provides us useful information about the social, religious and cultural life of the people of this country.

Al-Masudi (957 AD): An Arab traveller, he has given an extensive account of India in his work 'Muruj-ul-Zahab'.

Al-beruni (1024-1030 AD): His real name was Abu Rehan Mahamudand he came to India along with Mahmud of Chazn, during one of his Indian raids. He travelled all over India and wrote a book'Tahqiq-i-Hind. The book deals with the social, religious and political conditions in India.

Marco Polo (1292-1294 AD): A Venetian traveller, he visited South India in 1294A.D. (during the reign of Pandyan ruler of Madurai, Madverman Kulshekhara: 1272-1311). His work 'The Book of Sir Marco Polo' gives an invaluable account of the economic history of India.

Ibn Batuta (1333-1347 AD): A Moroccan traveller, he visited India during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. His book 'Rehla (the Travelogue) throws a lot of light on the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and the geographical economic and social conditions in India.

Shihabuddin al-Umari (1348 AD): He came from Damascus. He gives a vivid account of India in his book Masalik albsar fi-mamalik al-amsar.

Nicolo Conti (1420-1421 AD): A Venetian traveller, he gives a comprehensive account of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar.

Abdur Razzaq (1443-1444 AD): He was a Persian traveller, who came to India and stayed at the court of the Zamorin at Calicut. He has given a vivid account of the Vijayanagar empire, especially of the city. He describes the wealth and luxurious life of the king and the nobles.

Athanasius Nikitin (1470-1474 AD): He was a Russian merchant, who visited South India in 1470. He describes the condition of the Bahmani kingdom under Muhammad III (1463-82).

Duarte Barbosa (1500-1516 AD): He was a Portuguese traveller. He has given a valuable narrative of the government and the people of the Vijayanagar empire.

Dominigo Paes (1520-1522 AD): He was Portuguese traveller, who visited the court of Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire.

Femao Nuniz (1535-1537 AD): A Portuguese merchant who visited the Vijayanagar empire. He wrote the history of the empire from its earliest times to the closing years of Achyutdeva Raya s reign.

John Hughen Von Linschotten (1583 AD): He was Dutch traveller, who has given a valuable account of the social and economic life of South India.

William Hawkins (1608-1611 AD): He was an English ambassador of the British King James I to the court of Jahangir (1609). He resided at Agra for two years (1609-11), and received numerous favours from the emperor who called him 'Inglish Khan'.

Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619AD): He was an ambassador of James I, King of England, at the court of Jahangir, the Mughal emperor.

Franciso Palsaert (1620-1627 AD): He was a Dutch traveller, who stayed at Agra and gave a vivid account of the flourishing trade at Surat, Ahmedabad, Broach, Cambay Lahore, Multan etc.

Peter Mundy (1630-34 AD): He was an Italian traveller to the Mughal empire during the reign of Shahjahan. He gives valuable information about the living standard of the common people in the Mughal Empire.

John Albert de Mandesto (1638 AD): He was German traveller, who reached Surat in 1638.

Jeen Baptiste Tavemier (1638-1663AD): He was a French traveller and gem marchant, who visited India six times, his account covers the reign of Shahjahart and Aurangzeb.

Nicolao Manucci (1653-1708 AD): He was an Italian traveller, who got service at the court of Dara Shikoh.

Francois Bernier (1656-1717 AD): He was a French physician and philosopher. Danishamand Khan, a noble of Aurangzeb, was his patron.

Jean de Thevenot (1666 AD): He was a French traveller, who has given a good account of cities like Ahmedabad, Cambay, Aurangabad and Golconda.

John Fryer (1672-1681 AD): He was an English traveller, who has given a vivid account of Surat and Bombay.

Gemelli Careri (1695 AD): He was an Italian traveller who landed at Daman. His remarks on the Mughal emperor's military organisation and administration are important.

