1 DDCE/PAPER-9 Contemporary History of India from 1947-2010 By Dr. Manas Kumar Das 2 CONTENT Contemporary History of India from 1947-2010 Unit.No. Chapter Name Page No UNIT- I. The Legacy of Colonialism and National Movement : a. Political legacy of Colonialism. 3-13 b. Economic and Social Legacy of Colonialism. 14-29 c. National movements: Its significance, Value and Legacy 30-48 Unit.II. The making of the Constitution and consolidation as a new nation. a. Framing of Indian Constitution - Constituent Assembly – Draft Committee Report – declaration of Indian Constitution, Indian constitution- Basic Features and Institutions 49-74 b. The Initial Years: Process of National Consolidation and Integration of /Indian States – Role of Sardar Patel – Kashmir issue- Indo – Pak war 1948; the Linguistic Reorganization of the States, Regionalism and Regional Inequality. 75-105 UNIT – III . Political developments in India since Independence . a. Political development in India since Independence. 106-121 b. Politics in the States: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir, the Punjab Crisis. 122-144 c. The Post-Colonial Indian State and the Political Economy of Development : An Overview 145-156 d. Foreign policy of India since independence. 157-162 UNIT – IV. Socio-Economic development since independence. a. Indian Economy, 1947-1965: the Nehruvian Legacy Indian Economy, 1965-1991, Economic Reforms since 1991 and LPG 163-175 c. Land Reforms: Zamindari Abolition and Tenancy Reforms, Ceiling and the Bhoodan Movement, Cooperatives and an Overview, Agriculture Growth and the Green Revolution And Agrarian Struggles Since Independence 176-205 c. Revival and Growth of Communalism 206-215 b. Caste, Untouchability, Anti-caste Politics and Strategies 217-25 3 UNIT-1 Chapter-I THE LEGACY OF COLONIALISM AND NATIONAL MOVEMENT Political Legacy of Colonialism Structure 1.1.0. Objectives 1.1.1. Introduction 1.1.2. Meaning of Legacy 1.1.3. The Legacy of Colonialism 1.1.4. Political legacy of Colonialism 1.1.4.1 Unnatural partition of the country and the subsequent problems 1.1.4.2 The unwanted Communalism 1.1.4.3 Establishment of Central Authority and a Unified Administrative System 1.1.4.4 Three pillars of the British rule 1.1.4.5 Parliamentary Democracy 1.1.4.6 Introduction of Bicameralism 1.1.4.7 Indian Federalism 1.1.4.8 Administrative System 1.1.4.9 Civil Services in India 1.1.4.10 Government Departmentalisation as the basis of colonialism 1.1.4.11 Judicial Structure in India 1.1.4.12 Role of Ordinances in the running of the Administration of the nation 1.1.4.13 Language Legacy 1.1.4.14 Membership of the Commonwealth of Nations 1.1.4.15 Creation of a Middle Class: 1.1.5. Conclusion 1.1.6. Summary 1.1.7. Exercise 1.1.8. Further Readings 4 1.1.0. Objectives This chapter will discuss the political legacies of colonialism in India. After studying this lesson the students will be able to: know the meaning of legacy of Colonialism understand the legacy of Colonialism. assess the political legacy of Colonialism. identify the important legacies in the form of political legacy of British Colonialism in India. 1.1.1. INTRODUCTION Each nation has its own political system and each political system essentially carries the legacy of its past. Historical legacy always influences its structures, functions and behaviour. It also bears the influence of the values, traditions and institutions of the past. Continuity of tradition, modernisation of tradition, traditionalisation of modernity, and continuity and change are simultaneously present in every political system. The political system of independent India is no exception to this generalization. It stands positively as well as negatively influenced by its past. As we know that the modem India is the product of centuries of evolution and the experiences of many racial groups that have either got amalgamated or coexisted in the sub- continent. Its contemporary form clearly reflects the influence of its historical legacies. In its social, political, cultural, economic and administrative set up and governmental structure, it still maintains several features of the British age. In its political aspect, Modern India is a product of two important factors. (1) the British impact of rational legal authority wielded by a central power that managed to consolidate the whole sub-continent under it. Although operating mainly in the legal and administrative spheres, the British Raj also affected fundamental life of the Indians, Indian political beliefs and relationships. (2) the reconstructive nationalism of the pre-independence generated in response to the impact of a new world order as transmitted through the colonial power and developed as a means to political independence and social reforms in the context a slowly expanding framework of democratic institutions. As such, legacies can be discussed in two parts (1) Legacy of the Colonialism, (2) Legacy of the Indian National Movement. This chapter will highlight the political legacies of colonialism in India. 