1 DJH3A - HISTORY OF INDIA FROM 1858 TO 1964 A.D Unit - I Constitutional Developments in India after Mutiny of 1857- Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858-India Council Act of 1861, 1892 and Minto- Morley Reforms Act of 1909- Government of India Act of 1919 – Introduction of Dyarchy-Govt. of India Act of 1935 – Provincial-Indian Independence Act of 1947 – Transfer of power-Relation with Foreign powers-Afghanistan- Burma-Nepal Unit - II Princely States-Major Princely States a survey- British policies towards Princely States- Integration of the Indian States- Development of Education- Women’s Movement – Dalit upsurge- Peasants and workers Movements – Communal and Separatist Movements- Indian Civil Servants – Development of Press in India. Unit - III Major Developments since 1858- Local self Government-Development of Trade and Commerce- Industry, Transport and Irrigation- Development of Science of Technology- Socio – Religious Reform Movement- Brahmo Samaj- Arya Samaj- Ramakrishna Mission – The Theosophical Society- Christian Missionary – Societies. Unit - IV Freedom Movement- Indian National Congress- Moderates and Extremists- Muslim League- M.K. Gandhi and M.A. Jinnah-The Gandhian Era- The Amirstar Massacre of 1919- Non- Co- operation movement- Nehru Report 1928- Simon Commission- Civil disobedience movement- Round table conference Communal Award – Poone a Part. Unit - V Final Phase- World War II and its impact- Quit India movement- Crips mission, Wavel plan and Cabinet mission- Partition and distribution of power - Reorganisation of Linguistic States - The Post - Independence Era - Five year plans and Economic Developments - Science and Technology-Growth of higher education - India’s foreign policy. Reference Books: 1. A.R. Desai -Social Background to India’s nationalism 2. India’s Struggle for Independence - Bipan Chandra. 3. Percival Spear - The Oxford History of India. 4. S.Batacharya - Economic Foundation of the British Raj. 5. Selchar Bandopadhyaya from Plasey to Paratition 6. Stanley Welpert - A New History of India (Oxford University Press) 7. Sumit Sankar- Modern India 157-1947 (Macmillan) 2 UNIT - I Government of India Act 1858 The act of 1858 left untouched the government of India, but affected the administrative mechanism through which India was governed from England. The Act declared that hence forth “India shall be governed by and in the name of the Queen and vested in the queen all the territories and powers of the company. The main provisions of the acts were: The secretary of state in council took the place of the Board of control and court of director. The new secretary of state for India was to be assisted by a council of India which was consists of 15 members ,of whom 8 were to be appointed by the crown and 7 to be elected by the directors of the company. The secretary of state was to preside over the meeting of the council and had power to overrule its decisions in case it differed. The function of the council was to advise the secretary of state but only on matters referred to it by him. It had to initiative. The secretary was empowered to make rules for the more convenient transaction of business, constitute committees and distribute departments of business among them. The secretary of state was to be a member of the British cabinet .His salary and allowances were made a charge on the revenues of India. The secretary of state was to annually place before parliament the Indian accounts and reports concerning the moral and material progress of India. The secretary of state for India was given the power of sending to and receiving secret messages from the viceroy of India and was not expected to communicate these to the India council. The Governor –General was to be known as the viceroy, which means one holding post for or in the place of sovereign . He was to be assisted by a council of 15 members. The revenues of India were to be mostly spent for India alone. The crown was to appoint the Governor- General of India and the Governor of the presidencies. The military and naval forces were transferred to queen. The Act lay down that except for the purpose of rebelling invasion or any other sudden or urgent necessity, Indian revenues were not to be employed for military operation outside India without the consent of parliament. Above all, the secretary of state for India exercised control over the viceroy of India. Lord Canning was the first viceroy of India. Thus, the government of India act of 1858 opened a new chapter in the History of India. The rule of the company ended, and now that of the crown in a direct manner commenced. According to marsh man, “The Company transferred to the crown on relinquishing its functions, an empire more magnificent than Rome. ’The main rules, under which India was governed in 1858, were already those of the British parliament. The British administrator including the Governor – General though nominally the servants of the court of directors knew that in reality they were answerable to the British cabinet with its Indian Minister, who was the president of the board of control and through them to the parliament. No doubt, the council was given some power on the Indian revenues and expenditure, but it had no authority on war and peace. The council had no initiative and 3 besides, certain matters could be kept secret from the council. The India office in London directly controlled permanent official in India and hence instead of criticising them identified itself with them and protected them. Therefore, these officials became the practical owners of India. In spite of various drawback, the Government of India act Occupies an important position in the history of India. QUEEN VICTORIA’S PROCLAMATION OF 1858 The assumption by the crown of the Government of India was formally declared on November 1, 1858 at a Durbar held at Allahabad where Canning read the Queen’s proclamation to the assembled princes and the people of India. The Queen proclamation “Such a document should breathe feeling of generosity, benevolence and religious toleration and out the privileges which the Indians will receive in being placed on the footing of equality with the subject of the British crown and the prosperity following in the train of civilisation.’’ The proclamation given below was drafted by Lord Derby in accordance with the sentiments of the queen and worded to be worthy of the occasion to the people of India, the assumption by the Queen marked the dawn of a new era, the proclamation was cherished as the charter of their rights. THE GREAT UPHEAVAL OF 1857 The proclamation broadly decided the relation of the British. Government with the princess of the Indian states and the people. The proclamation said, “We hereby announce to the native princess of India that all treaties and engagements made with them by or under the authority of the Honourable East India company are by us accepted, and will be scrupulously maintained, and we like for the like observance on their part.” Then, “We desire no extension of our present territorial possession, and while we will permit no aggression upon our dominions or our rights to be attempted with impunity we shall sanction no encroachment on those of others.” It further said, “We shall respect the rights, dignity and honour of our native princes as our own, and we desire that they as well as our own subjects, should enjoy that prosperity, and that social advancement which can be secured by internal peace and good government.” The policy of doctrine of lapse was abolished. The policy of centralisation adopted in the character act of 1858 was reversed and the government recognised new principles of decentralisation and Indenisation. For the people of India the Queen proclamation declared, “We hold our selves bound to the native of our Indian territories by the same obligation of duties which bind us to our other entire subject. It also promised non- interference in the religious affairs of the people, and non – discrimination as that none be any wise favoured, none molested by reason of their religious faith and observance.” The proclamation also promised that hence forward efficient Indians would be appointed in various responsible government posts irrespective of caste and creed. The proclamation further declared that “We know and respect the feeling of attachment with which the natives of India regard the land inherited 4 by them from their ancestors and we desired to protect them in all rights connected there with subject to the quitable demands of the state and we will do that generally in framing and administering the law, the regard to be paid to the ancient rights, usages and customs of India”. The Queen through her proclamation, granted amnesty to all the rebels except those who had actually assassinated the British subject in India during the mutiny. The proclamation, with its promises went a long way in restoring order and pacifying the people. The feeling of relief it evoked was fully made use by canning to drive home the nation that a new era had in reality begun. To the people of India the proclamation brought a new heaven on earth. In fact, the proclamation was actually, as it was said, the Magna Carta of Indian liberties. The Government brought about some modifications in the British Indian army after the revolt of 1857. The British now became extra cautious about the strength and number of the Indian spays. The number of British soldiers was considerably increased as to avoid the possibility of another such rising in future. The English soldiers, were now mainly kept in possession of the artillery and the Englishmen only were placed in the superior rank of the army.