INDIAN HISTORY BITS

1. As a prince where was Ashoka sent to suppress the revolt?
1 Taxila
2 Kalinga
3 Ujjain
4 Deccan
Ans:1
2. Which one of the following travelers is not associated with the description of the glories of Vijayanagar kingdom?
1 Paes
2 Abdul Razzaq
3 Ibn Batutach
4 Nuniz
Ans:3
3. What was Sher Shah’s precious legacy to the Mughals?
1 Organization of Army
2 Land Revenue System
3 Mansabdari System
4 Provincial Administration
Ans:2
3. The main emphasis of Upnishads is on which aspect of philosophy?
1 Bhakti
2 Gyan
3 Karma
4 Tapa
Ans:2
4. Panini, the first Grammarian of Sanskrit language in India, lived during the:
1 2nd Century B. C.
2 6th -5th Century B. C.
3 2nd Century A. D.
4 5th-6th Century A. D.
Ans:2
5. With reference to the Indian Freedom Struggle, which one of the following events occurred earliest?
1 Surat Split
2 Lucknow Pact
3 Rowlatt Satyagraha
4 Communal Award
Ans:1
6. What was the most important gainto Ahmad Shah Abdali as a result of the Third Battle of Panipat?
1 Control over Delhi
2 Enormous wealth
3 Control over Punjab
4 Opportunity to expand his empire in India
Ans:2
7. The scholar who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni in India was
1 Ibn Batuta
2 Al-Beruni
3 Al-Firdausi
4 Al-Razi
Ans:2
8. The father of Asoka was:
1 Bimbisara
2 Bindusara
3 Mahendra
4 Namda
Ans:2
9. Azad Hind Fauj was founded in 1943 in
1 Mandalay
2 Singapore
3 Midnapore
4 Kuala Lumpur
Ans:2
10. The main emphasis of Upnishads is on which aspect of philosophy?
1 Bhakti
2 Gyan
3 Karma
4 Tapa
Ans:2
11. Who was the founder of Vijaynagar kingdom?
1 Harihar and Bukka
2 Krishna Dev Roy
3 Narsingha
4 Devroy
Ans:1
12. Among the four dynasties listed below, which one minted coins made of lead?
1 Mauryas
2 Satvahanas
3 Western Kshatrapas
4 Guptas
Ans:2
13. Which of the following is associated with Lord Wellesley, the Governor General of India from 1798 to 1805?
1 Doctrine of Lapse
2 Subsidiary Alliance
3 First Mysore War
4 Conquest of Rajputana
Ans:2
14. With reference to the Indian Freedom Struggle, which one of the following events occurred earliest?
1 Surat Split
2 Lucknow Pact
3 Rowlatt Satyagraha
4 Communal Award
Ans:1
15. Which factor influenced Ghandhi’s ideas on Indian Culture most?
1 Brief in the fundamentals of ancient culture.
2 Influenced by western ideas
3 ’Sermon on the Mount’
4 Tolstoy’s idea
Ans:1
16. The most important divinity in the Rig Veda is
1 Agni
2 Marut
3 Varuna
4 Indra
Ans:3
17. Alexander’s general who attacked India and was defeated by Chadragupta Maurya was
1 Ptolemy
2 Seleucus
3 Nearchus
4 Arrian
Ans:2
18. The foreign traveler who visited India during the rule of the Guptas was
1 Hiuen Tsang
2 Beriner
3 Fa-Hein
4 Manucci
Ans:3
19. Which of the following factors was most important for the rapid development of trade in pre-Gupta period?
1 Needs of the Roman Empire
2 Success of the banking system
3 Better system of coinage
4 Encouragement from the Kings
Ans:1
20. In the year 1946, who among the following joined the Viceroy’s Executive Council with the finance portfolio?
1 Mohammad Ali Jinnah
2 Liaqat Ali Khan
3 Nawab Salimullah
4 Shaukat Ali
Ans:2
21. The battle that was fought between Ahmad Shah Abdali and the Marathas in 1761 was
1 2nd battle of Panipat
2 1st battle of Panipat
3 3rd battle of Panipat
4 the battle of Tarain
Ans:3
22. Which one of the following is correctly matched?
1 Second Battle of Panipat - Akbar and Ibrahim Lodi
2 Battle of Khanwa - Akbar and Rana Sanga
3 Battle of Chausa - Humayun and Sher Shah
4 First battle of Tarian - Mahmud Ghaznavi and Prithviraj Chauhan
Ans:3
23. Why was the Swaraj Party established?
1 To co-operate with Government
2 To place obstacles in the functioning of the legislative council
3 To form an organization parallel to the Congress
4 Because of schism in the Congress
Ans:2
24. Identify the famous ruler of the Gupta period
1 Kumaradevi
2 Rajyashri
3 Kuber-Naga
4 Prabhavati-Gupta
Ans:4
25. ’Tipu Sultan’ had his capital at
1 Srirangapatnam
2 Mysore
3 Bangalore
4 Bhagyanagar
Ans:1
26. Among the following foreign travellers who was the first to visit India?
1 Bernier
2 Ibn Batuta
3 Abdur Rajjak
4 Vasco-da-Gama
Ans:2
27. In ancient peninsular India, who among the following assumed the title ’Vatapikonda’?
1 Mayurasharman
2 Narasimhavarman
3 Pulakesi II
4 Vikramaditya II
Ans:2
28. Chandragupta Maurya built the first great empire in India with the help of
1 Mahapadmananda
2 Bindusara
3 Seleucus
4 Kautilya
Ans:4
29. Which ruler went to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism
1 Ashoka
2 Samudragupta
3 Sanghamitra
4 Chitragupta
Ans:3
30. The Temples at Khajuraho were build by -
1 Chandelas
2 Pallavas
3 Chalukyas
4 Qutubuddin
Ans:1
31. Which among the following was defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali in the 3rd battle of Panipat
1 Sawai Jai Singh
2 Badam Singh
3 Suraj Mal
4 Guru Govind Singh
Ans:3
32. During the Civil Disobedience Movement, who led the ’Red Shirts’ of North-Western India?
1 Abdul Kalam Azad
2 Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
3 Mohammad Ali Jinnah
4 Shaukat Ali
Ans:2
33. Which among the following dynasties had the strongest navy?
1 Chalukya
2 Chola
3 Gupta
4 Pallava
Ans:2
34. Which one of the following travelers is not associated with the description of the glories of Vijayanagar kingdom?
1 Paes
2 Abdul Razzaq
3 Ibn Batutach
4 Nuniz
Ans:3
35. Put in correct chronological sequence, the successors of Shivaji 1.Sahu 2.Shivaji 3.Rajaram 4.Sambhaji 5.Ram Raja
1 4, 3, 2, 1, 5
2 2, 1, 5, 3, 4
3 5, 4, 2, 1, 3
4 1, 2, 3, 5, 4
Ans:1