Abbreviated or Alternative Name

Abbreviated / Alternative Name	Original Name
Andhra Kesari	T. Prakasam
Anna	C.N. Annadurai
Baba Saheb	Bhimrao Ramji (B.R.) Ambedkar
Badshah Khan	Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Bapu, Mahatma Gandhi	Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi
Beacon of Light of Asia	Subhash Chandra Bose
Chach	Jawahar Lai Nehru
C.R.	C. Rajagopalachari
Deenbandhu	C.R Andrews
Deshbandhu	C.R. Das
Engliughtened One, Tathaagat	Mahatma Buddha
Father of Indian Unrest	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Father of the Local Self-govt	Lord Ripon
Father of the nation (India)	Mahatma Gandhi
Frontier Gandhi	Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Grand Old Man of india	Dadabhai Naoroji
Gurudev	Rabindranath Tagore
Indian Bismarck	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Indian Einstein	Nagarjuna
Indian Napoleon	Samudragupta
J.P. / Loknayak	Jayaprakash Narayan
Lal, Bal, Pal	Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal
Liberator of the Indian press	Sir Charles Metcalfe
Lion of Punjab (Sher-i- Punjab)	Lala Lajpat Rai
Lokmanya	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Mahamana	Pt. Mandan Mohan Malaviya
Martin Luther of India	Dayanand Saraswati
Man of Iron/ Iron Man of India	Sardar Patel
Mother of Indian Revolution	Madam Bhikhaji Rustam Cama
Netaji	Subhas Chandra Bose
Nightingale of India	Sarojini Naidu)
Parrot of India (Tuti-e-Hindustan)	Amir Khusrau
Patriot of Patriots	Subhash Chandra Bose
Punjab Kesari	Lala Lajpat Rai
Scourge of God	Chengiz Khan
Strong Man of India	Sardar Patel

Important Sayings

'Back to Vedas.' - Dayanand Saraswati
'India is for Indians'.- Dayanand Saraswati
'Dharma Chakra Pravartana.' - Mahatma Buddha
'Dilli Chalo!' - Subhash Chandra Bose's battlecry ofAzad Hind Fauj
'Quit India!' (slogan) - Yusuf Meherally
'Do or Die.'. - Mahatma Gandhi (while launching Quit India movement in 1942)
'Give me blood and I will give you freedom.' - Subhas Chandra Bose (in his address to soldiers of Azad Hind Fauj)
'My ultimate aim is to wipe every tear from every eye. ’ - Mahatma Gandhi
'The ambition of the greatest man (i.e, Mahatma Gandhi) of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye'. (A Tryst with Destiny-Prime ministerial speech, on the eve of India's Independence) - Jawahar Lal Nehru
'Swaraj (self-rule) is my birthright and I will have it.' - Bal Gangadhar Tilak
'Every blow that is hurled on my back will be a nail in the coffin of the British Empire'. - Lala Lajpat Rai
'The Congress is tottering to its fall and one of my greatest ambitions while in India is to assist it to a peaceful demise'. - Lord Curzon
'Muslims were foolish, they demanded protection and Hindu were also foolish, they rejected that demand' - Abul Kalam Azad
'Sare Jahan Se Acchha Hindustan Hamara' - Iqbal
'Vande Mataram' - Bankim Chandra Chaterji
'Jan Gan Man Adhinayak Jai hei' - R.N. Tagore
'Samarajyawad Ka Nash ho' - Bhagat Singh
'Read, fight and unite' - B.R. Ambedakar
'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' - Lal Bahadur Shashtr
'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan' - Atal Bihari Bajpai
'Jai Hind!' - Subhash Chandra Bose
'Aaraam Haraam Hai' (Cast off your Laziness) - Jawahar Lal Nehru
'Sampum Kranti' (Total Revolution) - Jai Prakash (J.P.) Narayan