5 1.1.2. Meaning of Legacy Legacy means those traditions, customs, practices, patterns of beliefs, rules, etc which are inherited by a political system from the past and which make a enduring impact upon the working of the political system for years to come. 1.1.3. The Legacy of Colonialism The system handed over by the British to the Indians and followed by the Indian system is known as the legacy of colonialism. The history of India’s immediate past has been the period of the British rule of near about 200 years (1757- 1947). The British started coming to India formally after the establishment of the British East India Company, in 1600. They took 157 years to establish their 'rule' in India. Primarily they had came to India as traders, but later got involved in power struggle in the environment created by the downfall of the Mughal empire and the presence of rival French and Dutch trading companies in India. The emergence of the control of the East India Company over India can be traced from (1) the foundation of the British rule in India with the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud- Daulah in the Battle of Plassey (1757), (2) the victory over the French in 1763, and (3) the the Battle of Buxar (1764) and (4) grant of Diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1765) etc. Thereafter, from 1765 to 1857, the East India Company ruled India. The unsuccessful First War of Independence (1857) waged by the Indians against the British Company's rule paved the way for the imposition of the direct rule of the British Crown over the Indian possessions by the Government of India Act 1858. This phase of the British rule continued up to 1947 when the Indians got independence, which, however, was disfigured by the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. During this period, there developed a massive anti-British and anti- imperialist national liberation movement in India through which India emerged as a sovereign independent state free from British imperialism. Nearly 200 years of the British rule, there took place several changes- social, economic, political and administrative etc. which have contributed to the emergence of contemporary India. 1.1.4. Political legacy of Colonialism As we know that a new political process of struggle began in 1947 for the newly born country who had just freed itself from the shackles of British rule. To make the process of transition easier, the architect of the nascent country decided to maintain most of the 6 administrative and political measures of the British Raj. Let us discuss some of the important legacies in the form of political legacy of British Colonialism in India can be discussed as follows : 1.1.4.1. Unnatural partition of the country and the subsequent problems The introduction of British policy of divide and rule and, on its basis the introduction of communal electorates in 1909 gradually led to a sharp division and conflict between the Congress and the Muslim League. Out of this conflict, there resulted the demand for a separate homeland for the Muslims as advocated by the Muslim League established in 1906 at Dhaka. The attempts to secure it through direct action, the opposition that it invited from the Congress and the non-Muslim sections of the Indian society, the administrative apathy, inefficiency and the biased divisive British policies resulted in the emergence of Muslim-non-Muslim communalism in India, which ultimately led to the partition of the country on communal basis. The independence of India was granted along with the partition of India in the form of the creation of Pakistan. Since 1947, the Indian political system has been living with communalism and the problems created by the partition (the Kashmir Problem, the border Problem, the ever present chances of an Indo- Pak War etc.) as the legacies of the British rule in India. 1.1.4.2. The unwanted Communalism The communalism in India can be legitimately described as the most harmful legacy of the British rule. The Britishers, through their policy of divide and rule and through such instruments as patronisation of the Muslims and communal electorates, were successful in driving a block between the Muslims and the non-Muslims, particularly between the Hindus and the Muslims. The British Government in order to face the increasing challenges of nationalism followed the policy of divide and rule and actively encouraged communalism and casteism in India. The spread of communalism and the communal riots which accompanied it made the partition of India inevitable. After independence, India decided to liquidate communalism in favour of secularism but the attempts, so far, have not been fully successful.