Modern Indian History

The Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860 but actually came into force in 1862. It remains the primary criminal code of India, defining offenses and prescribing punishments.

The Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on January 28, 1950, two days after India became a Republic. It replaced the Federal Court of India and the Privy Council as India's highest judicial authority.

The Howrah Bridge in Kolkata was renamed Rabindra Setu in 1965 to honor Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali poet and Nobel laureate. 'Setu' means bridge in Sanskrit/Bengali.

In 1911, King George V announced at the Delhi Durbar that the capital of British India would shift from Kolkata to Delhi. The move was completed in 1931 when New Delhi was inaugurated. 1910 is too early, while 1912-1913 post-date the official announcement.

Kolkata's electric tram system began operations in 1902, making it Asia's oldest operating electric tram. Horse-drawn trams ran earlier from 1873, but the electric system started in 1902. 1900-1901 are too early for electric trams, and 1903 is post-inception.

The Constituent Assembly of India officially adopted Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem on January 24, 1950. January 26, 1950 is when India's Constitution came into effect (Republic Day), which can cause confusion.

Rabindranath Tagore composed Jana Gana Mana in Bengali in 1911, originally titled 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'. It was adopted as India's national anthem in 1950.

The Sepoy Mutiny, also known as India's First War of Independence, took place in 1857. This uprising against British rule began with mutinies by Indian soldiers (sepoys) in the British East India Company's army and spread across northern and central India. It marked a significant turning point in India's independence movement.

Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India movement in August 1942 during the All India Congress Committee session in Bombay. This mass movement demanded immediate independence from British rule, with the slogan 'Do or Die'. The Non-cooperation movement (1920) and Civil Disobedience movement (1930) were earlier movements led by Gandhi.

Kesari was founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1881 as a Marathi-language newspaper that became a powerful voice for the Indian independence movement. It advocated for self-rule (Swaraj) and criticized British colonial policies, making it a genuine mouthpiece for Indian nationalist sentiments.

Lala Lajpat Rai from Punjab was one third of the 'Lal-Bal-Pal' triumvirate of early Indian nationalist leaders, alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Bal) and Bipin Chandra Pal (Pal). These three leaders from different regions mobilized Indians against the Partition of Bengal and promoted the Swadeshi movement.

Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948, at Birla House in New Delhi during a prayer meeting. Godse disagreed with Gandhi's stance on Partition and his perceived appeasement of Muslims, leading to this tragic event that shocked the nation.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote 'Jana Gana Mana' (adopted as India's national anthem in 1950) and 'Amar Sonar Bangla' (adopted as Bangladesh's national anthem in 1971). This makes him the only person to have composed national anthems for two different nations.