A History of India

The Ganges River System 1,560 miles long

“Mata Ganga” (Mother Ganges)

The Himalayas “him” [snow] “aalaya” [home] Mt. Everest is 29,035 feet. It is the highest mt. peak in the world.

The Rohtang Pass 13,051 ft high Only open from May to November

Traffic Jam in Rohtang Pass…

Indian History Up to the 1800’s India subcontinent was ruled over by many different groups simultaneously. The most powerful of the groups were the Mughals.

Mughal Empire True rise of power in India was in 1556 with Akbar the Great Descendants of Genghis Khan and the Mongols Mixed Persian languages and architecture with traditional Indian themes Taj Mahal

The British Arrive - 1600 East India Co. – Wanted to monopolize the spice trade out of India. E.I.C. negotiated with Mugals for trade ports and built factories out of Bengal in exchange for naval support from Britain.

British Take Over India 1760 – 1790 Constant wars in India British decide only way to stop wars is to take control British control India by 1818

Indian Nationalist Movements India’s Two Nationalist Groups: Hindu Indian National Congress (1885) Muslim League (1905)

WWI and Indians Over one million Indians enlisted in the British army during WWI Promise of reforms; eventual self-government Rowlatt Acts Allowed the British to jail protesters without trial for up to two years Banned Public Meetings Violation of Individual Rights?

Amritsar Massacre 1919 10,000 Hindus and Muslims gathered at Amritsar to protest the Rowlatt Acts British troops fired on the crowd 400 died, over 1000 were wounded Only increased the nationalist fervor in India

Mohandas K. Gandhi Emerged as leader of nationalist movement after Amritsar Massacre Blended beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Jainism “ahimsa”- Jainist belief of Non-Violence Followers called him “Mahatma” meaning “great soul”

Gandhi Civil Disobedience: Boycotts Salt March Deliberate and public refusal to obey an unjust law (through non-violent means) Boycotts Gandhi encouraged Indians to refuse to purchase British goods, attend public schools, pay taxes, or vote in any British-run elections Encouraged Indians to make their own cloth Had his own spinning wheel Salt March 240 mile march to the sea

Limited Self-Rule 1935 Government of India Act Post WWI Local self-government and limited democratic elections Not total independence Caused a return of tensions between Hindus and Muslims Post WWI Global push for self-determination and an end to colonialism British at point of Bankruptcy

India’s Independence India becomes independent in July 1947

People key to India’s Independence Mohandas Gandhi mass civil disobedience total non-violence inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world Jawaharlal Nehru The first and longest-serving prime minister of independent India