History of India

The History of India for times preceding 1947 is inseparable from that of the history of the Indian subcontinent as a whole. The neolithic Indus Valley civilization in the 3rd millennium BCE extended over much of what is now Pakistan and the western Republic of India. The Vedic civilization until the 1st millennium BCE spread over all of northern India, from the Punjab and the Gangetic plain to Bangladesh, so that with the beginning historical period of the Middle kingdoms, northern India was dominated by the Arya, while in the south Dravidian culture was prominent. From the 10th century, Islamic empires were established in northwestern India, culminating with the Mughal era. The history of Colonial India begins in the 17th century, leading up to British control after the revolt of 1857. The independence movement resulted in a split of the British Raj into the contemporary states of the Republic of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The independence movement

In the late 19th century "British India" took its first steps toward self-government with the appointment of Indian councillors to advise the British viceroy and with the establishment of provincial councils with Indian members; the British subsequently widened participation in legislative councils. Beginning in 1920, the Indian leader Mohandas K. Gandhi (also known as Mahatma (Great Soul) Gandhi) transformed the Indian National Congress into a mass movement to campaign against British colonial rule. The movement eventually succeeded in bringing about independence by means of parliamentary action, non-violent resistance and non-cooperation. Following the division of India into the Republic of India and Pakistan, for six weeks, August to September, 1947, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims turned against each other in a spontaneous killing frenzy, leaving some 200.000 dead. Also, this time period saw the largest mass human movement that has ever occured as 12 million Hindus and Muslims moved to either India or Pakistan, first Indo-Pakistani War.

Related Topics:
19th century - Viceroy - 1920 - Mohandas K. Gandhi - Indian National Congress - Non-violent resistance and non-cooperation - Republic of India - Pakistan - 1947 - First Indo-Pakistani War

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