Important Battles

Name of the Battle	Year	Between	Winner	Significance
Battle of Hydaspes	326 BC	Alexander and Porus	Alexander	Fought on the bank of the Jhelum, which is called ‘Hydaspes’ in Greek; opened relations between India and the West?
Kalinga War	260 BC	Ashoka and King of Kalinga	Ashoka	Vast destruction and bloodshed changed the attitude of Ashoka and he embraced Buddhism.
First Battle of Tarain or Thaneswar	1191 AD	Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohd Ghori	Prithiviraj Chauhan	Prithviraj Victory, Mohd. Ghori ran away
Second Battle of Tarain	1192 AD	Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohd. Ghori	Mohd. Ghori	Establishment of an Islamic empire in India Oncot nf thp Muehal empire in India.
First Battle of Panipat	1526 AD	Ibrahim Lodhi and Babur	Babur	Onset of the empire in India
Battle of Khanwa	1527 AD	Babur and Rana Sanga	Babur	Mughal Empire get more stronger
Battle of Chausa	1539 AD	Sher Shah and Humayun	Sher Shah	Sher Shah became emperor of India.
Second of Battle of Panipat	1556 AD	Akbar and Hemu	Akbar	Ended Afghan rule, strengthened Mughal rule
Battle of Talikota	1565 AD	Combined force of 4 Muslim rulers of Deccan and Ramraja of Vijayanagar	Muslim forces	Destroyed the Hindu kingdom of the deccan; sealed the fortunes of Vijayanagar empire.
Battle of Haldighati	1576 AD	Rana Pratap and Akbar	Akbar	Rana Pratap fought gallantly and took refuge in a remote fortress.
Battle of Samugarh	1659 AD	Aurangzeb and Imperial forces led by Dara	Aurangzeb	Aurangzeb captured the Mughal throne.
Battle of Plassey	1757 AD	Sirajuddaula and English forces under Clive	English forces	Fought at Plassey. The English became masters of Bengal; foundation of British rule.
Third Battle of Panipat	1761 AD	Ahmed Shah Abdali and Marathas	English Shah Abdali	Gave a setback to Marathas in the north: sealed the destiny of Mughal empire and made British entry easier.
Battle of Buxar	1764 AD	Joint forces of Muslim and English forces	English forces	Led to English occupation of India.
Third Mysore War	1790-1792 AD	English forces and Tipu Sultan	English forces	Tipu Sultan had to sign treaty of the Seringa - pattam
Fourth Mysore War	1799 AD	English forces and Tipu Sultan	English forces	Fought at Malavali and brought the Mohammedan dynasty of Mysore to an end.
Second Sikh War	1848-1849 AD	English forces and Sikhs	English forces	Sikh kingdom came under the British.

Reforms / Acts

Name of the Reforms / Acts	Year	During the term of	Significance
Prohibition of Sati & Female Infanticide	1829	Lord illiam Bentick	Supported by Raja Rammohun Roy.
Doctrine of lapse	1848	Lord Dalhousie	Adoption of sons by rulers in the absence of their natural heirs was banned
Widow Remarriage Act	1856	Lord Canning	Legalized the marriage of Hindu widow, Supported by Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
Indian Councils Act	1861	Lord Canning	Envisaged association of Indians with the administration at higher level.
Iibert Bill	1883	lord Ripon	To bring Indian and European magistracy on equal footing.
Indian Councils Act	1892	Lord Lansdown	Membership of Central Legislative Councils was enlarged.
Morely- Minto Reforms	1909	Lord Minto II	Separate electroates to widen the gulf between Hindus & Muslims.
Moutagcu- Chelmsford Reforms	1919	L. Chelmsford	Dyarchy was introduced at Provincial level. Dyarchy means dual system of Govt.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre	1919	L. Chelmsford	Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar by General Dyer
Rowlatt Act	1919	L. Chelmsford	Extraordinary powers were given to suppress the freedom struggle with General Dyer as the Commandant.
Simon Commission	1928	Lord Irwin	To report working of the reforms; recommended dyarchy in provinces; India to be constituted as a federation and Lndianisation of armed forces.
Gandhi-Irwin pact	1931	Lord Irwin	Congress called off the agitation and agreed to participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
Communal Award	1932	Lord Willingdon	Envisaged communal representation for depressed classes besides Hinus, Muslims and Sikhs.
Separate electrorates	1932	Lord Willingdon	(See Communal Award)
Government of India Act	1935	Lord Willingdon	Provided for a federal type of constitution, Dyarchy at the centre.
Cripps Mission	1942	Lord Linlithgow	Proposed Dominion Status for India after the Second World War.
INA Trial	1945	Lord Wavell	INA prisoners of war were put to trial at Red Fort, Delhi and Bhulabhai Desai defended them.
Wavell Plan	1945	Lord Wavell	Envisaged the constitution of the executive council in such a way as to give representation to all major communities in India.
Cabinet Mission Plan	1946	Lord Wavell	Envisaged the establishment of the Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution.
Mountbatten Plan	1947	L. Mountbatten	Partition Plan
Indian Independence Act	1947	L. Mountbatten	India partitioned and attained independence.

