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War of Independence
The British army had recruited local Indians in their forces. These soldiers were issued cartridges greased with fat from tabooed animals. The soldiers refused to use these cartridges. In 1857, starting with an uprising in Meerut, soldiers in the British Army in Bengal launched a full-scale mutiny against the British. This mutiny spread swiftly across the Sub-continent. -
End of the War of Independence
The British were able to overcome the revolt by the Indians and gained complete control over the subcontinent. The British attributed the war of 1857 to the Muslims alone. As a result, property belonging to Muslims was confiscated and they were denied employment opportunities everywhere in the army, revenue department, and judiciary. -
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The Hindi-Urdu Controversy
(the dates and months specified for the HINDI-URDU CONTROVERSY are not confirmed)
The Hindus were pressing for the replacement of Urdu, written in the Arabic script, by Hindi, written in the Devanangari script. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was shocked and disappointed at the act of the Hindus. The Muslims and Hindus argued on the Hindi-Urdu controversy until in 1900 Hindi was given equal status to Urdu. -
Empress of India
In 1877, Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative Prime Minister, had Queen Victoria proclaimed as Empress of India. India was already under crown control after 1858, but this title was a gesture to link the monarchy with the empire further and bind India more closely to Britain. -
Indian National Congress formed
the Indian National Congress was formed by an Englishman, Sir Octavian Hume, the purpose being to create a meeting point for Indians and Britishers: this would lead to greater understanding between the two, so that the British could rule more successfully. -
Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan organized the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association of Upper India in December 1893. Its objectives were:-
1. To protect the political interests of Muslims by representing their views before the English people and Indian Government.
2. To discourage popular political agitation among the Muslims.
3. To lend support to measures calculated to increase the stability of the British government and security of the empire. -
Partition of Bengal
British viceroy Lord Curzon divided Bengal into eastern and western provinces. This was not political but an administrative decision; because of its large population it was difficult to rule. -
Simla Deuptation
Simla deuptation was made up of seventy representatives and was lead by Sir Aga Khan. These people represented all of the opinion on the Muslim community. The address read by Khan stated that the Muslim community should not be estimated by its population only, but by its services and political importance. The demands set foward by the Muslims were accepted. -
All-India Muslim League
All INdia Muslim League was to be a party for the muslims of Subcontinent. Its first set of objectives were:
a) To promote, among the Muslims of India, feelings of loyalty to the British Government.
(b) To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India, and to respectfully represent their needs and aspirations to the Government.
(c) To prevent the rise, among the Muslims of India, of any feeling of hostility towards other communities. -
The Morley-Minto Reforms
Lord Morley, the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs, announced in the British parliament that his government wanted to introduce new reforms for India, in which the locals were to be given more powers in legislative affairs. With this, a series of correspondences started between him and Lord Minto, the then Governor General of India. A committee was appointed by the Government of India to propose a scheme of reforms. These refoms are commonly known as the Morley-Minto Reforms -
Partition Reversal
In response to the Partition of Bengal the Hindus of West Bengal started the Swadeshi Movement, which also spread to other parts of India. It was a massive campaign for boycotting the British goods and using home-made products. The Hindus responded to the movement enthusiastically.
So the British had to reverse the decision; this was done by King George V as well as shifting the capital from Calcutta to Dehli. -
The Lucknow Pact
The Lucknow Pact refers to an agreement reached between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League at the joint session of both the parties, held in Lucknow, in the year 1916. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, then a member of the Congress as well as the League, made both the parties reach an agreement to pressure the British government to adopt a more liberal approach to India and give Indians more authority to run their country, besides safeguarding basic Muslim demands.
