Introduction The artisanal and handicraft industries of pre-colonial India were the backbone of its rural economy. Before British colonial rule, India was world-renowned for its fine textiles, metal works, pottery, and other handicrafts. Indian artisans were integral to village life and the urban economy, producing goods both for domestic use and international trade. However, the…
Introduction The emergence of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885 marked a new phase in the history of India’s struggle for freedom. The early leaders of the Congress, commonly known as the Moderates, represented the first organized expression of Indian political awakening under British rule. They sought to reform the colonial administration through peaceful,…
Introduction The decade of the 1940s was one of the most turbulent and transformative phases in the history of modern India. It was the decade that witnessed the end of nearly two centuries of British colonial rule and the birth of two sovereign states — India and Pakistan. However, the process of this transfer of…
Introduction The Gandhian phase of the Indian national movement, roughly spanning from 1915 to 1947, represents one of the most dynamic and transformative periods in India’s freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi’s entry into Indian politics revolutionized the nature, direction, and spirit of the nationalist movement. His leadership not only united people across regions, castes, classes, and…
Introduction The Indian national movement underwent a remarkable transformation during the 1920s. Before this decade, the movement had largely been led by elite groups and was confined to urban centers, focusing primarily on constitutional reforms and moderate petitions to the British government. However, from the 1920s onward, the struggle for independence gained new dimensions —…
Introduction Among the British viceroys who governed India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Lord George Nathaniel Curzon (Viceroy of India, 1899–1905) stands as one of the most controversial and consequential figures. His tenure marked a critical turning point in the history of British India. A man of immense intelligence and administrative skill,…
Introduction The Indian freedom struggle was not merely a political battle against British imperialism; it was a comprehensive movement for moral, social, and economic regeneration. Among the towering figures of India’s independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi stands out as a visionary who sought to achieve swaraj (self-rule) not just through political defiance but also through constructive…
Introduction The early 20th century marked a radical shift in India’s freedom struggle with the rise of mass-based movements under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) emerged as two landmark phases that galvanized Indian society against British colonial rule. In both these national movements, Uttar Pradesh…
The Civil Disobedience Movement, launched in 1930, was one of the most significant mass movements in India’s struggle for independence. Mahatma Gandhi led this movement, which aimed at non-violent resistance against British rule. It was characterized by mass protests, boycotts, and non-cooperation with British authorities. The immediate cause of the movement was the British monopoly…
The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) was a significant chapter in India’s struggle for independence, initiated under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. It called for a boycott of British institutions and promoted the use of indigenous goods and self-reliance. Uttar Pradesh, then known as the United Provinces, played a pivotal role in the movement due to its…