Educational Committees/ Commissions

Viceroy	Committee/ Commission	Year	Chairman	Objectives
Lord Ripon (1880-1884)	Hunter Commission	1882	William Hunter	To study the development in education.
Lord Curzon (1899-1905)	University Commission	1902	Thomas Raleigh	To study the Universities and introduce reforms.
Lord Chelmsford (1916-1921)	Calcutta University Commission	1917	Michael Sadler	To study the condition of University.
Lord Reading (1921-1926)	Indian Disbandment Committee	1923	Lord Itchcap	To discuss the Central Committee of Education
Lord Wavell (1943-1947)	Sargeant Plan	1944	John Sargeant	To raise the standard of Education like Britain

Famine Commissions

Lord Lytton (1876-1880)	Famine Commission	1880	Richard Strachey	To give relief to the famine-stricken.
Lord Elgin (1894-1899)	Famine Commission	1897	James Lyall	To give suggestion on earlier reports
Lord Curzon (1899-1905)	Famine Commission	1900	Anthony McDonnell	To give suggestion on the famine report
Lord Wavell (1943-1947)	Famine Inspection Commission	1943-44	John Woodhood	To investigate in the events of Bengal Famine.

Economic Committees/Commissions

Viceroy	Committee/ Commission	Year	Chairman	Objectives
Lord Lansdown (1888-1894)	Harshell Committee	1893	Hershell	To give suggestion regarding currency.
Lord Lansdown (1888-1894)	Opium Commission	1893	-	To investigate about the effect of opium on health.
Lord Elgin (1894-1899)	Henry Fowler Commission	1898	H. Fowler	To give suggestions on currency.
Lord Curzon (1899-1905)	Irrigation Commission	1901	Sir Wolvin Scott Monkinj	To plan for the expenditure on irrigation
Lord Hardinge (1910-1916)	Maclagon Committee	1914-15	Maclagon	To advise for cooperative finances
Lord Irwin (1926-1931)	Linlithgow Commission	1928		To study the problem in agriculture. (Report by Linlithgow)
Lord Irwin (1926-1931)	Whitelay Commission	1929	J.H. Whitelay	To study the condition of labour in industries and gardens.
Lord Wellingdon 1931-1936)	Indian Measurement Committee	1935	Lary Hamand	To arrange for the inclusion of labour in the Federal Assembly.
Lord Reading (1921-26)	Ibrahim Rahimtoola Fiscal Commission	1921	Ibrahim Rahimtoola	To advise about discriminating protection to industries.
Lord Linlithgow (1936-1943)	National Planning Committee	1938	Jawaharlal Nehru	To prepare economic plan.