1) What was the type of marriage in the Vedic period in which, in place of the dowry, there was a token bride price of a cow and a bull -
1. Asura
2. Arsa
3. Gantharva
4. Rakshsa
Ans:1
2) In which field of art extraordinary progress was made in the Gupta period?
1 Architecture
2 Sculpture
3 Painting
4 Coinage
Ans:3
3) Which one of the following is correctly matched?
1 Brahmo Samaj - Annie Basant
2 Arya Samaj - Lala Lajpat Rai
3 Ram Krishna Mission - Keshab Chandra Sen
4 Theosophical Society - vivekananda
Ans:2
4) Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the victories of Babur?
1 Panipat, Chanderi, Ghaghara and Khanwah
2 Panipat, Ghaghara, Khanwah and Chanderi
3 Panipat, Khanwah, Chanderi and Ghaghara
4 Ghaghara, Panipat, Khanwah and Chanderi
Ans:3
5) The battle at Waihind in 1008-09 A.D was fought between
1 Mahmud of Ghazni and Jayapala
2 Mahmud of Ghazni and Anandapala
3 Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj
4 Muhammad Ghori and Jaichandra
Ans:2
6) As a prince where was Ashoka sent to suppress the revolt?
1 Taxila
2 Kalinga
3 Ujjain
4 Deccan
Ans:1
7) Among the following foreign travellers who was the first to visit India?
1 Bernier
2 Ibn Batuta
3 Abdur Rajjak
4 Vasco-da-Gama
Ans:2
8) Against whom Skandagupta had to wage long wars on the North West border?
1 Shakas
2 Yavanas
3 Huns
4 Greeks
Ans:3
9) The oldest Veda is
1 Atharva Veda
2 Rig Veda
3 Yajur Veda
4 Sama Veda
Ans:2
10) Over Which territory there were frequent clashes between Bahamani Kingdom and Vijaynagar Kingdom?
1 The Raichur Doab
2 Warangal
3 Madurai
4 Malabar
Ans:1
11) The Hathigumpha inscription (near Bhubaneshwar, Orissa) relates to the king
1 Susharma
2 Hala
3 Kharavela
4 Pulamayi
Ans:3
12) The entry port for trade between the Indus trading centres and Mesopotamia was
1 Elam
2 Oman
3 Behrain
4 Afganistan
Ans:3
13) Among the four dynasties listed below, which one minted coins made of lead?
1 Mauryas
2 Satvahanas
3 Western Kshatrapas
4 Guptas
Ans:2
14) During whose period Al-Beruni came to India?
1 Mahmud Ghaznavi
2 Balban
3 Firoz Tughluq
4 Ibrahim Lodhi
Ans:1
15) Against whom Skandagupta had to wage long wars on the North West border?
1 Shakas
2 Yavanas
3 Huns
4 Greeks
Ans:3
16) Where did Aurangzeb die?
1 Agra
2 Asirgarh
3 Daultabad
4 Ahmadnagar
Ans:4
17) Ashoka called the Third Buddhist Council at
1 Pataliputra
2 Magadha
3 Kalinga
4 Sarnath
Ans:2
18) The main historical source regarding the information about village government under the Cholas is the
1 Halmidi inscription
2 Jatwai inscription
3 Uttaramerur inscription
4 Chandravallo inscription
Ans:3
19) What was Sher Shah’s precious legacy to the Mughals?
1 Organization of Army
2 Land Revenue System
3 Mansabdari System
4 Provincial Administration
Ans:2
20) Who among the following taught the doctrine of ’Shunyata’?
1 Nagarjuna
2 Shankaracharya
3 Harisena
4 Vallabhacharya
Ans:1
21) Which factor influenced most to eliminate caste-system in India?
1 Rationalism
2 Job Opportunities
3 Legislations
4 Liberal Education
Ans:1
22) The earliest tribal assembly was
1 Gana
2 Vidhata
3 Samiti
4 Sabha
Ans:2
23) The foreign traveler who visited India during the rule of the Guptas was
1 Hiuen Tsang
2 Beriner
3 Fa-Hein
4 Manucci
Ans:3
24) The entry port for trade between the Indus trading centres and Mesopotamia was
1 Elam
2 Oman
3 Behrain
4 Afganistan
Ans:3
25) At the earlier stage backward classes movement means?
1 Santal movement
2 Non-Brahmin movement
3 Harijan movement
4 Antirulers movement
Ans:2
26) Which of the following dynasties patronised the famous Kailash temple at Ellora?
1 Vakataka
2 Gupta
3 Early Chalukya
4 Rastrakuta
Ans:4
27) Which organization had proposed first to constitute the Constitution Assembly to form the Indian Constitution?
1 Swaraj Party in 1928
2 Indian National Congress in 1936
3 Muslim League in 1942
4 By all parties convention in 1946
Ans:2
28) During the Indian freedom Struggle, who of the following founded the Parthana Samaj?
1 Atmaram Pandurang
2 Gopal Hari Deshmukh
3 Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
4 Keshab Chandra Sen
Ans:1
29) The main historical source regarding the information about village government under the Cholas is the
1 Halmidi inscription
2 Jatwai inscription
3 Uttaramerur inscription
4 Chandravallo inscription
Ans:3
30) Among the following who was in chronological order, the last famous ruler of Vijayanagar?
1 Harihar-II
2 Devarai-I
3 Vir Narsingh
4 Krishna Deva Rai
Ans:4
31) ’Ratti’ used by jewellers is obtained from seed of a -
1 Gymnospermous plant
2 Angiospermous plant
3 Algae
4 Fungi
Ans:2
32) During the Civil Disobedience Movement, who led the ’Red Shirts’ of North-Western India?
1 Abdul Kalam Azad
2 Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
3 Mohammad Ali Jinnah
4 Shaukat Ali
Ans:2
33) During whose tenure as the Viceroy of India were the great martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru hanged?
1 Lord Curzon
2 Lord Irwin
3 Lord Minto
4 Lord Chemsford
Ans:2
34) How did Hiuen Tsang undertake journey from and to India?
1 He came by land route and also returned by land route
2 He came by land route but returned by sea route
3 He came by sea route and returned by land route
4 He came by sea route and also returned by sea route
Ans:1
35) Where did Aurangzeb die?
1 Agra
2 Asirgarh
3 Daultabad
4 Ahmadnagar
Ans:4
36) Sir Thomas Rose visited the court of
1 Akbar
2 Jehangir
3 Shajahan
4 Aurangazeeb
Ans:2
37) Which of the following is wrongly matched
1 The Pitt’s India Act (1784) : Board of Control to guide and control company’s affairs
2 Charter Act of 1813 : Company’s monopoly of trade with India ended
3 Charter Act of 1833 : Company’s debt taken over by the government of India
4 Charter Act of 1853 : To regulate company’s affairs
Ans:4
38) Which one of the following battles was fought between babar and the Rajputs in 1527?
1 The First Battle of Panipat
2 The Battle of Khanwa
3 The Battle of Ghagra
4 The Battle of Chanderi
Ans:2
39) Which was the only Indus city without a citadel?
1 Kalibangan
2 Harappa
3 Mohenjodaro
4 Chanhudraro
Ans:2
40) Even though India became independent in 1947 but Daman and Diu remained a European colony till 1961. Which country ruled over it ?
1 France
2 Britain
3 Netherlands
4 Portugal
Ans:4

