Pangasinan State University

College of Teacher Education

Quezon Blvd. Bayambang Pangasinan

Group 3

CIVILIZATION IN INDIA

I. Introduction

Indian Civilization, also called Harappan Civilization, started in what is now Pakistan and
Northern India. As early as 300 BC, a civilization started at the Indus Valley, when the Aryans
migrated to the north of the Indian subcontinent. The fertile Indus Valley was well-watered by
the pure rivers of the Himalayas, and it sustained successful highland farming of rice and crops.
The nuclear dates of the civilization appear to be about 2500–1700 BCE. The civilization was
first identified in 1921 at Harappa in the Punjab region and then in 1922 at Mohenjo-daro, near
the Indus River in the Sindh region. Both sites are in present-day Pakistan,
in Punjab and Sindh provinces, respectively. It is also possible that Harappa and Mohenjo-daro,
may have been devastated more than once by exceptional floods. The civilization was literate,
and its script, with some 250 to 500 characters, has been partly and tentatively deciphered; the
language has been indefinitely identified as Dravidian.

Humans have lived on the Indian subcontinent for 75,000 years. Agrarian, and then urban
societies, later developed alongside several major world religions.

II. Dsicussion

A. DEVELOPMENT OF INDIAN CIVILIZATION

1. Prehistoric India

One of the world's oldest civilizations was born in India, a highly developed culture that had
a profound influence on the subsequent development of the country, and reflected in a lifestyle of
many inhabitants of the East. The species Homo heidelbergensis (a proto-human who was an
ancestor of modern Homo sapiens) inhabited the subcontinent of India centuries before humans
migrated into the region known as Europe. Evidence of the existence of Homo
heidelbergensis was first discovered in Germany in 1907 CE and, since, further discoveries have
established fairly clear migration patterns of this species out of Africa. Recognition of the
antiquity of their presence in India has been largely due to the fairly late archaeological interest
in the area as, unlike work in Mesopotamia and Egypt, western excavations in India did not
begin in earnest until the 1920s CE. Though the ancient city of Harappa was known to exist as
early as 1842 CE, its archaeological significance was ignored and the later excavations
corresponded to an interest in locating the probable sites referred to in the great Indian
epics Mahabharata and Ramayana (both of the 5th or 4th centuries BCE) while ignoring the
possibility of a much more ancient past for the region.

The village of Balathal, to cite only one example, illustrates the antiquity of India’s history
as it dates to 4000 BCE. A 4000-year-old skeleton discovered at Balathal in 2009 CE provides
the oldest evidence of leprosy in India. Prior to this find, leprosy was considered a much younger
disease thought to have been carried from Africa to India at some point and then from India to
Europe by the army of Alexander the Great following his death in 323 BCE.

Ancient history can be divided into different periods according to the tools used by people then.

Palaeolithic Period: 2 million BC – 10,000 BC

Hunters and food gatherers

Limestone was also used to make tools

There are habitation sites including caves and rock shelters

Emergence of Homo sapiens

Lot of bone tools and fishing tools

Mesolithic Period: 10,000 BC – 8000 BC

Major climate change happened.

Climate became warmer and more humid.

Rainfall increased and so more availability of flora and fauna.

Domestication of animals and plants were seen for the first time.

Sheep and goats were the most common domesticated animals.

Neolithic Period: 8000 BC – 4000 BC

Starting of agriculture

Moving from nomadic to settled life

They knew to make fire

Chalcolithic Period: 4000 BC – 1500 BC

Indus Valley Civilization (2700 BC – 1900 BC)

Other settlements at

Brahmagiri Navada Toli (Narmada region)

Chirand (Ganga region) and

Mahishadal (West Bengal)

Iron Age: 1500 BC – 200 BC

Arrival of the Aryans: Vedic Period

Jainism, Buddhism

Mohenjo-Daro & Harappan Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization dates to 5000 BCE and grew steadily throughout the lower
Gangetic Valley region southwards and northwards to Malwa. The cities of this period were
larger than contemporary settlements in other countries, were situated according to cardinal
points, and were built of mud bricks, often kiln-fired. Houses were constructed with a large
courtyard opening from the front door, a kitchen/workroom for the preparation of food, and
smaller bedrooms. Family activities seem to have centered on the front of the house, particularly
the courtyard and, in this, are similar to what has been inferred from sites in Rome,
Egypt, Greece, and Mesopotamia.