Administrative Committees/Commissions

Lord Dufferin (1884-1886)	Etkinson Commission	1886	Charles Etkinson	To involve more Indians in the Civil Service
Lord Curzon (1899-1905)	Fraser Commission	1902	Fraser	To investigate the working of police
Lord Hardinge (1910-1916)	Royal Commission on Civil Service	1912	Lord Islington	To give 25% high posts to Indians
Lord Reading (1921-1926)	Royal Commission	1924	Lord Lee	To remove defects of the Civil Service
Lord Reading (1921-1926)	Sandhurst Committee	1926	Andrews Skeen	To suggest Indianization of the Indian army
Lord Irwin (1926-1931)	Butler Committee	1927	Hercourt Butler	To examine nature of crown's the relation with native States

Important Congress Session

Year	Place	Importance
1885	Bombay	At Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, 72 delegates
1886	Calcutta	436 delegates
1887	Madras	Tayabji became the first Muslim President.
1888	Allahabad	George Yule became the first English President
1889	Bombay	Congress represented all areas of British India.
1890	Calcutta	Decision taken to organise a session of Congress in London.
1895	Poona	Demand for a representative body only for the educated class
1898	Madras	Social reform was set as the main goal.
1907	Surat	Congress split.
1908	Madras	Constitution for the Congress.
1916	Lucknow	Congress merger. Pact with Muslim League, Gandhi attended.
1917	Calcutta	Annie Besant became the 1st women President.
1920	Nagpur	Gandhian programme was adopted. Change in the Congress constitution.
1921	Ahmedabad	Hasrat Mohani demanded for complete independence.
1922	Gaya	Formation of Swaraj Party.
1924	Belgaum	Gandhi became President.
1925	Kanpur	Sarojini Naidu became the Is* Indian woman President.
1927	Madras	Nehru and S. C. Bose moved resolution for independence and it was passed for the 1st time.
1928	Calcutta	First All India Youth Congress.
1929	Lahore	'Pooma Swaraj' (Complete Independence) resolution and pledge for Independence day on 26 January, 1930.
1931	Karachi	Resolution for Fundamental Rights and National Economic Policy.
1934	Bombay	Formation of Congress Socialist Party.
1936	Lucknow	Support for socialism through democracy.
1936	Faizpur	Demand for Constituent Assembly.
1938	Haripura	Puma Swaraj was to cover also princely states.
1939	Tripuri	S. C. Bose resigned due to differences with Gandhi, after resignation Rajendra Prasad became President of INC.

Governor-General and Viceroys

Governors of Bengal (1757-74)

Robert Clive: Governor of Bengal during 1757-60 and again during 1765-67, Established Dual Government in Bengal from 1765-72.

Vanisttart (1760-65): The Battle of Buxar (1764).

Cartier (1769-72): Bengal Famine (1770).

Warren Hastings (1772-74): Abolished Dual Government (1772).

Governor-Generals of Bengal (1774-1833)

Warren Hastings (1774-85): Became Governor-General in 1774 through the Regulating Act, 1773; Wrote introduction to the first English translation of the 'Gita' by Charles Wilkins; Founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal with William Jones in 1784.

Revenue Reforms: Auctioned the right to collect land revenue to the highest bidder; Divided Bengal into districts and appointed collectors and other revenue officials.

Judicial Reforms: Started Diwani and Faujdari adalats at the district level and Sadar diwani and Nizamat adalats (appellate courts)at Calcutta; Redefined Hindu and Muslim laws; A translation of the code in Sanskrit appeared in 1776 under the title of "Code of Gentoo laws".

Wars: Rohilla War (1774); 1st Anglo-Maratha War (1776-82); 2nd Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84).

Lord Cornwallis (1786-93): First person to codify laws in 1793. The code separated the revenue administration from the administration of justice; Created the post of district judge; Introduced Permanent Settlement in Bengal (1793); Cornwallis is called 'the Father of Civil Service in India'.

Wars: 3rd Anglo-Mysore War (defeat of Tipu and the Treaty of Seringapatanam, 1792)

Sir John Shore (1793-98): Introduced the 1st Charter Act (1793).