FAMOUS QUOTATIONS

Quotation	Quoted By
1	Swaraj is my Birth Right	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
2	Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get.	G. B. Shaw
3	A thing of beauty is a joy forever	John Keats
4	To be and not to be that is the question.	Shakespeare
5	Delhi Chalo	Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
6	Superstition is the religion of feeable minds.	Edmund Burke
7	Let a hundread flowers bloom and let a thousand school of thought contend.	Mao-Ste-Tunng
8	Aram Haram Hai	Jawahar Lal Nehru
9	Where wealth accumulates, men decay.	Goldsmith
10	Beauty is truth, truth is beauty, that is all.	John Keats
11	I came I saw I conquered	Shekspear
12	Good Government is no substitute for self government.	Alfred Tennyson
13	A democratic Government is of the people, for the people and by the people.	Abraham Linkon
14	Jay Hind	Netaji
15	Law grinds the poor and rich men rule the men.	Gold Smith
16	The human soul needs actual beauty more than bread.	D. H. Lawrence
17	War is the greatest crime man perpetrates against man.	Zarathustra
18	There never was a good war or a bad peace.	Benjamin Franklin
19	The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.	Theodore Roosevelt
20	Truth and Non-violence is my God	M. K. Gandhi
21	Jai Jawan, Jai Krishan	Lal Bahadur Shastri
22	Eureka Eureka	Archimedes
23	Just as I would not like to be a slave, so I would not like to be a master.	Abraham Linkon
24	Brevity is the soul of wit.	Shekspear
25	East is east and west is west and never the twin shall meet.	Kipling
26	Knowledge is Power	Hobbes
27	Man is by nature a political animal.	Aristotol
28	Temptation usually comes in through a door that has delibaretly been left open.	Arnold Glasow
29	I therefore want freedom immediately this very night, before dawn if it can be had?	Gandhiji
30	Man is not the creature of circumstance. Circumstances are the creature of men.	Disraeli
31	Excellent things are rare.	Plato
32	Well done is better than well said.	Benjamin Franklin
33	Ambition is like love: Impatient both of delays as well as rivals.	Buddha
34	The child is father of the man.	William Wordsworth
35	Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.	Rabindra Nath Tagore
36	Patriotism is religion and religion is love for India.	Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