The most famous sites of this period are the great cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa both
located in present-day Pakistan. Harappa has given its name to the Harappan Civilization
(another name for the Indus Valley Civilization) which is usually divided into Early, Middle, and
Mature periods and Mohenjo-Daro was built in the Mature period (c. 2600 BCE). Harappa was
largely destroyed in the 19th century CE when British workers carried away much of the city for
use as ballast in constructing the railroad and many buildings had already been dismantled by
citizens of the local village of Harappa (which gives the site its name) for use in their own
projects.

Mohenjo-Daro was an elaborately constructed city with streets laid out evenly at right angles
and a sophisticated drainage system. The citizens were skilled in the use of metals such
as copper, bronze, lead, and tin (as evidenced by artworks such as the bronze statue of the
Dancing Girl and by individual seals) and cultivated barley, wheat, peas, sesame, and cotton.

In about 1500 BCE it is thought another race, known as the Aryans, migrated into India
through the Khyber Pass and assimilated into the existing culture, perhaps bringing their gods
with them. While it is widely accepted that the Aryans brought the horse to India, there is some
debate as to whether they introduced new deities to the region or simply influenced the existing
belief structure. The Aryans are thought to have been pantheists (nature worshippers) with a
special devotion to the sun.

At about this same time (c. 1700-1500 BCE) the Harappan culture began to decline.
Scholars cite climate change as one possible reason. The Indus River is thought to have begun
flooding the region more regularly and the great cities were abandoned. Other scholars cite the
Aryan migration as more of an invasion of the land which brought about a vast displacement.

2. The Verdic Period

The Harappan civilization was followed by the Vedic period, which lasted up to the 5th
Century BC, yet many historians object that the carvings presumably belonging to Indus Valley
Civilization, as they carry the images of women dressed in sari, a traditional Indian female
clothing item which would have been impossible to be found in Harappan age period, so also
were the cross-legged sitting figures with folded hands, a symbol of devotion in Vedic times.
That indicates the Vedic culture preceded all others. The Vedic civilization was the basis for
Hinduism as the religion, Rig Veda, the most ancient Vedic scripture, contained a large number
of Indo-Iranian elements in language and in content, which was not present in the later Indian
Vedas. The main texts of Hinduism and the main Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata
were written during this period. Mahabharata is by far the longest poem style scripture in the
world. Researchers attribute the strengthening of the concept of four major castes of Indian
society by the time of Vedic civilization. The scriptures of Upanishads or Vedanta (conclusion of
Vedas) were coming later and defined a new stage in the strengthening of Hinduism as a religion
and cultural foundation of Indian society.

The Aryan influence, some scholars claim, gave rise to what is known as the Vedic Period in
India (c. 1700-150 BCE) characterized by a pastoral lifestyle and adherence to the religious texts
known as The Vedas. Society became divided into four classes (the Varnas) popularly known as
`the caste system’ which were comprised of the Brahmana at the top (priests and scholars),
the Kshatriya next (the warriors), the Vaishya (farmers and merchants), and the Shudra (laborers).
The lowest caste was the Dalits, the untouchables, who handled meat and waste, though there is
some debate over whether this class existed in antiquity. At first, it seems this caste system was
merely a reflection of one’s occupation but, in time, it became more rigidly interpreted to be
determined by one’s birth and one was not allowed to change castes nor to marry into a caste
other than one’s own. This understanding was a reflection of the belief in an eternal order to
human life dictated by a supreme deity.

Theology Behind the Castes

Reincarnation is the process by which a soul is reborn into a new material form after each
life; it is one of the central features of the Hindu cosmology. Souls can move not only among
different levels of human society but also into other animals. This belief is thought to be one of
the primary reasons for the vegetarianism of many Hindus.

Within a single lifetime, people in India historically had little social mobility. They had to
strive for virtue during their present lives in order to attain a higher station their next time around.
In this system, a particular soul's new form depends upon the virtuousness of its previous
behavior. Thus, a truly virtuous person from the Shudra caste could be rewarded with rebirth as a
Brahmin in his or her next life.

