History

K Gokhale was instrumental Indian in bringing about Morley-Minto Reforms, which marked the beginning of constitutional reforms in India. He was an advocate of liberalism, reason free of passion and the importance of education in enriching minds. Gokhale’s idea of free and compulsory education was proposed through his Elementary Education Bill in 1910, and this … Read more

The Non-cooperation movement was perhaps the biggest event in the history of India’s struggle for independence since the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The movement was launched as a protest against the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre and the Khilafat movement. It was pitched in under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National … Read more

He was the Pioneer social reformer of 19th century. He introduced various reforms which rusted the Indian society for long. The evils of past were haunting modernisation past and has kept virtually half of the population at the mercy of other half. The kind of reforms brought by him introduce humane elements of modern society. … Read more

The Champaran Satyagraha was the combination of an elements of extra-constitutional struggle as well as the employment of moral force against an adversary, an exemplar of the rule of law; and the use of compromise as a gambit. It marked as the first India’s Civil Disobedience movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi to protest against the … Read more

Modern education in India is given by British Government. They were the first who gave institutionalisation to Modern education. They through their policies brought secular and modern elements to the education  system. The chronological development of Education during the British Period in India is discussed below: Charter Act of 1813: The British Parliament added a … Read more

The Indian handicrafts that had made the country famous, collapsed under the colonial rule. There was a sudden and quick collapse of the urban handicrafts which had for centuries made India’s name a byword in the markets of the entire civilised world. During the first half of 18th century, India was the biggest manufacturing nation … Read more

In the annals of history of India, there were so many empires with large administration such as Mauryans, Guptas, etc. Unlike them Cholas had a well-organized administration with an element of self-government at local level which can be seen reminiscent of current local self-administration. The most important feature of the Chola administration was the local … Read more

The last decade of 19th century and the early years of the 20th century saw the rise of the group of young nationalists who were increasingly getting critical to the methods and ideology of early nationalists. Reasons for the emergence Discovering true nature of British policies: The early nationalists, journalists and writers through their writings … Read more

Gandhiji returned to India in January 1915 after gaining experience in South Africa with his agitational/ protest methods. After coming to India, he decided to travel India and not to take any position on any political matter for at least one year. In 1917 Gandhiji was requested to look into the problems of the farmers … Read more

Hoysala architecture is the Hindu temple architecture which got developed in the region of Karnataka near Mysore. It developed in the period from 1050-1300 A.D with the prominent seats being Belur, Halebid and Sringeri. Salient features of Hoysala Architecture Multiple shrines of different deities were built around a central pillared hall. Stellate plan: These shrines are … Read more

Buddhism and Jainism were two major sect developed in 6th century BCE and over the period of time they got sanction from both kings and followers. The dissent against the status quo was the main result of birth of these two religion. The causes are as follows:                Social cause: Caste system became rigid and it … Read more

The vast expanse of land in the southern Deccan comprised the kingdom of Vijayanagar from 1336-1650 A.D approximately. The famous kingdom was ruled by a series of able monarchs who were great patrons of art, architecture and letters. Magnificent structures were erected during the heydays of the empire, famous among them like Hampi monuments find … Read more

The objective was the extension of the upliftment of the landless class, especially the Harijans. Example in action, of the principle of distribution of wealth and not concentration of wealth in a few hands (39b and 39c) The unique feature of the VINODA BHAVE initiative was not being based on a legislation or involvement of … Read more

The temple building activity further gained momentum during the Vijayanagar rule. The chief characteristics of the Vijayanagara architecture were the construction of tall Raya Gopurams or gateways and the Kalyanamandapam with carved pillars in the temple premises. The sculptures on the pillars were carved with distinctive features. The horse was the most common animal found … Read more

The greatest of the Vijayanagar rulers, Krishna Deva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty. He possessed great military ability. His imposing personality was accompanied by high intellectual quality. His first task was to check the invading Bahmani forces. The Muslim armies were decisively defeated in the battle of Diwani by Krishna Deva Raya. He invaded … Read more

Two Nation Theory’s phenomenon basically sprigged up with the advent of Islam in the Sub-Continent. The sense was very unique about Pakistan’s creation that it was generally based on ideological commitments in the light of Islam. The basic concept behind Two Nation Theory was Muslims and Hindus was two separate nations from every expects, So … Read more

India had commercial and cultural relations with her neighbours since an early time. Resulting from this, was on the one hand the introduction of foreign elements into the art and culture of India and on the other the extension of Indian religious ideas and art motifs to foreign countries. India’s Cultural contribution to Central Asia … Read more

Chief features of Chola architecture are: (i) Dravidian feature initiated by the Pallavas acquired the classical forms and features under the Cholas such as gopurams, mandapams and  Vimanas. (ii) In the beginning, gopuram features was subdued and vimana features dominated but in the later stages, gopurams overshadowed the Vimanas. (iii) In the beginning, Vimanas were … Read more

