Modern India Chapters

1. Expansion of British Power (Bengal, Mysore, Punjab etc.)2. Economic Impact of British Rule3. Socio Religious Movements in 19th 20th Centuries4. Freedom Struggle I5. The Revolt of 18576. Moderate Phase7. Extremist Phase8. The Gandhian Era

Freedom Struggle – Phase I (1857–1919)

This phase of India’s freedom struggle lays the foundation for organized national movements. It includes the First War of Independence in 1857, socio-political awakening, formation of the Indian National Congress, moderate and extremist struggle, and early revolutionary activities.

1. Revolt of 1857

  • Also called the First War of Indian Independence or Sepoy Mutiny.
  • Main causes: Political, Economic, Military, Religious grievances.
  • Immediate cause: Introduction of the Enfield rifle (greased cartridge issue).
  • Leaders: Bahadur Shah Zafar (Delhi), Rani Laxmi Bai (Jhansi), Tantia Tope, Kunwar Singh, Nana Sahib.
  • Suppressed by British forces by 1858.
  • Aftermath: End of East India Company’s rule, beginning of direct British Crown rule.

2. Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)

  • Founded by A.O. Hume in Bombay.
  • First session held at Bombay, presided by W.C. Bannerjee.
  • Aimed to create a platform for civic and political dialogue.

3. Moderate Phase (1885–1905)

  • Led by Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
  • Believed in petitions, resolutions, and gradual reforms.
  • Demands: Indianization of services, civil rights, reduction of taxes.

4. Extremist Phase (1905–1919)

  • Leaders: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal.
  • Called Lal-Bal-Pal trio.
  • Methods: Boycott, Swadeshi, protests, and passive resistance.
  • Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon triggered mass protest.

5. Revolutionary Movements

  • Secret societies like Anushilan Samiti, Ghadar Party emerged.
  • Revolutionaries: Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki, V.D. Savarkar.

6. Important Events (1909–1919)

  • Morley-Minto Reforms (1909): Introduced separate electorates for Muslims.
  • Lucknow Pact (1916): Between Congress and Muslim League for Hindu-Muslim unity.
  • Home Rule Movement (1916): Led by Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
  • Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Introduced dyarchy in provinces.
  • Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919): Ordered by General Dyer in Amritsar.

Previous Year Questions

  • SSC CGL 2021: Who was the last Mughal emperor involved in the 1857 revolt?
  • → Bahadur Shah Zafar
  • RRB NTPC 2019: Who was the founder of Indian National Congress?
  • → A.O. Hume
  • UPSC Prelims 2020: Who gave the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright”?
  • → Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  • HSSC 2022: Who led the Ghadar Movement?
  • → Lala Hardayal
  • SSC CHSL 2018: Partition of Bengal took place in?
  • → 1905
  • RRB Group D 2018: Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on?
  • → 13 April 1919
  • SSC MTS 2021: First president of Indian National Congress?
  • → W.C. Bannerjee
  • SSC CGL 2020: Lucknow Pact was signed in?
  • → 1916
  • SSC GD 2019: Who was the Viceroy during the 1857 revolt?
  • → Lord Canning
  • HSSC JE 2019: Who was hanged with Khudiram Bose?
  • → Prafulla Chaki (committed suicide before arrest)
  • UPSC CDS 2017: Who started the Home Rule Movement?
  • → Annie Besant and B.G. Tilak
  • SSC Steno 2020: Morley-Minto Reforms were introduced in?
  • → 1909
  • RRB ALP 2018: Who wrote 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?
  • → Dadabhai Naoroji
  • SSC CGL 2022: Who called the 1857 revolt “neither first, nor national, nor a war of independence”?
  • → R.C. Majumdar
  • UPSC CAPF 2021: Montagu-Chelmsford reforms introduced?
  • → Dyarchy in provinces

Conclusion

Phase I of the freedom struggle laid the ideological and organizational base for future movements. It transitioned Indian society from regional revolts to nationalistic movements and gradually unified various sections of society for a common cause — independence.

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