GS Paper: GS1-02.Modern Indian History- Mid-18th century – Present (significant events, personalities, issues);

Why in the News?

This newscard is an excerpt from the article originally published in The Hindu.

Who was Henry Vivian Louis Derozio?

• Birth–Death: Born 1809, died- 22 in 1831; Indo-Portuguese origin.
• Identity: Radical thinker, poet, and educator in British India.
• Recognition: Called the first national poet of modern India; pioneer of Anglo-Indian poetry.
• Influences: Inspired by Enlightenment ideals and the French Revolution.
• Career: Became lecturer at Hindu College, Calcutta in 1826 at just 17.
• Role: Inspired students with rationalism, liberty, and free thought.
• Writings: Poems (1827), The Fakeer of Jungheera (1828), and To India – My Native Land (first modern patriotic poem in English).
• Themes: Expressed India’s decline with images of a caged eagle and a broken instrument; advocated freedom and abolition of slavery.
• Dismissal: Removed from Hindu College in 1831 on charges of spreading atheism.

The Young Bengal Movement: 

• Formation: Radical group of his students, also called Derozians.
• Association: Founded the Academic Association, debating social and political reform.
• Ideals: Advocated rationalism, women’s rights, freedom of thought; opposed caste, superstition, idolatry.
• Political Role: In 1843, with George Thompson, formed India’s first political party – Bengal British India Society.
• Notable Member: Radhanath Sikdar, mathematician who first calculated Mount Everest’s height and openly resisted colonial injustices.
• Perception: Described by missionary Alexander Duff as a “new race of men”; historian Rosinka Chaudhuri called them India’s “first radicals.”
• Legacy and Intellectual Impact:
• • Awakening: Though short-lived, the movement sparked Bengal’s intellectual revolution.
  • Seeds of Reform: Laid foundation for later reformist and nationalist currents.
  • Independence of Mind: Marked a sharp break from Macaulay’s vision of Anglicised Indians — Derozians were assertive and original.

Why in the News?

On August 15, 2025, Prime Minister delivered the longest Independence Day speech (103 minutes) from the Red Fort, continuing a tradition started by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947.

The fort’s choice as the venue reflects its historic role as Delhi’s seat of power and symbol of sovereignty.

About the Red Fort:

• Construction: Built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad, his new capital.
• Material: Enclosed by massive red sandstone walls with royal pavilions and apartments.
• Water Feature: Contained the Nahr-i-Behisht (“Stream of Paradise”), a continuous water channel.
• Architectural Value: Prime example of Mughal architecture, blending Islamic traditions with Indian craftsmanship.
• Recognition: Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

Historical Significance of Delhi and Red Fort:

• Delhi’s Role: Seat of power for nearly a thousand years, regarded as “capital of all Hindustan” by Babur.
• Shahjahanabad: Inaugurated in 1648 with the Red Fort at its centre.
• Symbol of Sovereignty: Even after Mughal decline, Delhi remained central; East India Company minted coins in the emperor’s name.

1857 Revolt and British Authority:

• Revolt Centre: Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared leader by sepoys in Delhi.
• Aftermath: Fall of Delhi ended Mughal rule; Zafar was exiled.
• Fort Damage: British converted Red Fort into a military garrison, destroying ~80% of interiors.
• Imperial Authority: Delhi Durbars (1877, 1903, 1911) asserted British control before capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911.

Significance of Red Fort for Independence Day:

• INA Trials: Held in Red Fort in 1946, igniting nationalist fervour.
• 1947 Ceremony: Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the national flag on 15 August 1947 and gave the first Independence Day address.
• Tradition: Since then, every Prime Minister hoists the flag and addresses the nation from its ramparts.
• Symbolism: Site once stamped with colonial dominance, now reclaimed as a symbol of India’s sovereignty.

Why in the News?

Former Odisha CM expressed concern over the omission of the Paika Rebellion from NCERT’s latest Class VIII history textbook, calling it a “huge dishonour” to the brave Paikas.

About Paika Rebellion:

• Who Were the Paikas: Traditional militia of Odisha who served local kings in exchange for rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) and social standing.
• Role: Functioned as hereditary foot soldiers and police for the Khurda kingdom.
• Decline: British annexation of Odisha in 1803 ended their privileges through land revenue reforms and colonial restructuring.
• Leader: Led by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar, the military chief under King Mukunda Dev II of Khurda.
• Causes of Rebellion: Loss of land rights, oppressive taxation, and marginalization of both the elite and peasantry under British rule.