Wars: Battle of Kharda between Nizam and the Marathas (1795)

Lord Wellesley (1798-1805): Started Subsidiary Alliance system to achieve British paramountcy in India, Nizam Ali (Nizam of Hyderabad) was the first Indian native ruler to accept the system of Subsidiary Alliance (1798); Madras Presidency was formed during his tenure.

Wars: 4th Anglo-Mysore War (1799)—defeat and the death of Tipu Sultan; 2nd Anglo -Maratha War (1803-05)-defeat of the Scindia, the Bhonsle and the Holkar; Treaty of Bassein (1802).

George Barlow (1805-1807): Vellore Mutiny (1806)

Lord Minto I (1807-1813): Concluded Treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh (1809); Charter Act of 1813 was passed.

Lord Hastings (1813-1823): Adopted the policy of intervention and war.

Wars: Anglo-Nepalese War (1813-23); 3rd Anglo Maratha War (1817-18). Hastings forced humiliating treaties on Peshwa and the Scindia; Introduced the Ryotwan settlement in Madras by Thomas Munro, the Governor.

Lord Amherst (1823-28): Wars: 1st Burmese War (1824-26); Acquisition of territories in Malay Pemsula Capture of Bharatpur (1826).

Lord W. Bentick (1828-33): Most liberal and enlightened Governor-General of India; Regarded as 'the Father of Modem Western Education in India'; Abolished Sati and other cruel rites (1829); Annexation of Mysore (1831) Concluded a treaty of perpetual friendship with Ranjit Singh (1831); Passed the Charter Act of 1833, which provided that no Indian subject of Company was to be debarred from holding an office on account of his religion, place of birth descent and colour.

Governor Generals of India (1833-58)

Lord W. Bentick (1833-35): Macaulay's minutes on wain education were accepted declaring that English should be the official language of India, Macaulay's Minute of 1835 introduced English education in India with the declared object of producing 'a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in tastes'; Abolished provincial courts of appeal and circuit set up by Cornwallis, Appointment of commissioners of revenue and circuit.

Wars: Annexed Coorg (1834), Central Cachar (1834) on the plea of misgovemance.

Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835-1836): Passed the famous Press Law, which liberated the press in India.

Lord Auckland (1836-42): 1st Anglo-Afghan War (1836-42)—great blow to the prestige of the British in India.

Lord Ellenborough (1842-44): Brought an end to the Afghan War; Annexation of Sindh (1843); War with Gwalior (1843); Abolished slavery (1843).

Lord Hardings I (1844-48): 1st Anglo-Sikh war (1845-46) and the Treaty of Lahore, 1846 (marked the end of Sikh sovereignty in India); Gave preference to English educated in employment.

Lord Dalhousie (1848-56): Original Name-James Andrew Broun Ramsay, Abolished titles and pensions, Introduction of Widow Remarriage Bill (Nov. 17, 1855).

Wars: Introduced Doctrine of Lapse (Captured Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambhalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854); Fought 2nd Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) and annexed the whole of the Punjab; 2nd Anglo-Burmese War (1852) and annexation of Lower Burma or Pegu; Annexation of Berar in 1853; Annexation of Avadh in 1856 on charges of mal- administration.

Administrative Reforms: Introduced the system of centralized control in the newly acquired territories known as Non-Regulation System; Raised Gurkha regiments.

Educational Reforms: Recommended the Thomsonian System of Vernacular education for the whole of the Northwestern Provinces (1853); Wood's Educational Despatch of 1854 and opening of Anglo-Vernacular Schools and Government Colleges; An Engineering College was established at Roorkee.

Public Works: Started the first railway line in 1853 connecting Bombay with Thana); Started electric telegraph service. Laid the basis of the modern postal system (1854); A separate public works department was set up for the first time Started work on the Grand Trunk Road and developed the harbours of Karachi, Bombay and Calcutta.

