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Independence from Britian
On the 15 of August 1947 India finally gained it’s long awaited independence from the British empire. It was also marked the partition of Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. This independence, besides allowing India to develop separately from its colonial oppressor, also marked the beginning of the hostile relationship between Pakistan and India. -
Start of the Nehru Administration
A key leader in the administration is Jawaharlal Nehru. With the longest lasting reign, (201 months), Nehru was able to successfully build India in the months following independence. The parliament passed laws that gave rights to women in Hindu Society and further legislated against the caste discrimination. The administration also furthered industrialization and agricultural reform. Despite all this, he failed to reduce hostility with Pakistan. -
First Kashmir War
This is the date on which the Indian army entered the Kashmir region.When the partition took place, there was an area of land north of India that could go to either India or Pakistan. It was primarily Muslim. The Hindu leader choose to join India, as opposed to Pakistan, which his citizens preferred. Conflict broke out, and internal revolts began. The war lasted until 31 December 1947, and was halted because of a UN ceasefire that divided Indian Kashmir and Pakistani Kashmir. -
Adoption of the Constitution
The constitution of India laid down the ideas that would influence India over the next 55 years. It declared India to be a “sovereign socialist secular democratic republic” (constitution.org) While Indian eventually moved into a more capitalist economic model, the Constitution set the stage for most of India’s laws and regulations. -
India Annexation of Goa
This was a result of the actions of the Indian Armed forces that ended colonial rule in Portugal. This is majorly significant because it was a decisive victory that ended 451 years of Portugal colonial rule in Goa. This is also significant because it led to other internal conflicts and views from Portugal and India. India saw the victory as a liberation of land that was Indian territory and Portugal saw it as “aggression to national soil”. -
Start of the Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian war occurred in 1962 which was about the violent interactions between China and India. There was conflicts over the Himalayan borders but then escalated to violent border incidents after the Uprising of Tibetan in 1959. This event is notable because of the harsh conditions of the conflicts between China and India. -
Start of the Second Kashmir War
The Second Kashmir War was started by Pakistan in 1965. The war only lasted 5 weeks, from 5 August to 22 September. It was ended, like the First Kashmir War with a UN ceasefire. This war, despite giving neither side much military advantage, had a big impact on global politics. The United States disliked Pakistan’s initiation of the war, causing the Soviet Union to begin friendlier relations with Pakistan. It also improved Pakistan and China’s relationship. -
Smiling Buddha Test
Indira Gandhi headed a nuclear program in the early 1970s. Gandhi saw this as a good opportunity to intimidate China, and promoted the program by allowing testing nuclear weapons. By 1974, India had successfully conducted an underground nuclear test which then later on led to other interest in scientific development and improvement in other fields. Other countries, espiecally China and Pakistan saw this as evidence of India's security and stability -
Indira Gandhi's Assasination
Indira Gandhi was the first female prime minister and second in the world who had a major impact in the politics of India. She had three consecutive terms (1966-1977) where she led the victory over Pakistan and establishing Bangladesh. She was assasinated in 1984 by her two bodyguards. This is significant because Indira Gandhi was prominent in much of India’s politics and her death was a major shock to the world. After her cremation, millions of Sikhs were killed in the Anti-Sikh Riots -
The Kargil War
The Kargil War was also an example of conflict over the Kashmir region. Kargil is a town in northern Kashmir, that is within India’s administration. During the Kargil War, Pakistani forces marched into Kargil and were repelled by Indian forces. This war left over 2600 people dead. It is the most recent war between India and Pakistan