• Key Events:

• • 2 April 1817: Bakshi Jagabandhu led the Paikas, joined by tribal Kondhs and others, in open rebellion.
  • Rebel Actions: British offices at Banapur were torched, the treasury looted, and colonial officers killed.
  • British Response: Regained control by mid-1817, but rebels resorted to guerrilla tactics.
  • Bakshi’s Death: Captured in 1825, died in custody in 1829.

Outcomes:

• British Concessions: Temporary tax remissions, Lowered assessments, Suspended forced estate sales and fixed-land-tenures.
• Administrative Impact: These measures showed the British were forced to reconsider exploitative policies.
• Aftermath and Significance:
  • Historical Role: An early example of organized resistance against British colonial rule—decades before 1857.
  • Freedom Struggle Legacy: Viewed as a precursor to India’s independence movement.
  • Current Demand: Odisha leaders advocate its recognition as India’s “first war of independence.”

Why in the News?

As language debates rise in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the historic Nagari Pracharini Sabha, key to promoting Hindi and Devanagari, quietly resumed its work after decades.

About Nagari Pracharini Sabha:

• Establishment: The Nagari Pracharini Sabha was founded on 16 July 1893 at Queen’s College, Varanasi by Shyamsundar Das, Pandit Ramnarayan Mishra, and Shivkumar Singh.
• Early Patronage: The Sabha received initial support from Babu Radhakrishna Das, a cousin of Bharatendu Harishchandra, a leading figure in modern Hindi literature.
• Organizational Presence: Its headquarters are located in Varanasi, with additional branches in New Delhi and Haridwar.
• Primary Mission: The Sabha aimed to promote the Hindi language and Devanagari script in education, administration, and literature during a period dominated by Persian, Urdu, and English.
• Library Establishment: In 1896, it established the Arya Bhasha Pustakalaya, which became the largest Hindi library in India.
• Research Journal Launch: Also in 1896, it began publishing the Nagari Pracharini Patrika, now recognized as India’s oldest and most authoritative Hindi research journal.
• Cultural Contributions: It managed the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, until it was eventually transferred to Banaras Hindu University.
• Modern Revival: After years of inactivity and disputes, it was revived in 2023 under Vyomesh Shukla’s leadership, following a court order from the Allahabad High Court.

Its Role in Hindi Promotion:

• Linguistic Standardization: It conducted surveys in rural and urban areas to collect regional vocabulary, laying the groundwork for a standardized Hindi language.
• Lexicographic Landmark: This effort led to the publication of Shabd Sagar in 1929, a monumental 11-volume Hindi dictionary and a major lexicographical achievement.
• Literary Influence: It published Saraswati magazine from 1900, edited by Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, which played a transformative role in shaping modern Hindi literature.
• Preservation of Classics: It produced critical editions of works by poets like Surdas, Tulsidas, Kabirdas, Bihari, and Bhushan, ensuring the preservation of Hindi literary heritage.
• Official Language Recognition: The Sabha’s advocacy led to the recognition of Hindi in Devanagari script for official use in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh by the early 20th century.
• Civil Service Policy Impact: It was instrumental in making Hindi and Urdu proficiency a requirement for government jobs in the United Provinces.
• National Literary Conferences: In 1910, it helped organise the first Akhil Bharatiya Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, giving Hindi a pan-Indian literary platform.
• Support from National Leaders: The Sabha’s mission was endorsed by Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Motilal Nehru, indicating its central role in the Hindi movement.

Why in the News?

PM Narendra Modi, while speaking in Trinidad and Tobago, paid tribute to the Girmitiyas—19th-century indentured Indian labourers who helped shape Indo-Caribbean culture.

About Girmitiyas:

• Overview: The word “Girmitiya” comes from “agreement,” which was pronounced as “girmit” by Indian labourers who signed contracts to work abroad.
• Origin of the Labourers: Most Girmitiyas were recruited from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, especially from areas suffering poverty or famine.
• Language and Community: These workers primarily spoke Bhojpuri, Awadhi, or Hindi and came from agricultural castes and communities.
• Role of Recruitment Agents: Agents known as arkatis enticed labourers with promises of good wages while hiding the reality of harsh plantation conditions.
• Scale and Scope of Migration: Between 1834 and 1920, over 1.2 million Indians were sent to British colonies like Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, South Africa, and Suriname.
• Cultural Continuity Abroad: Despite minimal belongings, Girmitiyas preserved Indian languages, religious practices, and cultural expressions like Ramleela in the Caribbean.

Why in the News?

Jharkhand on observed ‘Hul’ Diwas to commemorate the rebellion’s 170th anniversary of Santhal Revolt which was held on June 30, 1855.

