20 th Century India Rags to Riches
Pre-WWII Had been run by Brits for 200+ years –100,000 Brits controlled 450 million Indians!
The Crown Jewel British East India Company saw India as money maker –Indian Textiles and Spices
Benefits of UK rule Medicine, transportation, communication education and democracy
Drawbacks to UK Rule Loss of culture, 30 million die from crop changes
Early Efforts at Independence Sepoy Rebellion Indian National Congress (1885) formed Congress Party –Muslim make Muslim League in 1906
Enter Mohandas Gandhi Civil Disobedience Hindu Nationalist
Effects of WWII Britain used Indian Troops without seeking Congress Party approval –Fuels Separatist Fires… After the war, UK cost of empire too much…
Independence and Partitions July 16, 1947 Two new states created, Hindu India and Muslim East and West Pakistan –Mass relocation through India… –VIOLENCE
More Violence and a Martyr Over 1 million dead in ethnic cleansings Jan. 30, 1948 Gandhi assassinated by Hindu Nationalist for supporting partition : (
The New Nations and Peace??? Jawaharlal Nehru, a secular Hindu, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a Muslim, become the first leaders for each country
Walking Through Kashmir… DUCK! Hindu governor brought Muslim population into India at the partition. –BOTH SIDES WANT IT…WAR! –Still at odds… and NUCLEAR POWERS
A Free India To aid poor, Nehru turns to Socialism –Economy weak, population on the rise… –Tried to help lower castes and Stressed industry –Made movement to counter bi- polar world
Indira Gandhi 1966: Nehru’s daughter elected Population growth hurting economy Violent Sikh separatists attack –6/84 -Raid on the Golden Temple –500 Dead
Another Dead Gandhi Two Sikh bodyguards killed her in retaliation
Another Gandhi, er, Nehru Rajiv Gandhi, son of Indira, in power Brings capitalism (and corruption?) –Bombed for economic changes –Irony – these changes saved India…
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly World’s largest democracy Excellent economic growth Still split by ethnic and religious factions Terrible poverty