Category Social Sciences

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. It was the result of the effort of a number of educated Indians who were highly discontented with the exploitative nature of the British rule. In the beginning, its objective was to get a bigger share in government for enlightened Indians.

 Inspired by A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, seventy three delegates met in Bombay for the first time. The first president of the Indian National Congress, or INC, was W. C. Banerjee. As time passed, the nature of the INC changed, and it became very active in the movement for Indian independence.

 After independence, the Congress, which was till then a national movement, became a political party. 

   Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a great social reformer, and one of the architects of modern India. He was a staunch supporter of the theory of oneness of God, and he was totally against caste rigidity, polygamy, sati, and superstitions.

 In order to give practical shape to his ideals, and to take them to the people, he founded Brahmo Samaj. Raja Ram Mohan Roy had a profound influence in the fields of politics, public administration, and education as well as religion.

 He forced the British government to provide equality to the people of India in getting appointments in the administration, and in the army.

 He also made some serious efforts to free the print media from the control of the government, and to uphold freedom of thought. All these reforms helped the leaders of the national movement to march forward on the path to independence. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In 19th century, India witnessed a series of social and religious reforms that contributed to the rise of nationalism.

Continue reading “What were the reforms in India during the 19th century?”

 The colonization of what is now known as the Jharkhand region by the East India Company resulted in spontaneous resistance from the local tribes.

 In fact, the tribals frequently engaged the British in armed Struggle in order to take control of their lands. Birsa Munda was a tribal leader and folk hero belonging to the Munda tribe.

The ‘Ulgulan’- meaning ‘great tumult’ was a revolt spearheaded by Birsa Munda, which created panic among the British.

Though the revolt initially started in the Munda, it soon spread to other areas. It was also the last organized armed tribal revolt in Jharkhand. Birsa Munda’s forces fought long and hard. However, they were no match for the superior firepower of the British. The revolt was quelled, and Birsa was killed – a martyr to the cause of freedom. 

                     

 The Santhal Rebellion was one of the most serious challenges faced by the British in the first century of its rule.

 The Santhals were freedom-loving people who lived in what is now present day Jharkhand. However, the atrocities they had to put up with, both from the landlords, and the East India Company, led to an armed revolt by them.

 

Continue reading “What was the Santhal Rebellion?”

The founder of the Kuka Movement was believed to be Bhagat Jawahar Mal. It started as a religious movement with a view to reforming the Sikh religion.

The Kuka Movement sought to abolish the caste system in the Sikhism, and create a society based on equality. It advocated woman’s freedom, and discouraged non-vegetarianism.

In time, the Kuka Movement turned into a political struggle against the British. Ram Singh Kuka, one of the famous leaders of the Kuka Movement, believed in the policy of non-cooperation with the British. He gave a call to his followers to boycott British goods, government schools, and government posts.

As the movement picked up momentum, the British reacted violently, crushed the movement, and killed many Kuka freedom fighters. Ram Singh, known to his followers as Satguru, gave a call to his followers for boycott of British goods. He was deported by the British to Burma, where he died in 1885.

 The Kuka Revolt is also known as the Namdhari Movement.