In religious worship, Brahmins, as the priestly class, presided over rituals and services
including preparation for festivals and holidays, as well as marriages and funerals. The Kshatriya
and Vaisya castes had full rights to worship, but in some places, Shudras (the servant caste) were
not allowed to offer sacrifices to the gods.

Untouchables were barred entirely from temples, and sometimes they were not even allowed
to set foot on temple grounds. If the shadow of an untouchable touched a Brahmin, the Brahmin
would be polluted, so untouchables had to lay face-down at a distance when a Brahmin passed.

The changes in religion were a part of a wider pattern of social and cultural upheaval which
resulted in the formation of city-states and the rise of powerful kingdoms.
Increased urbanization and wealth attracted the attention of Cyrus, ruler of the Persian Empire,
who invaded India in 530 BCE and initiated a campaign of conquest in the region.

The Great Empires of Ancient India

 Persia held dominance in northern India until the conquest of Alexanderthe Great in 327
BCE. One year later, Alexander had defeated the Achaemenid Empire and firmly conquered the
Indian subcontinent. Following Alexander’s departure from India, the Mauryan Empire (322-185
BCE) rose under the reign of Chandragupta Maurya (322-298) until, by the end of the third
century BCE, it ruled over almost all of northern India.

Chandragupta’s son, Bindusara reigned between 298-272 BCE and extended

the empire throughout the whole of India. His son was Ashoka the Great under whose rule the
empire flourished at its height. Eight years into his reign, Ashoka conquered the
eastern city-stateof Kalinga which resulted in a death toll numbering over 100,000. Shocked at
the destruction and death, Ashoka embraced the teachings of the Buddha and embarked on a
systematic program advocating Buddhist thought and principles. His ardent support of Buddhist
values eventually caused a strain on the government both financially and politically as even his
grandson, Sampadi, heir to the throne, opposed his policies. By the end of Ashoka’s reign, the
government treasury was severely depleted through his regular religious donations and, after his
death, the empire declined rapidly.

3. Modern India

After the British penetration of subcontinent in a form of presence of the East India Company in
all areas of county’s economy and policy, an Indian rebellion of 1857 rose. The end of World
War II India coincided with a strong liberation movement led by, Mahatma Gandhi. In August of
1947, the independence of India was proclaimed and resulted in the territorial division of the
country into India and Pakistan.

Language

The two official languages are Hindi and English. However, they are not spoken by the entire
population, so over 20 other languages have been granted some official recognition. Local
dialects are also spoken.

Religion
The majority of the population practices one of the forms of Hinduism. This faith is a
combination of several religious beliefs and traditions and is commonly perceived as a way of
life. Islam is the second largest religion, coexisting with Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism,
Christianity and others.

Festivals & Holidays

India has hundreds of different festivals, celebrated both nationally and regionally. One of the
most popular is Diwali, a colorful celebration of the victory of light over darkness. The main
civic holidays are Independence Day (August 15) and Gandhi's Birthday (October 2).

4. Contributions of Indian Civilization to the world

1.India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

2. The place value system and the decimal system was develop in India in 100 BC

3. The value of pi was first calculated by Buhayana.

4. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus came form India

5. The world’s first university was establish in Takshila, India in 700 BC

6. Sanskrit was the mother of all European language

7. Ayurveda was the earliest school of medicine known to humans

8. The art of navigation was born in Sindh 600 years ago

9. Sushruta, from India is the father of surgery

B. RELIGIOUS THOUGHT SHAPES INDIAN SHAPES SOCIETY

This diversity is also visible in the spheres of religion. The major religions of India are
Hinduism (majority religion), Islam (largest minority religion), Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism,
Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Bahá'í Faith. India is a land where people of different
religions and cultures live in harmony.

Buddhism

At present Buddhism is one of the major world religions. The philosophy of Buddhism is based
on the teachings of Lord Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (563 and 483 BC), a royal prince of
Kapilvastu, India. After originating in India, Buddhism spread throughout the Central Asia, Sri
Lanka, Tibet, Southeast Asia, as well as the East Asian countries of China, Mongolia, Korea,
Japan and Vietnam.

