Modern Indian Historical Figures

The Struggle for liberation in Hyderabad-Karnataka is a shining example of a glorious revolt of the people against an oppressive and anti-people ruler. It is also a saga of remarkable sacrifice and courage. One of the popular leaders of the freedom struggle in Hyderabad was Swami Ramananda Tirtha. He travelled all over Hyderabad state organising peaceful satyagraha. Another famous leader was Hardikar Manjappa. He was popularly known as Gandhi of Karnataka. He undertook such constructive programmes as khadi, prohibition and removal of untouchability and popularised them.The Government of Hyderabad had banned the singing of Vande Mataram. It was Ramachandra Rao, a brave leader,who led the struggle against the ban. He was popularly called Vande Mataram Ramachandra Rao. Soon the Vande Mataram movement began to spread rapidly. Thousands of those who sang Vande Mataram were imprisoned.

After the death of Balaji Vishwanath his eldest son Baji Rao became the Peshwa.Baji Rao was possibly the finest cavalry general ever produced by India. He served as Peshwa from the fifth Maratha Chhatrapati Shahu until the death.

Baji Rao II was the last Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. His reign ended following the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818.

Sambhaji was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and succeeded him as the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire in 1680.

Sher Shah Suri is credited with rebuilding and extending the ancient route known as the Grand Trunk Road during his reign.

Most of people lived in villages. A village was also called mauja. The chief of the village was the Patil. He used to try to bring maximum land under cultivation. When there was any dispute in the village, the Patil resolved it and made peace.

The Deshpande was the chief of all Kulkarnies in the Pargana. The Deshpande did all at the Pargana level, the work that Kulkarni did at the village level.

The Deshmukh was the chief of Patils in a Pargana. The Deshmukh did at the Pargana level what the Patil did at the village level.

Shiva Kashid, a brave barber who resembled Shivaji Maharaj, sacrificed his life by dressing as the king to help Shivaji escape the siege of Panhalagad.

Operation Polo was the code name given to police action that took place in September 1948 in which the Indian Armed Forces invaded the State of Hyderabad, annexing the state into the Indian Union. Operation Polo was led by home minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Major J.N. Chaudhary.

Chikkadevaraya was a prominent king of early kings of the Mysuru state. He implemented many pro-people measures. He opened Attara Kacheri with eighteen departments. He built a dam across the western stream of River Kaveri near Srirangapatna and provided irrigation facility. He introduced thrift in his administration and enriched the treasury and was conferred with Navakoti Narayana title.

The Treaty of Seringapatam was signed in 1792 between Tipu Sultan and Lord Cornwallis, who was the Governor-General of India at the time, following the Third Anglo-Mysore War.

Sir Thomas Roe was sent to India to the court of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1612 to get concessions to trade with India. He was sent by King James I. Sir Thomas's mission was highly successful and the English East India Company succeeded in getting rights to reside and establish factories in Surat and other parts of the country.

In 1742, Dupleix was appointed governor general of the company with authority over French investments in India.  He sent an expedition against Fort St. David in 1747, but it was defeated by the Nawab of Arcot, who was allied with the British. In the end, Dupleix was unable to match the British aspirations and activities directed by Robert Clive, and French influence declined as British power increased.

The British army and generals were much better coordinated than the French. The French generals were rude and haughty and therefore unpopular. The French generals failed to inculcate team spirit or to strike a coordination between the army and the navy.