HISTORICAL EVENTS

HISTORICAL EVENTS
B.C
2500-1800	Indus valley civilization.
599	Birth of Mahavir; Nirvana in 523. B.C.
563	Birth of Gautam Buddha; Nirvana in 483 B.C.
327-26	Alexander's invasion of India and the opening of land route between India and Europe.
269-232	Ashoka's reign.
261	Battle of Kalinga.
57	Beginning of Vikrama era.
30	Satvahana dynasty in Deooan. Pandyan empire in for south.
326	Alexander defeated Poras in the Battle of Hydaspas
261	Ashoka defeated Kalinga in the Kalinga War
A.D
78	Beginning of Saka era.
320	Beginning of Gupta era.
360	Samudragupta conquers the whole of N. India and much of the Deccan.
380-413	Rule of Chandragupta Vikramaditya, age of Kalidasa, renewal of induism.
606-647	Rule of Harshavardhana.
629-645	Hieun Tsang's visit in India.
622	Beginning of Hijra era.
712	Arab invasion of Sind by Mohd. bin Qasim.
1001-27	Repeated attacks of Mehmud Ghazni.
1025	Sacking of Somnath temple by Mehmud.
1191	First battle of Tarain in which Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Mohd. Ghori.
1192	Second battle of Tarain in which Mohd. Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan.
1206	Qutubuddin Aibak founded the Ilbari/Slave dynasty.
1290	Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji established Khilji dynasty.
1290	Marco Polo visited India.
1320	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq founded the Tughlaq dynasty.
1333	Ibn Batuta arrived in India.
1336	Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijaynagar empire.
1347	Bahmani kingdom founded.
1398	Timur invades India.
1451	Lodi dynasty comes in power in Delhi Sultanate.
1469	Birth of Guru Nanak Dev.
1498	Vasco da Gama lands at Calicut.
1510	Portuguese capture Goa-Albuquerque Governor.
1526	First Battle of Panipat in which Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodhi and established the Mughal dynasty.
1556	Second battle of Panipat in which Akbar defeated Hemu.
1565	Battle of Talikota in which Vijaynagar empire is defeated.
1571	Foundation of Fatehpur Sikri by Akbar.
1576	Battle of Haldighati in which Akbar defeated Maharana Pratap.
1582	Akbar started Din-i-llahi.
1600	English East India Company established.
1604	Compilation of Adi Granth.
1605	Death of Akbar.
1611	The English built a factory at Masulipatnam.
1627	Birth of Shivaji
1631	Death of Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz Mahal. The building of Taj Mahal.
1658	Aurangzeb became Emperor of Delhi.
1666	Birth of Guru Gobind Singh.
1699	Guru Gobind Singh creates 'Khalsa'.
1707	Death of Aurangzeb, fall of Mughal empire begins.
1739	Nadir Shah invaded India; the peacock throne and the Kohinoor Diamond taken away from India.
1757	Battle of Plassey in which the English defeated Siraj-ud- daula, Nawab of Bengal.
1760	Battle of Wandiwash, end of French power in India,
1761	Third Battle of Panipat in which Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas.
1764	Battle of Buxar in which the English defeated the triple alliance of Nawab Mir Qasim of Bengal, Nawab Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and Mughal emperor Shah Alam.
1793	Permanent settlement in Bengal.
1799	Fourth Anglo Mysore War, death of Tipu Sultan, Ranjit Singh occupied Lahore and made it his capital.
1817-19	Marathas finally crushed.
1828	Lord William Bentick becomes Governor General; Era of social reforms; Prohibition of Sati (1829), Suppression of thugs (1830).
1835	Introduction of English as medium of instruction. A.D 1853 First Indian railway from Bombay to Thane. 1857-58 First war of Indian Independence. 1858 British crown takes over the Indian Government; End of East India Company's rule. 1861 Birth of Rabindra Nath Tagore. 1869 Birth of M.K. Gandhi. 1885 Formation of Indian National Congress. 1905 Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon. 1906 Formation of All India Muslim League. 1909 Minto-Morley Reforms. 1911 Delhi durbar held, partition of Bengal cancelled, capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. 1914 World War I started. 1918 End of World War I. 1919 Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Montague- Chelmsford reforms. 1920 Non-cooperation Movement launched, 1921 Moplah rebellian in Malabar; visit of Prince of Wales. 1922 Chauri-Chaura incidence. 1923 Swaraj party formed. 1927 Simon Commission appointed. 1928 Visit of Simon Commission to India, death of Lala Lajpat Rai. 1929 Congress demanded'Poorna Swaraj'in Lahore session. 1930 January 26 celebrated as Independence Day throughout India, Dandi Salt Satyagraha, First Round Table conference. 1931 Gandhi-lrvin Pact, Second Round Table Conference. 1932 Suppression of Congress Movement, Third Round Table Conference, Communal Award, Poona Pact. 1935 Government of India Act. 1937 Inauguration of Provincial Autonomy. Congress ministries formed in 8 out of 11 provinces. 1939 Resignation of Congress ministries, beginning of World War II. 1942 Cripps Mission Plan, Quit India Movement, Formation of Indian National Army by S.C. Bose. 1945 Simla conference held and the failure of Wavell Plan, INA trials at Red Fort, Delhi. 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan, Formation of Interim Government, Direct Action Resolution by Muslim League. 1947 Mountbatten Plan of June 3 in which partition of India resolution is proposed, India divided, Pakistan created, both achieve independence, Jawarhar Lai Nehru becomes the I Prime Minister of India. 1948 Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (Jan. 30). 1950 India became republic (Jan. 26). 1951 First Five Year Plan implemented. 1952 First General Elections held. 1953 Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary conquer Mt. Everest (May 29). 1954 Panchsheel agreement between India and China. 1956 Life insurance nationalized, State Reorganising Act comes into force. 1957 Second General Elections. 1958 Metric system of weights and measures introduced. 1959 Dalai Lama exiled; enters India. 1961 Liberation of Goa. 1962 Chinese attack on India. (Oct 20). 1964 Jawaharlal Nehru dies; Lai Bahadur Shastri becomes PM. 1965 Indo-Pak war. 1966 Tashkent Agreement reached, Death of Lai Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi became PM. 1967 Dr. Zakir Hussain elected President. 1968 Hargovind Khurana shares the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology. 1969 Death of. President Zakir Hussain (May 3). V. V. Giri elected President, Nationalization of 14 leading banks, Split in Indian National Congress. 1970 Former Indian ruler's privy purses abolished. Dr. C. V. Raman died (Nov. 2). 1971 Indo-Pak War over Bangladesh. 1972 Shimla Agreement signed. 1973 Manekshaw named India's first Field Marshal 1974 Nuclear explosion at Pokhran (May 18). 1975 Indian satellite 'Aryabhatta' launched, National emergency declared. 1976 The four Indian News agencies merged into a single News Agency known as 'Samachar', life of Lok Sabha extended by an year. 1977 Defeat of Mrs. Indira Gandhi in the election, Morarji Desai takes over as PM, emergency withdrawn. 