Christians

Christianity is one of the prominent religions in India. At present there are about 25 million
Christians in India. It is interesting to note that the Christian population in India is more than the
entire population of Australia and New Zealand.

Hinduism

Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world. Hinduism is world's third largest religion after
Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is the dominant religion in India, where Hindus form about 84
per cent of the total population. Hinduism is also known as "Sanatan Dharma" or the everlasting
religion.

Islam

One of the prominent religions of India, Islam forms about 12 per cent of India's population.
Though India's contact with Islam had begun much earlier, the real push came in the 8th century
when the province of Sindh was conquered. Though the Muslims form only 12 per cent of the
total population of India but the influence of Islam on Indian society is much stronger.

Jainism

Jains form less than one percent of the Indian population. For centuries, Jains are famous as
community of traders and merchants. The states of Gujarat and Rajasthan have the highest
concentration of Jain population in India.The name Jainism derives from the Sanskrit verb ji, “to
conquer.” It refers to the ascetic battle that, it is believed, Jain renunciants (monks and nuns)
must fight against the passions and bodily senses to gain enlightenment, or omniscience and
purity of soul. The Jain religion is traced to Vardhamana Mahavira (The Great Hero 599-527
B.C.).
Sikhism

Sikhs form about 2 per cent of Indian population. In comparison to other religions, Sikhism is a
younger religion. The word 'Sikh' means a disciple and thus Sikhism is essentially the path of
discipleship. The true Sikh remains unattached to worldly things.

Guru Nanak Dev

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is credited with starting the Sikh religion. He was the first Guru of the
Sikhs and is worshipped next to God. His sole aim in life was to unify the Hindus and Muslims
and form a universal religion of brotherhood and compassion. He believed that true salvation
could be achieved only by devotion of thought and excellence of conduct.

Gods and Goddesses of India

Lord Brahma is considered to be the god of Creation, including the cosmos and all of its
beings. Brahma also symbolizes the mind and intellect since he is the source of all knowledge
necessary for the universe. Typically you’ll find Brahma depicted with four faces, which
symbolize the completeness of his knowledge, as well as four hands that each represent an aspect
of the human personality (mind, intellect, ego and consciousness).

Vishnu is the Preserver (of life). He is believed to sustain life through his adherence to
principle, order, righteousness and truth. He also encourages his devotees to show kindness and
compassion to all creatures. Vishnu is typically depicted with four arms to represent his
omnipotence and omnipresence. It is also common to see Vishnu seated upon a coiled snake,
symbolizing the ability to remain at peace in the face of fear or worry.

The final deity of the Hindu trinity is Shiva, also known as the Destroyer. He is said to
protect his followers from greed, lust and anger, as well as the illusion and ignorance that stand
in the way of divine enlightenment. However, he is also considered to be responsible for death,
destroying in order to bring rebirth and new life. Shiva is often depicted with a serpent around
his neck, which represents Kundalini, or life energy.

One of the most prevalent and best-known deities is Ganesha, easily recognized by his
elephant head. Ganesha is said to bestow wisdom and good fortune, remove obstacles, and is
associated with the arts and sciences. It is especially common to pray to Ganesha before any big
venture, such as a wedding or new project. There are many myths and stories that explain how
Ganesha came to have an elephant head, but it is typically thought that the humorous image stills
the rational mind and its doubts while encouraging believers to look beyond outer appearances
and form.

Another easily distinguishable god is Hanuman, the deity depicted as a monkey. Hanuman
represents the ideal devotee of god and is worshipped as a symbol of strength, perseverance and
devotion. Hanuman is often called upon in times of trouble as he teaches the unlimited power
within each of us when we direct all of our energies to God, specifically shown in the epic tale
Ramayana.

Lord Krishna is one of the most powerful incarnations. He is kept very near to many Hindus’
hearts, as he is not only viewed as a hero and leader but also as a teacher and a friend. Krishna is
said to be the embodiment of love and divine joy and destroyer of all pain and sins.

Perhaps one of the fiercest deities is Kali, also known as the Dark Mother. Kali is known for her
tongue protruding from her mouth, her garland of skulls, and her skirt of bones. This is to
symbolize the death of ego and remind worshippers that the human body is only a temporary
condition.