Lord Canning (1856-58): The last Governor General of India; Passed Widow Remarriage Act (July 25,1856); Revolt of 1857; Passed the Act of 1858, which ended the rule of the East India Company. Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse.

Governor Generals and Viceroys (1858-1947)

Lord Canning (1858-62): The Indian Councils Act of 1861 was passed, which proved to be a landmark in the Constitutional history of India; The Indian Penal Code of criminal Procedure (1859) was passed; The Indian High Court Act (1861) was enacted; Income Tax was introduced for the first time in 1858; The universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras founded in 1857; The Indigo riots in gal (1860).

Lord Elgin I (1862-63): Wahabi Movement (Pan-Islamic Movement)

Sir John Lawrence (1864-69): Telegraphic commutation was opened with Europe; High Courts were established at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1865; Expanded canal works and railways; Bhutan War (1865); Advocated State-managed railways; Created the Indian Forests Department and reorganized the native judicial service.

Lord Mayo (1869-72): Introduced financial decentralization in India, Established Mayo College at Ajmer for the princes; Organised the Statistical Survey of India, Established the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Introduction of State Railways. He was the only Viceroy to be murdered in office by a convict in Andamans in 1872.

Lord Northbrook (1872-76): Kuka Movement of Punjab took rebellious turn during his period.

Lord Lytton (1876-80): Most infamous Governor-General, Pursued free trade and abolished duties on 29 British manufactured goods which accelerated the drain of wealth of the India, Arranged the Grand Durbar in Delhi (in 1877) when the country was suffering from a severe famine; Passed the Royal Title Act (1876) and Queen Victoria was declared as the Kaisar-i-Hind i.e. Empress of India; Arms Act (1878) made mandatory for Indians to acquire license for arms; Passed the infamous Vernacular Press Act (1878); Proposed the plan of Statutory Civil Service in 1878-79 and lowered the maximum age limit from 21 to 19 years, the 2nd Afghan war (1878-80) proved a Sucess for British and the treaty of Gandmak (1879) converted Afghanistan into an almost protected state of India.

Lord Ripon (1880-84): Repeal of the Vernacular Press Act, 1882; The First Factory Act, 1881 to improve labour condition, Resolution of Local Self Government in 1882, Resolution on Land Revenue Policy; Appointed Hunter Commission (for education reforms) in 1882; The Ilbert Bill controversy erupted during his time (1883).

Lord Dufferin (1884-88): 3rd Burmese War (Annexation of Upper and Lower Burma in 1885, Establishment of Indian National Congress in 1885.

Lord Lansdowne (1888-94): The Factory Act of 1891; Categorization of Civil Services into imperial, provincial and subordinate; Indian Council Act of 1892 (introduced elections which was indirect); Appointment of the Durand Commission to define the line between British India and Afghanistan (1893).

Lord Elgin II (1894-99): The Munda Uprising (Birsa Munda) of 1899, Convention delimiting the frontier between China and India was ratified, Great famine of 1896-97, Lyall Commission appointed after famine (1897), Assassination of two British officials-Rand and Amherst-by Chapekar Brothers in 1897.

Lord Curzon (1899-1905): Appointed a Police Commission in 1902 under Andrew Frazer; Set up the Universities Commission and accordingly the Indian Universities Act of 1904 was passed; Set up the Department of Commerce and Industry; Calcutta Corporation Act (1899); Passed the Indian Coinage and Paper Currency Act (in 1899) and put India on a gold standard; Partition of Bengal took place in 1905 (It was cardinal blunder of Curzon); The idea to build Victoria Memorial (Calcutta)was conceived by Lord Curzon. The foundation stone of the memorial was laid in 1906 and it was opened for public in 1921.

Lord Minto II (1905-10): Swadeshi Movement (1905-08); Foundation of the Muslim League, 1906; Surat session and split in the Congress (1907), Newspapers Act, 1908; Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909.