About the Santhal Revolt:

• Overview: The Santhal Hul (Revolt) began on June 30, 1855, in present-day Jharkhand, and is observed annually as Hul Diwas.
• The ‘Hul’: It means revolution, symbolising one of India’s earliest organized uprisings against British colonialism, even before the 1857 Revolt.
• Leaders Associated: It was led by Sidho, Kanho, Chand, Bhairav Murmu, and sisters Phulo and Jhano, and gathered support from 32 different tribal and non-tribal communities.
• Nature of the Revolt: The Santhal Hul was marked by tribal unity, guerrilla warfare, and was primarily an agrarian uprising, not driven by religion or elite politics.

• Causes:

• • Exploitation by Landlords: It opposed the British East India Company, the Zamindari system, and moneylenders who exploited tribal communities.
  • Damin-i-Koh Policy: In 1832, the British created Damin-i-Koh in the Rajmahal Hills to resettle Santhals from Bengal and Jharkhand to clear forests and take up agriculture.
  • Alienation: Santhals were subjected to land alienation, forced labor (like kamioti and harwahi), usurious debt traps, and Zamindari-court-police nexus oppression.
• Suppression measures: The British imposed Martial Law on November 10, 1855, and crushed the uprising by January 3, 1856, using modern firearms and war elephants; Sidho and Kanho were killed in action.
• Continued resistance: Even after its suppression, tribal uprisings continued during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny in areas like Hazaribagh and Manbhum (now Dhanbad and Purulia).

Key Outcomes of the Revolt:

• Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (1876): This law banned land transfers to non-Adivasis, allowed inheritance under tribal customs, and protected Santhal self-governance.
• Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908): Inspired by later tribal movements, it restricted sale of tribal and Dalit land, and required Collector’s approval for land transfer within caste and locality.
• Impact on Tribal Identity: The revolt helped shape tribal consciousness, legal land safeguards, and anti-colonial resistance legacies.
• Modern Legacy: The Santhals are now India’s third-largest tribal group, living in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal, and they use the ‘Ol Chiki’ script to preserve the Santhali language.

Why in the news?

The Prime Minister recently addressed a commemorative event marking 100 years of the historic conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi.

About Sree Narayana Guru:

• Early Life: Sree Narayana Guru was born on 22 August 1856 in Chempazhanthy, Kerala, into the Ezhava community, considered the so-called ‘avarna’ or outside the caste system.
• Social Reform: He led a peaceful revolution against caste discrimination and promoted social equality and spiritual upliftment in Kerala.
• Famous Slogan: Guru gave the powerful message — “One Caste, One Religion, One God for All”, calling for unity beyond caste or creed.
• Spiritual Philosophy: A follower of Advaita Vedanta, he reinterpreted it to assert that divinity exists in every individual, regardless of caste.
• Death and Legacy: He passed away on 20 September 1928, and his birth and death anniversaries are now observed as public holidays in Kerala and other states.

His Contributions:

• Temple Reform: In 1888, he consecrated a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram, challenging Brahminical control over temples.
• Organisational Impact: He founded the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam in 1903, with Kumaran Asan as its first general secretary.
• Social Movements: He supported the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25) against untouchability in public spaces.
• Spiritual Centres: Guru established the Sivagiri Mutt (1904), which became the heart of the Sivagiri Pilgrimage (Theerthadanam).
• Writings: His works, like Advaitha Deepika, Atmavilasam, Daiva Dasakam, and Brahmavidya Panchakam, reflect a spiritual and reformist vision.
• Holistic Upliftment: He promoted education, cleanliness, agriculture, and handicrafts for self-reliance.
• Against Conversions: Guru opposed religious conversion as a caste solution, favouring internal reform within Hindu society.

His Conversations with Gandhiji (1925):

• Historic Meeting: Mahatma Gandhi met Guru on 13 March 1925 at Sivagiri Mutt during the Vaikom Satyagraha.
• On Scriptures: Guru clarified that Hindu texts do not support untouchability and backed the Vaikom movement fully.
• On Salvation: He believed that all religions lead to moksha but stressed that material freedom is key to dignity.
• Inclusive Ashrams: He shared that his ashrams welcomed all castes, with children studying and praying together.
• View on Caste: While Gandhi defended varna in principle, Guru critiqued caste as rigid, anti-freedom, and regressive.
• Mutual Respect: Gandhi was deeply moved and later praised Guru as a “holy soul”, calling Sivagiri a model of harmony.
• Enduring Legacy: The meeting symbolised a blend of spiritual wisdom and social reform, with lasting national impact.