india history

• Indian sepoy revolted after discovering that the new Enfield Rifle contained both pork and beef fat tallow, upsetting both Muslims and Hindus
• British families were slaughtered during the Indian Mutiny
• British officials responded to the Indian Mutiny by torching villages and attacking unarmed Indians
• Restoring order after the Indian Mutiny cost £36mn
• The Government of India Act transferred the rights of the East India Company to the British Crown


  1858
• The Government of India Act 1858 transferred the government and territories of the East India Company to the British Crown
• The Indian Councils Act of 1861 marked the beginning of representative institutions by associating Indians with the law-making process
• The Royal Titles Act 1876 officially recognized Queen Victoria as “Empress of India”
• The Indian National Congress was established in 1885
• The Indian Council Act of 1892 made it mandatory for the General-Governors council to have not less than 10 and not more than 16 members
• Viceroy Curzon decided to partition Bengal to improve administration


  1905
• The Muslim League was set up in 1906 to protect Muslims’ rights and become their sole representative
• The Simla Deputation of 1906 was the first systematic attempt by Muslims to present their demands to the British government
• Simla Deputation


  1. First systematic attempt by Muslims to present their demands to the British government and seek their acceptance

  2. Comprised 35 Muslims from all over India, led by Sir Agha Khan and Nawab Mohsin ul Malik served as a secretary

  3. Met Viceroy Lord Minto in Simla
• Morley Minto Reforms


  1909
• Viceroy Minto and Secretary of State Morley allowed more Indians to be involved in decision making, e.g., on the Imperial Legislative Council
• The Indian Councils Act guaranteed separate representation for Muslims and other minorities
• The Morley Minto Reforms were criticised for establishing communalism, not giving real power to Indians, and having a weak franchise
• WWI


  1914
• India gave its full support to Britain during WWI
• In 1915, Muslims objected to fighting fellow Muslims in Turkey
• £150mn and 1.25mn men contributed to the war, with 64,500 Indian soldiers dying
• The war led to fuel shortages, food riots, and rising prices
• Lucknow Pact


  1916
• The Muslim League and the Indian National Congress signed an agreement guaranteeing Muslim representation in an Indian assembly
• Muslims would have a fixed percentage of seats in parliament and extra seats where Muslims had a minority
• Home Rule League


  1916
• Congress members Annie Besant and Bal Tilak set up the Home Rule League asking for home rule
• The league stimulated the public through newspapers, rallies, etc., and had 60,000 members after one year
• Montagu Declaration


  1917
• Secretary of State Montagu promised the gradual development of self-governing institutions in India
• No timescale was given, hinting at the development of a new act after Montagu's visit to India
• The Rowlatt Acts


  1919
• The Rowlatt Acts extended wartime measures, allowing certain political cases to be tried without juries and permitting internment of suspects without trial
• The acts aimed to replace the repressive provisions of the wartime Defence of India Act (1915) by a permanent law
• Montagu-Chelmsford Report


  1919
• The Government of India Act introduced the system of dyarchy, with provincial councils in charge of education and health while the British controlled the military and foreign affairs
• Congress rejected the reforms as Indians were still only in charge of less important affairs
• Khilafat Movement


  1919-1924
• The Khilafat Movement was a pan-Islamic force in India that arose in 1919 to salvage the Ottoman caliph as a symbol of unity among the Muslim community in India during the British Raj