Rama is the model of reason and virtue, and is often considered to be the ideal man due to
his compassion, courage, devotion and adherence to dharma. His bow and arrow symbolize his
readiness to destroy evil and protect righteousness. Rama is also known for his role as the
protagonist in the Ramayana.

Saraswati is the goddess of learning, music, art and wisdom. She is typically worshiped
when devotees desire knowledge or understanding. Most often she is pictured as a beautiful
woman playing a lute, seated upon a white lotus or a swan.

The goddess Durga is an important representation of the Divine Mother, also known as ‘the
Invincible’. She is said to protect mankind from evil and misery, and does so as the destructive
force of jealousy, prejudice, hatred and ego. Durga is depicted with eight arms holding a myriad
of weapons to show that she is always protecting mankind in every direction of the world.

C. MUSLIM RULE

The Rise of Islam in South-Asia

The initial entry of Islam into South Asia came in the first century after the death of the
Prophet Muhammad. The Umayyad caliph in Damascus sent an expedition to Baluchistan and
Sindh in 711 led by Muhammad bin Qasim. He captured Sindh and Multan. Three hundred years
after his death Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, the ferocious leader, led a series of raids against
Rajput kingdoms and rich Hindu temples, and established a base in Punjab for future incursions.
In 1024, the Sultan set out on his last famous expedition to the southern coast of Kathiawar along
the Arabian Sea, where he sacked the city of Somnath and its renowned Hindu temple.

1. Invasion of Muhammad Ghori

Muhammad Ghori invaded India in 1175 A.D. After the conquest of Multan and Punjab, he
advanced towards Delhi. The brave Rajput chiefs of northern India headed by Prithvi Raj
Chauhan defeated him in the First Battle of Terrain in 1191 A.D. After about a year, Muhammad
Ghori came again to avenge his defeat. A furious battle was fought again in Terrain in 1192 A.D.
in which the Rajputs were defeated and Prithvi Raj Chauhan was captured and put to death. The
Second Battle of Terrain, however, proved to be a decisive battle that laid the foundations of
Muslim rule in northern India.

2. Delhi Sultanate

The period between 1206 A.D. and 1526 A.D. in India's history is known as the Delhi
Sultanate period. The Delhi Sultanates were a series of five different dynasties that ruled
northern India between 1206 and 1526.The period between 1206 A.D. and 1526 A.D. in India's
history is known as the Delhi Sultanate period. During this period of over three hundred years,
five dynasties ruled in Delhi. These were: the Slave dynasty (1206-90), Khilji dynasty
(1290-1320), Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1413), Sayyid dynasty (1414-51), and Lodhi dynasty
(1451-1526).

3. Slave Dynasty

One of the important king of the Slave dynasty was Shams-ud-din Iltutmush, who himself
was a slave of Qutub-ud-din Aibak. Iltutmush ruled for around 26 years from 1211 to 1236 and
was responsible for setting the Sultanate of Delhi on strong footings. Razia Begum, the capable
daughter of Iltutmush, was the first and the only Muslim lady who ever adorned the throne of
Delhi. She fought valiantly, but was defeated and killed.
Finally, the youngest son of Iltutmush, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud became Sultan in 1245. Though
Mahmud ruled India for around 20 years, but throughout his tenure the main power remained in
the hands of Balban, his Prime Minister. On death of Mahmud, Balban directly took over the
throne and ruled Delhi. During his rule from 1266 to 1287, Balban consolidated the
administrative set up of the empire and completed the work started by Iltutmush.

The Mamluk Dynasty

Qutub-ud-Dïn Aybak founded the Mamluk Dynasty in 1206. He was a Central Asian Turk
and a former general for the crumbling Ghurid Sultanate. During that time, the rulership of Dehli
was knocked into chaos as four descendants of Iltutmish were placed on the throne and killed.

The Khilji Dynasty

The Khilji Dynasty, was named after Jalal-ud-Dïn Khilji, who assassinated the last ruler of
the Mamluk Dynasty. Like many before (and after) him, Jalal-ud-Dïn's rule was short-lived.

