Modern Indian History

The Surat Split of 1907 was a major division in the Indian National Congress between the Moderates (led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale) and the Extremists (led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak). The split occurred over differences in methodology regarding achieving self-rule. 1987 is an implausible distractor, and 1900 and 1904 are close but incorrect dates.

Jawaharlal Nehru wrote 'An Autobiography' (1936) covering his life up to 1935, focusing on India's independence movement. While other leaders have autobiographies with similar titles, this is the standard reference in Indian political history contexts.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan wrote 'An Idealist View of Life' (1932) as a series of lectures presenting his philosophical perspective. The book explores idealistic philosophy and its relevance to life, ethics, and spirituality.

The Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947) was the final British plan for India's independence and partition. It established the deadline for transfer of power (August 15, 1947), created the boundary commission, and outlined the partition of India and Pakistan. Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy, implemented this plan leading to independence.

Ramakrishna Paramahansa was born in the village of Kamarpukur, which is located in the Hooghly district of the state of West Bengal, India.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 in Calcutta. This socio-religious reform movement opposed idolatry, caste discrimination, sati, and child marriage while promoting monotheism, rationalism, and women's rights. Roy is considered the 'Father of Modern India' for his pioneering reforms that influenced later movements like the Bengal Renaissance.

Shanti Niketan (now Visva-Bharati University) was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901 as a residential school and centre for art, culture, and education. Tagore established it to implement his educational philosophy of learning in harmony with nature. Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, and Zakir Hussain were prominent Indian leaders but not associated with founding this institution.

The Civil Disobedience Movement was formally launched with Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) in March 1930, where he marched 240 miles to the Arabian Sea to make salt in defiance of the Salt Act. This was a direct challenge to British monopoly and taxation. While people did offer themselves for arrest and Round Table Conferences were related events, the Salt March was the defining starting point.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 to reform Hindu society and promote Vedic teachings. The organization emphasized social reform, education, and a return to the Vedas. Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, while Bharat Sewa Dal and Ram Rajya Parishad were different organizations.

January 26, 1950 marks the day India's Constitution came into effect, declaring India a Sovereign Democratic Republic. Independence was achieved on August 15, 1947, but India needed a constitution to function as a republic, which took nearly 3 years to draft.

The Tashkent Agreement was signed in January 1966 between Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Ayub Khan, mediated by the USSR. It ended the 1965 Indo-Pak war and required both sides to withdraw to pre-war positions. Tragically, Shastri died hours after signing.

Jawaharlal Nehru was India's first Prime Minister and the principal architect of India's foreign policy. He formulated the policy of non-alignment, Panchsheel principles, and championed the causes of newly independent nations. His vision shaped India's international stance for decades.

The slogan 'Dilli Chalo' (March to Delhi) was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in 1944 as a rallying cry for the Indian National Army (INA) to capture Delhi from British rule. It became a significant motto in India's independence movement.

The 1857 revolt began prematurely before proper coordination could be established among various leaders and regions. The sepoys at Meerut mutinied earlier than planned, catching other participants unprepared and allowing the British to mobilize reinforcements quickly. While multiple factors contributed to the failure, the untimely outbreak was a significant blow to organizing a unified resistance.

The Subsidiary Alliance system, imposed by Lord Wellesley, served multiple objectives: it increased British Company resources through subsidiary payments, removed French and other European influence from Indian courts, and secured arbitrary control over Indian states' foreign affairs. Indian states lost sovereignty while becoming financially dependent on British support.