Tag: history

The Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was Gandhi's first major political campaign in India, where he fought for indigo farmers' rights in Bihar. This marked his entry into national politics. The Non-cooperation Movement (1920), Dandi March (1930), and Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) were all later campaigns led by Gandhi.

The Indian National Congress declared 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) as its goal at the Lahore session in December 1929 under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency. This led to the first Independence Day celebration on January 26, 1930. The 1928 Calcutta session had the Dominion Status goal, and Karachi in 1930 was after the declaration.

Pulakesin II (r. 610-642 CE), the most powerful Chalukya ruler, held the titles 'Sri Prithvi-Vallabha' (Lord of the Earth) and 'Parameswara' (Supreme Lord). He defeated Harsha and expanded the Chalukya empire. Pulakesin I was the founder, Kirtivarman was his father, and Mangalesa was his uncle.

India's first currency notes were issued during the reign of Samudra Gupta (c. 4th century CE) of the Gupta dynasty, often called India's 'Golden Age.' These were likely gold or silver coins. Vikramaditya was a later legendary king, Akbar was Mughal (16th century), and Ashoka was Mauryan (3rd century BCE - different currency system).

Vishnusharma is credited as the author of the Panchatantra, a collection of Sanskrit fables dating to around 3rd century BCE. The stories use animal characters to teach practical wisdom and statecraft. Bilhana wrote Vikramankadevacharita, Amarasimhan wrote Amarakosha, and Nagarjuna was a Buddhist philosopher.

Babur wrote the Baburnama (his memoir in Chagatai Turkic) and Jahangir wrote the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (his autobiography in Persian). Both are valuable historical sources. Humayun did not write a memoir, and Akbar's chronicle (Ain-i-Akbari) was written by Abul Fazl, not by Akbar himself.

Ashoka (r. 268-232 BCE) belonged to the Maurya dynasty, founded by Chandragupta Maurya. After the Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced Buddhism and became a great ruler known for his edicts and dhamma. The Nanda dynasty preceded the Mauryas, Kushana came later, and the Gupta dynasty was several centuries after Ashoka.

Gandhi delivered the 'Do or Die' slogan during the Quit India Movement on August 8, 1942, in his speech at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay. This was a call for immediate independence from British rule.

Annie Besant became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917. She was a British socialist, theosophist, and women's rights activist who supported India's freedom struggle.

Surendranath Banerjea founded the Indian Association in 1876 as a political organization that became a precursor to the Indian National Congress. The association played a crucial role in mobilizing political nationalism in India.