Ala-ud-din became known as a tyrant, but also for keeping the Mongols out of India. After his
death in 1316, the dynasty started to crumble and Ala-ud-din's 18-year-old son took the throne
instead, which he ruled for only four years before being murdered by Khusro Khan, bringing an
end to the Khilji Dynasty.

The Tughlaq Dynasty

Khusro Khan did not rule long enough to establish his own dynasty — he was murdered four
months into his reign by Ghazi Malik, and established a nearly century-long dynasty of his own.

From 1320 to 1414, the Tughlaq Dynasty managed to extend the 26-year reign of
Ghiyas-ud-din's heir Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He expanded the borders of the dynasty all the
way to the south-eastern coast of modern-day India, making its reach the largest it would be
across all of the Delhi Sultanates.

However, Timur (Tamerlane) invaded India in 1398, sacking and looting Delhi and
massacring the people of the capital city. In the chaos that followed the Timurid invasion, a
family claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad took control of northern India,
establishing the basis for the Sayyid Dynasty.

The Sayyid Dynasty and Lodi Dynasty

 For the following 16 years, the rulership of Dehli was hotly contested, but in 1414, the
Sayyid Dynasty eventually won out in the capital and Sayyid Khizr Khan, who claimed to
represent the Timur.

Already primed to fail, the Sayyid Dynasty ended when the fourth sultan abdicated the
throne in 1451 in favor of Bahlul Khan Lodi, founder of the Lodi Dynasty out of Afghanistan.
Lodi was a famous horse-trader and warlord, his rule was a definite improvement over the weak
leadership of the Sayyids.

4. Mughal Empire

In India, the Mughal Empire was one of the greatest empires ever. The Mughal Empire ruled
hundreds of millions of people. India became united under one rule, and had very prosperous
cultural and political years during the Mughal rule. There were many Muslim and Hindu
kingdoms split all throughout India until the founders of the Mughal Empire came.

Babar (1526-1530)
The great grandson of Tamerlane and Genghis Khan, was the first Mughal emperor in India.
He confronted and defeated Lodhi in 1526 at the first battle of Panipat, and so came to establish
the Mughal Empire in India. Babar ruled until 1530, and was succeeded by his son Humayun.

Humayun (1530-1540 and 1555-1556)

The eldest son of Babar, succeeded his father and became the second emperor of the Mughal
Empire. He ruled India for nearly a decade but was ousted by Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler.
Humayun wandered for about 15 years after his defeat.

Akbar (1556-1605)
Humayun's heir, Akbar, was born in exile and was only 13 years old when his father died.
Akbar's reign holds a certain prominence in history; he was the ruler who actually fortified the
foundations of the Mughal Empire. After a series of conquests, he managed to subdue most of
India. Akbar's rule also stands out due to his liberal policies towards the non-Muslims, his
religious innovations, the land revenue system and his famous Mansabdari system. Akbar's
Mansabdari system became the basis of Mughal military organization and civil administration.

Jehangir
Akbar was succeeded by his son, Salim, who took the title of Jehangir, meaning "Conqueror
of the World". He married Mehr-un-Nisa whom he gave the title of Nur Jahan (light of the
world). He loved her with blind passion and handed over the complete reins of administration to
her. He strived to reform society and was tolerant towards Hindus, Christians and Jews. However,
relations with Sikhs were strained.

Shah Jahan
Jehangir was succeeded by his second son Khurram in 1628. Khurram took the name of
Shah Jahan, i.e. the Emperor of the World. He further expanded his Empire to Kandhar in the
north and conquered most of Southern India. During this reign, the world witnessed the unique
development of arts and culture of the Mughal Empire. Shah Jahan has been called the "architect
king". The Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, both in Delhi, stand out as towering achievements of
both civil engineering and art. Yet above all else, Shah Jahan is remembered today for the Taj
Mahal, the massive white marble mausoleum constructed for his wife .

Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb ascended the throne in 1658 and ruled supreme till 1707. Thus Aurangzeb ruled
for 50 years, matching Akbar's reign in longevity. But unfortunately he kept his five sons away
from the royal court with the result that none of them was trained in the art of government. With
his death, the forces of disintegration set in and the mighty Mughal empire started collapsing.

