Modern Indian History

Contents: Preface. 1. British invasion in India. 2. Europeans\' battles for power. 3. Rule of the British governors and governor generals. 4. Indian rebellion of 1857. 5. Colonial Rule (1858-1911). 6. Religious and social reform movements. 7. Indian freedom struggle. 8. National leaders. 9. Partition of India. 10. India since independence. Bibliography. Index.

"The history of modern India starts with the advent of Europeans in Indian soil. Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut, sailing via the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. This marked the beginning of the European era in Indian history. In the next century, India was visited by a large number of European travellers - Italians, Englishmen, Frenchmen and Dutchmen.

Eventually England, France, the Netherlands and Denmark, floated East India Companies. During the late 16 and the 17 centuries, these companies competed with each other fiercely. By the last quarter of the 18 century the English had vanquished all others and established themselves as the dominant power in India.

The six decades between the end of the "mutinous" war of 1857-59 and the conclusion of First World War saw both the peak of British imperial power in India and the birth of nationalist agitation against it. The anticolonial struggle became truly a mass movement with the arrival of Gandhiji in 1915. Successive campaigns had the effect of driving the British out of India in 1947, but with independence came the independence came the independence of the country into Pakistan.

The present book attempts to introduce some of the major themes in modern Indian history comprehensively. It will be highly useful for students, teachers, researchers and all those interested in the history of modern India." (jacket)