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Battle of Plassey
British rule in India is often described as having begun in 1757. At the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company's army led by Robert Clive decisively defeated Siraj-ud-daulah, the goverenor of Bengal (an Indian state in the Mogul empire) and his French allies. The battle was quite short as the E.I.C. army had bribed the Mogul soldiers in throwing away their weapons and surrendering or turning their own arms against their own army. Clive had won this battle by promoting treason and forgery. -
Sepoy Riots
India's First War of Independence, termed Sepoy Riots by the British was an attempt to unite India against the invading British and to restore power to the Mogul emperor Bahadur Shah. The resistance disintegrated primarily due to lack of leadership and unity on the part of Indians, as also to cruel suppression by the British Army. It was a remarkable event in Indian history and marked the end of the Mughal empire and sealed India's fate as a British colony for the next 100 years. -
The British take over rule from the East India Company
In August 1858 the British crown assumed control of India from the East India Company and established their Raj (British Raj = British rule in India). Queen Victoria was crowned as the Empress of India. -
Indian National Congress Establishment
This event is important because its the first time India turned united. This organization was there to help India become a strong, independent country. The party became the Nation's leader in the Independence Movement in its struggle against the British Empire. It was founded by Allan Octavian Hume along with many other people. -
Mahatama Gandhi Imprisoned
Mahatama Gandhi emerged as the leader of India’s resistance to the Raj, Britain’s colonial government, shortly after World War I. He was prisoned for 6 years after being accused for civil disobedience. He went on a hunger strike while he was in prison which caused him to be released after only 2 years. -
Gandhi's Salt March
This was the most significant event that happened in the Indian Colonial period. Gandhi and some of his followers went on a 240-mile journey from Sabarmati to Dandi to protest against the British's high salt taxes. A lot of people joined in after a few days. This salt march stimulated many Indians. Therefore, a lot of British mills and shops closed down. -
All India Forward Bloc / Indian National Army
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is the one who founded the All India Forward Bloc and revived the Indian National Army. He is considered to be very heroic of his time. His famous quote was "Give me blood. I promise you freedom." This made a lot of Indians passionate about getting freedom from the Britain. -
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement, launched by Gandhi, demanded that the British leave India immediately. Within 24 hours of Gandhi's speech, all the members of the Indian National Congress were arrested. Outraged by this, there were mass protests and demonstrations by the population all over the country, and in the next few days 60,000 men, women and children were thrown into prison by the British. Overall, this movement united the Indian people against the British rule. -
Declaration of Independence
Independence for India finally arrived at Midnight of August 15, 1947 when Britain withdrew its forces. British India was partitioned into two new nations, India and Pakistan. From that day onwards, India became an independent and united nation. -
Assassination of Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation was assassinated on January 30, 1948. Gandhi didn't encourage the idea of the Indian subcontinent being split up into India for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims. A Hindu fanatic, Godse didn't support Gandhi and was furious at him for not being with the partition. Eventually, he shot Gandhi three times in the chest and surrendered himself.