1978 India launches world's biggest adult literacy plan (Oct. 2). 1979 Charan Singh became PM., Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize. 1980 Indira Gandhi returns to power at centre, India launches first satellite using its own satellite launching vehicle (July. 18). 1981 India launched APPLE, Khalistan activists hijack Indian Airlines Boeing 737 to Lahore. 1982 Zail Singh sworn in as President, the 21-member Indian scientific expedition headed by Dr. S. Z. Qasim lands on Antarctica (Jan. 9), INSAT1 A launched, Ninth Asian Games held in New Delhi. 1983 The 7th Non Aligned Summit in New Delhi, Kalpakkam Atomic Energy plant goes critical (July 2), INSAT-1 B launched (Aug. 30), Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi" wins 8 oscars. 1984 Rakesh Sharma becomes India's first spaceman (Apr. 5), Bachendri Pal become the first Indian woman to scale Mt. Everest (May 23), Operation Blue Star, Assassination of Indira Gandhi (Oct 31), Rajiv Gandhi becomes PM, Bhopal Gas tragedy (Dec. 3). 1985 Anti-defection Bill passed (Jan. 3), Azharuddin hits 3 centuries in 3 tests. 1986 The first wholly Indian test-tube baby bom at KEM Hospital, Bombay (Aug. 7). 1987 Sunil Gavaskar becomes the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in tests (Mar. 7), Goa becomes the 25th state of India (May 30). 1988 India's first remote sensing satellite IRS 1 -A launched from Russia (Mar. 17), INSAT 1-C launched from French Guyana (July 22). 1989 Successful test of Agni (May 22), laying of the foundation stone for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple of Ayodhya (Nov 10). V.P. Singh becomes the PM. 1990 Successful launching of INSAT 1-D (June 12), Mandal Commission recommendation implemented (Aug. 7), V.P. Singh tenders resignation (Nov. 7), S. Chandrashekhar becomes PM. (Nov. 10). 1991 Rajiv Gandhi killed in a bomb blast (May 21), P. V. Narsimha Rao became PM. (June 21), Earthquake in Uttarkashi region (Oct. 20), Satyajit Ray got special Oscar award. (Dec.16). 1992 Prithvi test fired (May 5), INSAT-2 A launched (July 10), Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma became President (July 25), the domes of Babri Masjid demolished (Dec 6). 1993 Panchayati Raj Act effective (Apr. 24), INSAT-2 B launched from French Guyana (July 23), Earthquake in Latur region (Sept. 30). 1994 First heart transplant in the country (Aug. 3), PSLV D-2 launched (Oct. 15). 1995 Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh assassinated (Agu. 31), INSAT-2 C launched (Dec. 7) 1996 A.B. Vajpayee became PM. (May 16), H.D. Deve Gowda became PM. (June 1), India-Bangladesh sign Ganga Water Pact (Dec. 12) 1997 I. K. Gujral became PM. (Apr. 21), K. R. Narayanan sworn in as President (July 25), Mother Teresa passes away (Sept. 5), Arundhati Roy wins Booker Prize (Oct. 14), I. K. Gujral resigns as PM. (Nov. 28) 1998 Konkan railway commissioned (Jan. 26), A. B. Vajpayee became PM. (Mar. 19), India conducted total 5 nuclear tests (May 11 and May 13), Severe cyclone in Gujarat (June 9), Amartya Sen won the Noble Prize in Economics (Oct. 14) 1999 P.M. Vajpayee arrived in Pakistan by Delhi-Lahore bus (Feb. 20), India successfully launched its first commercial telecom satellite INSAT-2 E from Kourou (Apr. 3), Intense fighting in Kargil (June-July), Devastating cyclone in Orissa and A. P. (Oct.) 2000 U. S. President Bill Clinton visited India (Mar.) INSAT-3 B launched from Kourou (Mar. 22), Successful test firing of 'Dhanush', the naval version of 'Prithvi' missile (Apr. 11), Karnam Malleshwari wins a bronze at Olympics, Chattisgarh formed (Nov. 1), Uttaranchal formed (Nov. 9), Jharkhand formed (Nov. 15) 2001 The pilotless target aircraft 'Lakshya' inducted into the Indian Air Force (Jan. 5), Severe earthquake in Gujarat (Ja. 26), the newly-constructed Ennore port dedicated to the nation (Feb. 1), India successfully launches GSLV D-1 from Sriharikota (Apr. 18), Indo-Pak summit at Agra (July 15-16), Lok Pal Bill introduced in Lok Sabha (Aug. 14), Attack on WTC, New York shakes the world (Sept. 11), Lok Sabha passes the bill on "Right to Education till 14" (Nov. 30), Terrorist attack on Indian Parliament (Dec. 13) 2002 INSAT-3 C launched on Ariane rocket from Kourou in French Guyana (Jan. 24), ISRO successfully tries the indegenious cryogenic engine (Feb. 5), POTO passed in the joint session of the Parliament (Mar. 26), LCA test flown successfully (June 6), Cabinet clears 26% FDI in print media (June 25), Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam elected the President of India (July 18), Bhairon Singh Shekhawat sworn in as Vice-President of India (Aug. 19), India launches METSAT by using PSLV-C4 (Sept. 12), Draft of the Tenth Five-Year Plan approved by the Planning Commission (Oct. 5), BSNL launches mobile phone service (Oct. 15), Vajpayee and Putin sign Delhi declaration (Dec. 4), Kelkar submitted modified report on tax reforms (Dec. 28) 2003 Kalpana Chawla killed in space shuttle Columbia burnup (Feb. 1); Large reserves of oil & gas discovered in Barmer district of Rajasthan (Feb. 4); US launched attack on Iraq (Mar. 20); INSAT-3A launched from Kourou (Apr. 10); Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) renamed 'Tejas' (May 4); GSLVD-2 launched from Sriharikota (May 8); First instance of power failure in modern USA (Aug. 15-16); Mars comes closest to Earth (Aug. 27); Govt. approves the purchase of Advanced Jet Trainers, Hawk, from Britain (Sept. 3); INSAT-3E launched from Kourou (Sept. 20); Pope John Paul-ll beautifies Mother Teresa (Oct. 19); First Afro-Asian Games held in Hyderabad (Oct. 24-Nov. 1); India & Pakistan agree to a formal cease-fire along the LOG (Nov. 25); 97th, 98th, 99th & 100th Constitutional Amendment Bills passed (Dec. 18-23) 2004 Sensex crosses the magical figure of 6000 (Jan. 2); India signs agreement with Russia for obtaining Admiral Gorshkov (Jan. 20); Delhi High Court clears Rajiv Gandhi from the Bofors deal (Feb. 4); 200 killed in Madrid train blast (Mar. 11); Nobel Medals of Rabindra Nath Tagore gets stolen from Shantiniketan (Mar. 25); NDA conducts election before time, but loses unexpectedly, UPA government comes in power, Dr. Manmohan Singh sworn-in as the new PM (May 22); 87 children killed in a fire in school in Kumbhkonam, Tamil Nadu (July 17); Olympics return to their homeland Athens, Rajyavardhan Rathode wins a silver for India (Aug. 13-29); Hamid Karzai wins the Presidential vote in Afghanistan (Oct. 14); Sandalwood King Veerappan is dead (Oct. 18); George W. Bush re-elected (Nov. 3); Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati arrested on murder charges (Nov. 11); Yasser Arafat is dead (Nov. 11); Parliament dismissses POTA (Dec. 9); Tsunami causes havoc in South and South East Asia killing more than a lakh (Dec. 26)