LW Bentinck is associated with various reforms. He was one of the few Governor generals who tried to bring various reforms in Indian society and the administration. Social reforms initiated by him got a set back after 1857 revolution. The various reforms brought by him are as follows: Associated with a great many social reforms … Read more

He was a true liberal of Gladstonian Era with a strong belief in the virtues of peace, laissez faire, and self government. He took some steps towards liberalizing the administration in India. His aim was to give popular and political education to the Indians. He formulated the local self government and laid the foundations of … Read more

Various repressive measures undertaken by the British authority in India led to the growth of suspicion and hatred towards the British. During the time of Lord Lytton, the Viceroy, certain repressive laws like Vernacular Press Act and Arms Act of 1878 were passed to suppress the Indian mass. By the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 … Read more

Vikramashila was one of the two most important centres of learning in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda. Vikramashila was established by King Dharmapala (783 to 820) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda. Atisha, the renowned pandita, is sometimes listed as a notable abbot. It was … Read more

Firuz Shah Tughlaq was the successor of Mohammed Bin Tughlaq. Firuz Shah was a caring ruler unlike Mohammed bin Tughlaq. He made sure that people in his kingdom were happy and heard out their problems patiently. However, he was not militarily strong and could not sustain any sort of external attacks or aggression. Firuz Shah … Read more

Wajid Ali Shah, the eldest son of Amjad Ali Shah, became the king of Awadh in 1847. Wajid Ali Shah was himself a great theatre genius and had set up a Pari Khana for training artists. He was also a great patron of artists, singers and musicians. He lived in an atmosphere of gaiety and … Read more

Lord Wellesley adopted the policy of Subsidiary Alliance to keep the Indian rulers under control and to further strengthen the British Empire in India. He opened a college to train the Company’s servants in Calcutta and is known as the Father of Civil Services in India. Lord Wellesley founded the Fort William College in Calcutta, … Read more

The Deccan peasants uprising was directed mainly against the excesses of the Marwari and Gujarati money lenders. Social boycott of moneylenders by the peasants was later transformed into armed peasant revolt in the Poona and Ahmadnagar districts of Maharashtra. The peasants attacked the moneylender’s houses, shops and burnt them down. Their chief targets were the … Read more

Jyoti rao phule is considered as one of the major reformer of 19th century. His contribution towards women education, eradication of caste system, raising voice against the social evils like untouchability  etc. is unparalleled in the Modern history. Jyotirao established the first girls’ school in August 1848. Later he also opted two more school for … Read more

Cornwallis’s greatest achievement in India was the reorganization of the land taxation, known as the Permanent Settlement of 1793. Agricultural land in Bengal was cultivated by a large number of small farmers, who paid rent to a group of zamindars (landowners). Under the Mughals, the government had collected taxes from the zamindars. The East India … Read more

  Ahmadiya Movement: This movement was founded by MirzaGhulam Ahmed in 1889. It was based on liberal principles. It described itself as the standard bearer of Mohamedan Renaissance, and based itself, like BrahmoSamaj, on the principle of Universal religion of all humanity, opposing jihad. The movement spread western liberal education among the Indian Muslims. However, … Read more

A battle was fought in Bhima Koregaon, a district in Pune with a strong historical Dalit connection, between the Peshwa forces and the British on January 1, 1818. The British army, which comprised mainly of Dalit soldiers, fought the upper caste-dominated Peshwa army. The British troops defeated the Peshwa army. The victory was seen as a … Read more

The SS Komagata Maru was a chartered ship featured in a dramatic challenge to Canada’s former practice of excluding immigrants from India. This challenge took place in the spring and summer of 1914, on the eve of the First World War.  This challenge took place in the spring and summer of 1914, on the eve … Read more

Gandhi brought Satyagraha to India in 1915, and was soon elected to the Indian National Congress political party. Rowlatt Act – He began to push for independence from the United Kingdom, and organized resistance to 1919 law that gave British authorities unauthorised powers to imprison suspected revolutionaries without trial. Britain responded brutally to the resistance, harmed … Read more

Tipu sultan was a ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore and the eldest son of Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore. Tipu was also known as king of Mysore and He was the most formidable opposition among marathas, Nizams etc. Various reforms were initiated by Tipu sultan which are as follows: Fought the first Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69) at the … Read more

Purna Swaraj resolution was passed by the Indian National Congress in the Lahore session of 1929. The session was presided by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Purna Swaraj meant c omplete freedom from British rule. People were subsequently asked to celebrate 26th of January as ‘Independence Day’. Congress laeders and volunteers hoisted flags publicly across the country. Congress had already presented the … Read more