5. Pakistan: Separate Islamic Nation

Freedom Struggle

Lastly, the Britishers came and ruled over India for nearly 200 years. After the battle of
Plassey in 1757, the British achieved political power in India. And by 1856, the British conquest
and its authority were firmly established. And while the British power gained its heights during
the middle of the 19th century, the discontent of the local rulers, the peasantry, the intellectuals,
common masses as also of the soldiers who became unemployed due to the disbanding of the
armies of various states that were annexed by the British, became widespread. This soon broke
out into a revolt which assumed the dimensions of the 1857 Mutiny.

End of the East India Company

Consequent to the failure of the Revolt of 1857 rebellion, one also saw the end of the East
India Company's rule in India and many important changes took place in the British
Government's policy towards India which sought to strengthen the British rule through winning
over the Indian princes, the chiefs and the landlords. Queen Victoria's Proclamation of
November 1, 1858 declared that thereafter India would be governed by and in the name of the
British Monarch through a Secretary of State.

The Non-Cooperation Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement was pitched in under leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and
the Indian National Congress from September 1920 to February 1922, marking a new awakening
in the Indian Independence Movement. After a series of events including the Jallianwala Bagh
Massacre, Gandhiji realised that there was no prospect of getting any fair treatment at the hands
of British, so he planned to withdraw the nation's co-operation from the British Government,
thus launching the Non-Cooperation Movement and thereby marring the administrative set up of
the country. This movement was a great success as it got massive encouragement to millions of
Indians. This movement almost shook the British authorities.

Partition of India and Pakistan

At the conclusion of the Second World War, the Labour Party, under Prime Minister
Clement Richard Attlee, came to power in Britain. The Labour Party was largely sympathetic
towards Indian people for freedom. A Cabinet Mission was sent to India in March 1946, which
after a careful study of the Indian political scenario, proposed the formation of an interim
Government and convening of a Constituent Assembly comprising members elected by the
provincial legislatures and nominees of the Indian states. An interim Government was formed
headed by Jawaharlal Nehru. However, the Muslim League refused to participate in the
deliberations of the Constituent Assembly and pressed for the separate state for Pakistan. Lord
Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India, presented a plan for the division of India into India and
Pakistan, and the Indian leaders had no choice but to accept the division, as the Muslim League
was adamant.

Thus, India became free at the stroke of midnight, on August 14, 1947. (Since then, every
year India celebrates its Independence Day on 15th August). Jawaharlal Nehru became the first
Prime Minster of free India and continued his term till 1964.

Earlier, a Constituent Assembly was formed in July 1946, to frame the Constitution of India
and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected its President. The Constitution of India which was adopted
by the Constituent Assembly on 26thNovember 1949. On January 26, 1950, the Constitution was
came into force and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the first President of India.
III. Summary

One of the world's oldest civilizations was born in India, a highly developed culture that had
a profound influence on the subsequent development of the country, and reflected in a lifestyle of
many inhabitants of the East.

The Harappan civilization was followed by the Vedic period, which lasted up to the 5th
Century BC. The Vedic civilization was the basis for Hinduism as the religion, the main texts of
Hinduism and the main Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata were written during this
period. In the year 327 BCE, Alexander the Great was able to subdue a part of northwest India.
Later King Ashoka came to power and the Maurya Empire reached a zenith of power.

The evolution of a religious culture in ancient India, was a development of great

importance in world history. Between them, these religions today have the allegiance of billions
of people.

The most significant territory conquest of medieval India was the reign of the Mughals. The
most famous Mongol emperor Akbar was not only a conqueror of new lands but also assisted in
spreading Islam. The end of World War II, after the British penetration of subcontinent, laid the
groundwork for the decolonization of the world, which in India coincided with a strong
liberation movement and extraordinary popularity of Mahatma Gandhi. In August of 1947, the
independence of India was proclaimed and resulted in the territorial division of the country into
India and Pakistan. It was supposed to divide the country into two areas, professing Hinduism
and Islam, respectively.

Prepared by:

Jerimae Austria Christine Balbaloza

Jesseca Cabreros Jaimmoel Calinggagan

Angelica Casanos JM Castro

Allen Datuin