Classical, Folk and Tribal Dances in India

Classical, Folk and Tribal Dances in India

Classical Dance of India
Dance	State
Bharat Natyam	Tamil Nadu
Bihu	Assam
Bhangra	Punjab
Chhau	Bihar, Orissa, W. Bengal and Jharkhand
Garhwali	Uttaranchal
Garba	Gujarat
Hattari	Karnataka
Kathak	North India
Kathakali	Kerala
Kutchipudi	Andhra Pradesh
Khantumm	Mizoram
Karma	Madhya Pradesh
Laho	Meghalaya
Mohiniattam	Kerala
Mando	Goa
Manipuri	Manipur
Nati	Himachal Pradesh
Nat-Natin	Bihar
Odissi	Orissa
Rauf	Jammu & Kashmir
Yakshagan	Karnataka
Folk and Tribal Dances
States	Dances
Maharashtra	Kathakeertan, Lezin, Dandaniya, Tamasha, Gafa, Dahikala, Lovani, Mauni, Dasavtar.
Karnataka	Huttari, Suggi Kunitha, Yakashagana
Kerala	Kaikottikali, Kaliyattam, Tappatikkali
Tamil Nadu	Kolattam, Pinnal Kolattam, Kummi, Kavadi, Karagam
Andhra Pradesh	Ghanta Mardala, Veedhi Natakam, Burrakatha
Orissa	Ghumara Sanchar, Chadya Dandanata, Chhau
West Bengal	Kathi, Chhau, Baul, Kirtan, Jatra, Lama
Assam	Bihu, Khel Gopal, Rash Lila, Tabal Chongli, Canoe
Punjab	Giddha (women), Bhangra (men)
J & K	Rauf, Hikat
Himachal Pradesh	Jhora, Jhali, Dangli, Mahasu, Jadda, Jhainta, Chharhi
Haryana	Jhumar, Ras Leela, Phag dance, Daph, Dhamal, Loor, Gugga, Khoria, Gagor
Gujarat	Garba, Dandiya Rass, Tippani, Gomph
Rajasthan	Ginad, Chakri, Gangore, Terahtaal, Khayal, Jhulan Leela, Jhuma, Suisini
Bihar	Jata Jatin, Jadur, Chhau, Kathaputli, Bakho, Jhijhiya, Samochakwa, Karma, Jatra, Natna
Uttar Pradesh	Nautanki, Thora, Chappeli, Raslila, Kajri.
Famous Dancer
Bharatnatyam	Bala Saraswati, C. V. Chandrasekhar, Leela Samson, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Padma Subramanyam, Rukmini Devi, Sanyukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh, Yamini Krishnamurti
Kathak	Bharti Gupta, Birju Maharaj, Damayanti Joshi, Durga Das, Gopi Krishna, Kumudini Lakhia, Sambhu Maharaj, Sitara Devi
Kuchipudi	Josyula Seetharamaiah, Vempathi Chinna Sthyam
Manipuri	Guru Bipin Sinha, Jhaveri Sisters, Nayana Jhaveri, Nirmala Mehta, Savita Mehta Debaprasad Das, Dhirendra nath Pattnaik, Indrani Rahman, Kelucharan Mahapatra, Priyambaba Mohanty, Sonal Mansingh
Instrumentalists
Sarod	Ali Akbar Khan, Allaudin Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Bahadur Khan, Sharan Rani, Zarin S. Sharma
Tabla	Alla Rakha Khan, Kishan Maharaj, Nikhil Ghosh, Zakir Hussain
Violin	Baluswamy Dikshitar, Gajanan Rao Joshi, Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, M. S. Gopala krishnan, Mysore T. Chowdiah, T. N. Krishnan
Shehnal	Bismillah Khan
Sitar	Nikhil Banerjee, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Hara Shankar Bhattacharya
Flute	Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pannalal Ghose, T. R. Mahalingam
Veena	K. R. Kumaraswamy lyer, Doraiswami lyengar
Vocalists
Hindustani	Shubha Mudgal, Bheemsen Joshi, Madhup Mudgal, Mukul Shivputra, Pandit Jasraj, Parveen Sultana, Naina Devi, Girija Devi, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Gangubai Hangal, Krishna Hangal, V. Rajput, Kumar Gandharva, Faiyyaz Khan, Mallikarjun Mansur.
Carnatic	M. S. Subbalakshmi, Balamuralikrishna, Bombay Jaishree, H. K. Raghavendra, H. K. Venkataram, Sitarajam, Mani Krishnaswamy, Akhil Krishnan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, M. D. Ramanathan, G. N. Balasubramaniam
Thumri	Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan, Ustad Zawad Ali Khan, Rita Ganguli, Poornima Chaudhary, Shanti Heerananda, Naina Devi
Quwwali	Ghulam Hasan Niyazi, Sultan Niyazi, Ghulam Farid Nizami, Chand Nizami, IqbalHussain Khan Bandanawaji, Aslam Sabari
Dhrupad	Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, Zahiruddin Dagar, Waslfuddin Dagar, Bundecha Bandhu, Uday Bhawalkar, Pt. Abhay Narayan Mallick, Pt. Ritwik Sanyal

NEWS PAPERS IN INDIA

News Papers/ Journals	Founder/Editors
Bengal Gazette (India's first news paper, 1780)	J. K. Hikki
Amrit Bazar Patrika	Shishir Kr. Ghosh & Motilal Ghosh
Keshri	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Maharatta	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Sudharak	G. K. Gokhle
Vande Mataram	Aurobindo Ghosh
Native Opinion	V. N. Mandalik
Kavivachan Sudha	Bhartendu Harishchandra
Rast Goftar (First News Paper in Gujrati)	Dadabhai Naoroji
New India	Bipin Chandra Pal
Statesman	Robert Knight
Hindu	Vir Raghavacharya & G. S. Aiyar
Sandhya	B. B. Upadhyaya
Vichar Lahiri	Krishna Shastri Chiplunkar
Hindu Patriot	Girish Chandra Ghosh
Som Prakash	Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Yugantar	Bhupendra Nath Datta & Barindra Kumar Ghosh
Bombay Chronicle	Firoze Shah Mehta
Hindustan	Madan Mohan Malviya
Mooknayak	B. R. Ambedkar
Comrade	Mohammed Ali
Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq	Sir Syyed Ahmed Khan
Al-Hilal	Abul Kalam Azad
Al-Balagh	Abul Kalam Azad
Independent	Motilal Nehru
Punjabi	Lala Lajpat Rai
New India	Annie Besant
Commonweal	Annie Besant
Pratap	Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
Essays in Indian Economics	Mahadev Govind Ranade
Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali)	Ram Mohan Roy
Mirat-ul-Akhbar (First Persian News Paper)	Ram Mohan Roy
Indian Mirror	Devendra Nath Tagore
Nav Jeevan	M. K. Gandhi
Young India	M. K. Gandhi
Harijan	M. K. Gandhi
Prabudha Bharat	Swami Vivekananda
Udbodhana	Swami Vivekananda
Indian Socialist	Shyamji Krishna Verma
Talwar (in Berlin)	Birendra Nath Chattopadhyaye
Free Hinduatan	Tarak Nath Das
Hindustan Times	K. M. Pannikar
Kranti	Mirajkar, Joglekar, Ghate

INDIAN HISTORY

The Indian National Congress:

Formed in 1885 by A.O.Hume, an Englishman and a retired civil servant.