What were the causes and consequences of Third battle of Panipat? Ans:       The question of sovereignty over Punjab and its capture and loss alternatively and repeatedly by the Marathas and Abdali during the period 1752-60 became the immediate cause of the battle of Panipat. Sadashiv Rao Bhau, the commander of the Marathas, reached Delhi in … Read more

Features are as follows: Synthesis of Dravidian architecture with Islamic style. Carved pillars with horse as the common motif. Kalyan mandapas or open pavilions and long multi pillared halls. Exceptionally large gopurams. Fortification of temples with more specious enclosure. Chariots streets paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions. Large tanks and canals for … Read more

Certainly, on the English side, great men like Lawrence, Clive, Eorde, Coote, and Saunders. But, much as British owe to such men, it is impossible to conceal the fact that, to a very great extent indeed, the success of the English was due to the misfortunes of the French. The foes of the French were, … Read more

In reaction to the incipient nationalist movement, represented by the nineteenth century Hindu revivalism, which led to improving the position of the Brahmin caste, the non- Brahmins of Madras Presidency sought to ally with the colonial regime, hoping that foreign rule would protect their position and somewhat neutralize power differences within the population. Mindful of … Read more

The foundations of the Sikh Empire, during the Sikh Confederacy, could be defined as early as 1707, starting from the death of Aurangzeb and the downfall of the Mughal Empire. The fall of the Mughal Empire provided opportunities for the Sikh army, known as the Dal Khalsa, to lead expeditions against the Mughals and Afghans. … Read more

  Greco-Buddhist art is the artistic manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, a cultural syncretism between the Classical Greek culture and Buddhism, which developed over a period of close to thousand years in Central Asia, between the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, and the Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD. Origin Place … Read more

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule struggled for the upliftment of lower castes through his Satya Shodhak Samaj. Belonging to the Mali caste, which supplies flowers to the Peshwa’s family, he had suffered humiliation, which made him to turn against caste inequalities. He strongly criticized the Brahmanical domination in the name of religion. He was also critic of … Read more

A new period in Annie Besant’s life began in 1913 when she became active in Indian politics, and gave a lead by claiming Home Rule for India. She entered politics because she saw that India’s independence was essential for her age-old wisdom to become a beacon for the whole world. The Home Rule movement she … Read more

Self-Respect Movement was a dynamic social movement aimed at destroying the contemporary Hindu social order in its totality and creating a new, rational society without caste, religion and god. Self-Respect Movement was started by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker in Tamil Nadu in 1925. It was an egalitarian movement that propagated the ideologies of breaking down of the Brahminical hegemony, equal rights for the … Read more

Dvaita philosophy was put forward by Madhavacharya, a medieval India bhakti saint. He was a Vaishnavite whose soul aim was to disprove the theory of Maya or unreality of the world and establish the doctrine of Bhakti or love and faith on a secure basis. In contrast to Shankara’s Non-dualism and Ramanuja’s qualified Non-dualism, Madhavacharya … Read more

Permanent Settlement The Permanent Settlement or Zamindari Sysem was introduced by Lord Corniwallis in 1793. In Bengal, North Cauvery Delta in Madras Presidency and Varanasi division. It covered altogether 19% of the total cultivable land under company rule. Terms and Conditions of the System Zamindars were recognized as owner of the lands. Zamindars were given the … Read more

The accession of Asaf-Ud-Daula, the fourth Nawab, brought a great change in Awadh politics. He moved the court of Awadh from Faizabad to Lucknow in 1775. When the court moved to Lucknow, the kernel of the court, as if, shed its old husk and acquired a new one and the city largely grew in and around … Read more

Krishna Raja Wodeyar III was responsible for the cultural growth of the Mysore. Krishna Raja Wodeyar III was himself a writer, having written the books on Kannada Language like Sritattvanidhi and Sougandhikaparinaya. Krishna Raja Wodeyar III also has a number of writers in his court who together contributed to the development of modern prose in … Read more

Arts strengthen cultural values. Formal theatrical performances, sculptures, paintings, music and food festivals, paintings, folk tales, songs, novels, poems, martial arts and crafts groups, all these should be encouraged. To be kept alive, intangible cultural heritage must remain relevant to a culture and be regularly practiced and learned within communities and between generations. The issue … Read more

The Nanda Kings established a strong monarchy based on an efficient bureaucracy and a mighty army. The conquests made by the Nandas paved the way for the political unification of India under the Mauryas. The age of the Nanda Empire was significant also for the fact that it brought an end to the immemorial orthodox … Read more

Hiuen Tsang from China (629-645) One of the earliest and the most celebrated travelers to India, Hiuen Tsang came from China to India in search of Buddhist belief and practice. He has been described as the “prince of pilgrims” and his accounts carry a lot of information on the political, social and religious set up … Read more