The chief aim of the British administration in India was the maintenance of law and order and perpetuation of its rule. The Governor General exercised his power and responsibility in the army, police, civil service and the judiciary Under the Regulating Act of 1773, a Council of four members was appointed and the first Governor-General [...]
The Independence Struggle of 1857
The many changes that Britain had brought about in the administration and the ways of life created considerable discontent; and there were many risings in various parts of the country from 1816 to 1857. This culminated in the Revolt of 1857, which shook the very foundation of the Company’s rule in India. Inspite of the [...]
The Revolt of 1857 severely jolted the British administration in India and forced its reorganisation. By the act of 1858, the governing power was transferred from the East India company to the British crown. This power was to be exercised by the Secretary of State for India (member of the British cabinet and responsible to [...]
The British policy changed the social, economic and political life in India. This made the Indian people unite and challenge the British domination. The lead in organising political activity at the national level was taken by the Indian intelligentsia. The response of the organisation was fairly positive; as they believed that the reshaping and transforming [...]
The major drawback of the early nationalists was that the movement was confined to educated Indians and the middle class and was concentrated in the Presidencies. The method of functioning was within the law and slow. The Indian leaders gradually became disillusioned with the British Government and the new leaders began to assert for the [...]
While trying to appease the Indians, the Britishers were ready with repression. Early in 1919, the Rowlatt Act (Black Act) was passed. This authorized the Government to imprison any person without any trial and conviction in a court of law. There was nation wide protest. On April 13th 1919, thousands of people were brutally massacred, [...]
The British Government summoned the First Round Table Conference in London in 1930, to discuss the Simon Commission Report. The Congress boycotted it. In 1931, Viceroy Irwin persuaded the Congress to join the Second Round table conference and agreed to release all the political leaders and asked to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement. At its [...]
The Congress at its Bombay session passed the famous Quit India resolution, calling for mass struggle on non-violent lines on the widest possible scale, under the leadership of Gandhiji. He stressed that “We shall either free India or die in the attempt; We shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery”; popularly known [...]