First session in Bombay under W.C.Banerjee in 1885 (72 delegates attended it).

In the first two decades (1885 – 1905), quite moderate in its approach and confided in British justice and generosity.

But the repressive measures of the British gave rise to extremists within Congress like Bipin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai (Lal, Bal, Pal).

Partition of Bengal:

By Lord Curzon on Oct 16, 1905, through a royal Proclamation, reducing the old province of Bengal in size by creating East Bengal and Assam out of rest of Bengal.

The objective was to set up a communal gulf between Hindus and Muslims.

A mighty upsurge swept the country against the partition. National movement found real expression in the movement against the partition of Bengal in 1905.

Swadeshi Movement (1905):

Lal, Bal, Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh played the important role.

INC took the Swadeshi call first at the Banaras Session, 1905 presided over by G.K.Gokhale.

Bonfires of foreign goods were conducted at various places.

Formation of Muslim League (1906):

Setup in 1906 under the leadership of Aga Khan, Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk.

It was a loyalist, communal and conservative political organization which supported the partition of Bengal, opposed the Swadeshi movement, demanded special safeguards to its community and a separate electorate for Muslims.

Demand for Swaraj:

In Dec 1906 at Calcutta, the INC under Dadabhai Naoroji adopted 'Swaraj' (Self-govt) as the goal of Indian people.

Surat Session of Indian National Congress (1907):

The INC split into two groups – The extremists and The moderates, at the Surat session in 1907. Extremists were led by Bal, Pal, Lal while the moderates by G.K.Gokhale.

Indian Councils Act or Minto Morley Reforms (1909):

Besides other constitutional measures, it envisaged a separate electorate for Muslims.

Aimed at dividing the nationalist ranks and at rallying the Moderates and the Muslims to the Government's side.

Ghadar Party (1913):

Formed by Lala Hardayal, Taraknath Das and Sohan Singh Bhakna.

HQ was at San Francisco.

Home Rule Movement (1916):

Started by B.G.Tilak(April, 1916) at Poona and Annie Besant and S.Subramania Iyer at Adyar, near Madras (Sept, 1916).

Objective: Self – government for India in the British Empire.

Tilak linked up the question of Swaraj with the demand for the formation of Linguistic States and education in vernacular language. He gave the slogan: Swaraj is my birth right and I will have it.

Lucknow Pact (1916):

Happened following a war between Britain and Turkey leading to anti-British feelings among Muslims.

Both INC and Muslim League concluded this (Congress accepted the separate electorates and both jointly demanded for a representative government and dominion status for the country).

August Declaration (1917):

After the Lucknow Pact, a British policy was announced which aimed at "increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration for progressive realization of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British empire". This came to be called the August Declaration.

Rowlatt Act (March 18, 1919):

This gave unbridled powers to the govt. to arrest and imprison suspects without trial for two years maximum. This law enabled the Government to suspend the right of Habeas Corpus, which had been the foundation of civil liberties in Britain.

Caused a wave of anger in all sections. It was the first country-wide agitation by Gandhiji and marked the foundation of the Non Cooperation Movement.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919):

People were agitated over the arrest of Dr. Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal on April 10, 1919.

General O' Dyer fires at people who assembled in the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar.

As a result hundreds of men, women and children were killed and thousands injured.

Rabindranath Tagore returned his Knighthood in protest. Sir Shankaran Nair resigned from Viceroy's Executive Council after this.

Hunter Commission was appointed to enquire into it.

On March 13, 1940, Sardar Udham Singh killed O'Dyer when the later was addressing a meeting in Caxton Hall, London.

Khilafat Movement (1920):

Muslims were agitated by the treatment done with Turkey by the British in the treaty that followed the First World War.

Two brothers, Mohd.Ali and Shaukat Ali started this movement.

Non-cooperation Movement (1920):

It was the first mass-based political movement under Gandhiji.

Congress passed the resolution in its Calcutta session in Sept 1920.

Chauri –Chaura Incident (1922):

A mob of people at Chauri – Chaura (near Gorakhpur) clashed with police and burnt 22 policemen on February 5, 1922.

This compelled Gandhiji to withdraw the Non Cooperation movement on Feb.12, 1922.

Simon Commission (1927):

Constituted under John Simon, to review the political situation in India and to introduce further reforms and extension of parliamentary democracy.

Indian leaders opposed the commission, as there were no Indians in it.

The Government used brutal repression and police attacks to break the popular opposition. At Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was severely beaten in a lathi-charge. He succumbed to his injuries on Oct.30, 1928.

Lahore Session (1929):

On Dec.19, 1929 under the President ship of J.L.Nehru, the INC, at its Lahore Session, declared Poorna Swaraj (Complete independence) as its ultimate goal.

On Dec.31, 1929, the newly adopted tri-colour flag was unfurled and an.26, 1930 was fixed as the First Independence Day, was to be celebrated every year.

Revolutionary Activities:

The first political murder of a European was committed in 1897 at Poona by the Chapekar brothers, Damodar and Balkishan. Their target was Mr.Rand, President of the Plague Commission, but Lt.Ayerst was accidentally shot.

In 1907, Madam Bhikaiji Cama, a Parsi revolutionary unfurled the flag of India at Stuttgart Congress (of Second international).

In 1908, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla chaki threw a bomb on the carriage of kingford, the unpopular judge of Muzaffapur. Khudiram, Kanhaiyalal Dutt and Satyendranath Bose were hanged. (Alipur Case).

In 1909, M L Dhingra shot dead Col.William Curzon Whyllie, the political advisor of "India Office" in London.

In 1912, Rasbihari Bose and Sachindra Nath Sanyal threw a bomb and Lord Hardinge at Delhi. (Delhi Conspiracy Case).

In Oct, 1924, a meeting of revolutionaries from all parts of India was called at Kanpur. They setup Hindustan Socialist Republic Association/Army (HSRA).

They carried out a dacoity on the Kakori bound train on the Saharanpur-Lucknow railway line on Aug. 9, 1925.

Bhagat Singh, with his colleagues, shot dead Saunders (Asst. S.P. of Lahore, who ordered lathi charge on Lala Lajpat Rai) on Dec.17, 1928.

Then Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Assembly on Apr 8, 1929. Thus, he, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on March. 23,1931 at Lahore Jall (Lahore Conspiracy Case) and their bodies cremated at Hussainiwala near Ferozepur.

In 1929 only Jatin Das died in Lahore jail after 63 days fast to protest against horrible conditions in jail.