Lord Hardinge (1910-16): Annulment of the Partition of Bengal (1911), Transfer of capital from Calcutta to Delhi (1911); Delhi Darbar and Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary (1911); Establishment of Hindu Mahasabha by Madan Mohan Malviya (1915).

Lord Chelmsford (1916-21): Home Rule Movement launched by Tilak and Annie Besant (1916); Lucknow Pact between Congress and Muslim League (1916); Arrival of Gandhi in India (1915); Champaran Satyagraha (1917); Montague's August Declaration (1917); Kheda Satyagraha and Satyagraha at Ahmedabad (1918); Government of India Act (1919), Repressive Rowlatt Act (1919); Jalianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919), Appointment of Hunter Commission to probe Jalianwala Bagh Massacre (Oct. 19, 1919), Khilafat Movement (1920-22); Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22).

Lord Reading (1921-26): Criminal Law Amendment Act and abolition of cotton excise; Repeal of Press Act of 1910 and Rowlatt Act of 1919; Violent Moplah rebellion in Kerala (1921); Foundation of CPI (1921); Chauri Chaura incident (1922); Foundation of Swaraj Party (1923); Kakori Train Dacoity (1925); Foundation of RSS (1925); Murder of Swami Shradhanand (1926).

Lord Irwin (1926-31): Simon Commission announced in 1927; Butler Commission (1927); Nehru Report (1928); 14 points of Jinnah (1929); Lahore session of Congress and 'Poorna Swaraj' declaration (1929); Civil Disobedience Movement (1930); Dandi March (1930); 1st Round Table Conference (1930); Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).

Lord Willingdon (1931-36): IInd Round Table Conference (1931); Civil Disobedience Movement (1932); Announcement of MacDonald's Communal Award (1932); IIIrd Round Table Conference; Foundation of Congress Socialist Party — CSP(1934); Government of India Act (1935); Burma separated from India (1935), All India Kisan Sabha (1936).

Lord Linlithgow (1936-43): General Election (1936-37); Congress ministries formed in 1937 and Resignation of Congress ministries in 1939; 'Deliverance Day' celebrated by Muslim League in 1939; Foundation of forward Block by S.C. Bose (1939); Lahore Resolution (1940); August Offer (1940); Cripps Mission (1942); Quit India Movement (1942).

Lord Wavell (1943-1947): C. R. Formula 1944; Wavell Plan and Simla Conference in 1945; End of Ilnd World War in 1945; INA Trials in 1945; Naval mutiny in 1946; Cabinet Mission, 1946 and acceptance of its proposals by Congress;Direct Action Day by the Muslim League on 16th August, 1946.

Lord Mountbatten (Mar-Aug 1947): Announced the 3 June, 1947 Plan; Introduction of Indian Independence Bill in the House of Commons; Appointment of 2 boundary commissions under Sir Cyril Radcliffe.

Governor Generals of Free India (1947-50)

Lord Mountbatten (1947-48): The first Government General of free India; Kashmir acceded to India (Oct., 1947), Murder of Gandhi (Jan. 30, 1948).

C. Rajagopalachari (June 1948 - Jan. 25, 1950): The last Governor General of free India; The only Indian Governor General.

Modern India

Miscellaneous - Indian History

Miscellaneous - Indian History

Important Dates

I. ANCIENT INDIA

BC

AD

II. MEDIEVAL INDIA

III. Modern INDIA

IV. POST MODERN INDIA

Important Places

Association of Places

Important Foreign Travellers/Envoys

Abbreviated or Alternative Name

Important Sayings

Important Battles

Reforms / Acts

Educational Committees/ Commissions

Famine Commissions

Economic Committees/Commissions

Administrative Committees/Commissions

Important Congress Session

Governor-General and Viceroys

Governors of Bengal (1757-74)

Governor-Generals of Bengal (1774-1833)

Governor Generals of India (1833-58)

Governor Generals and Viceroys (1858-1947)

Governor Generals of Free India (1947-50)

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