Surya Sen, a revolutionary of Bengal, formed the Indian Republic Army in Bengal. In 1930, he masterminded the raid on Chittagong armoury. He was hanged in 1933.

In 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself at Alfred Park in Allahabad.

Dandi March (1930):

Also called the Salt Satyagraha.

Along with 78 followers, Gandhiji started his march from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930 for the small village Dandhi to break the salt law.

He reached the seashore on Apr.6, 1930.

He picked a handful of salt and inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement.

First Round Table conference (1930):

It was the first conference arranged between the British and Indians as equals. It was held on Nov.12, 1930 in London to discuss Simon commission.

Boycotted by INC, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Liberals and some others were there.

Gandhi Irwin Pact (1931):

Moderate Statesman, Sapru, Jaikar and Srinivas Shastri initiated efforts to break the ice between Gandhiji and the government.

The two (government represented by Irwin and INC by Gandhiji) signed a pact on March 5, 1931.

In this the INC called off the civil disobedience movement and agreed to join the second round table conference.

The government on its part released the political prisoners and conceded the right to make salt for consumption for villages along the coast.

Second Round Table Conference (1931):

Gandhiji represented the INC and went to London to meet British P.M. Ramsay Macdonald.

However, the session was soon deadlocked on the minorities issue and this time separate electorates was demanded not only by Muslims but also by Depressed Classes, Indian Christians and Anglo – Indians.

The Communal Award (Aug 16,1932):

Announced by Ramsay McDonald. It showed divide and rule policy of the British.

Envisaged representation of Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo Indians, women and even Backward classes.

Gandhiji, who was in Yeravada jail at that time, started a fast unto death against it.

Poona Pact (September 25, 1932):

After the announcement of communal award and subsequent fast of Gandhiji, mass meeting took place almost everywhere.

Political leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, B.R.Ambedkar and M.C.Rajah became active.

Eventually Poona pact was reached and Gandhiji broke his fact on the sixth day (Sept 25, 1932).

In this, the idea of separate electorate for the depressed classes was abandoned, but seats reserved to them in the provincial legislature were increased.

Third Round Table Conference (1932):

Proved fruitless as most of the national leaders were in prison. The discussions led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935.

Demand For Pakistan:

In 1930, Iqbal suggested that the Frontier Province, Baluchistan, Sindh and Kashmir be made the Muslim State within the federation.

Chaudhary Rehmat Ali gave the term Pakistan in 1923.

Mohd. Ali Jinnah of Bombay gave it practicality.

Muslim League first passed the proposal of separate Pakistan in its Lahore session in 1940.

The Cripps Mission – 1942:

In Dec. 1941, Japan entered the World War – II and advanced towards Indian borders. By March 7, 1942, Rangoon fell and Japan occupied the entire S E Asia.

The British govt. with a view to getting co-operation from Indians sent Sir Stafford Cripps, leader of the House of Commons to settle terms with the Indian leaders.

He offered a draft which proposed dominion status to be granted after the war.

Rejected by the Congress as it didn't want to rely upon future promises.

Gandhiji termed it as a post dated cheque in a crashing bank.

The Revolt of 1942 & The Quit India Movement:

Called the Vardha Proposal and Leaderless Revolt.

The resolution was passed on Aug.8, 1942, at Bombay. Gandhiji gave the slogan 'Do or Die'.

On Aug 9, the Congress was banned and its important leaders were arrested.

The arrests provoked indignation among the masses and, there being no program of action, the movement became spontaneous and violent. Violence spread throughout the country.

The movement was however crushed.

The Indian National Army:
Founded by Rasbehari Bose with Captain Mohan Singh.

S.C.Bose secretly escaped from India in Jain 1941, and reached Berlin. In July 1943, he joined the INA at Singapore. There, Rasbehari Bose handed over the leadership to him.

The soldiers were mostly raised from Indian soldiers of the British army who had been taken prisoners by the Japanese after they conquered asia.

Two INA head quarters were Rangoon and Singapore (formed in Singapore).

INA had three fighting brigades named after Gandhiji, Azad and Nehru. Rani Jhansi Brigade was an exclusive women force.

The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946):

The struggle for freedom entered a decisive phase in the year 1945-46. The new Labour Party PM.Lord Attlee, made a declaration on March 15, 1946, that British Cabinet Mission (comprising of Lord Pethick Lawrence as Chairman, Sir Stafford Cripps and A.V.Alexander) will visit India.

The mission held talks with the INC and ML to bring about acceptance of their proposals.

On May 16, 1946, the mission put towards its proposals. It rejected the demand for separate Pakistan and instead a federal union consisting of British India and the Princely States was suggested.

Both Congress and Muslims League accepted it.

Formation of Interim Government (Sept 2, 1946):

Based on Cabinet Mission Plan, an interim government consisting of Congress nominees was formed on Sept.2, 1946. J.L.Nehru was its Vice-President and the Governor-General remained as its President.

Jinnah's Direct Action Resolution (Aug 16, 1946):

Jinnah was alarmed at the results of the elections because the Muslim League was in danger of being totally eclipsed in the constituent assembly.

Therefore, Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan on July 29, 1946.

It passed a 'Direct action' resolution, which condemned both the British Government and the Congress (Aug 16, 1946). It resulted in heavy communal riots.

Jinnah celebrated Pakistan Day on Mar 27, 1947.

Formation of Constituent Assembly (Dec 9, 1946):

The Constituent assembly met on Dec 9, 1946 and Dr.Rajendra Prasad was elected as its president.

Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947):

On June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten put forward his plan which outlined the steps for the solution of India's political problem. The outlines of the Plan were:

India to be divided into India and Pakistan.

Bengal and Punjab will be partitioned and a referendum in NEFP and Sylhet district of Assam would be held.

There would be a separate constitutional assembly for Pakistan to frame its constitution.

The Princely states would enjoy the liberty to join either India or Pakistan or even remain independent.

Aug.15, 1947 was the date fixed for handing over power to India and Pakistan.

The British govt. passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947 in July 1947, which contained the major provisions put forward by the Mountbatten plan.

Partition and Independence (Aug 1947):

All political parties accepted the Mountbatten plan.

At the time of independence, there were 562 small and big Princely States in India.

Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first home minister, used iron hand in this regard. By August 15, 1947, all the States, with a few exceptions like Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagarh had signed the Instrument of Accession. Goa was with the Portuguese and Pondicherry with the French.