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General Knowledge for SSC Exams (Indian History: Important Dates)

I. Ancient

BC

2300–1750 : Indus Valley Civilization.
From 1500 : Coming of the Aryans.
1200–800 : Expansion of the Aryans in the Ganga Valley.
600 : Age of the 16 Mahajanapadas of northern India.
563–483 : Buddha’s Life-span.
540–468 : Mahavir’s Life-span.
362–321 : Nanda dynasty.
327–326 : Alexander’s invasion of India. It opened a land route between India and Europe.
322 : Accession of Chandragupta Maurya.
305 : Defeat of Seleucus at the hands of Chandragupta Maurya.
273–232 : Ashoka’s reign.
261 : Conquest of Kalinga.
145–101 : Regin of Elara, the Chola king of Sri Lanka.
58 : Beginning of Vikram era.

78 : Beginning of Saka era.
78-101 : Kanishka’s reign.
319–320 : Commencement of Gupta era.
380 : Accession of Chandragupta II ‘Vikramaditya’
405–411 : Visit of Chinese traveller Fahien.
415 : Accession of Kumargupta I.
455 : Accession of Skandagupta.
606–647 : Harshavardhan’s reign.

II. Medieval

712 : First invasion in Sindh by Arabs (Mohd. Bin Qasim).
836 : Accession of King Bhoja of Kannauj.
985 : Accession of Rajaraja, the Chola ruler.
998 : Accession of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni.
1001 : First invasion of India by Mahmud Ghazni who defeated Jaipal, ruler of Punjab.
1025 : Destruction of Somnath Temple by Mahmud Ghazni.
1191 : First battle of Tarain.
1192 : Second battle of Tarain.
1206 : Accession of Qutubuddin Aibak to the throne of Delhi.
1210 : Death of Qutubuddin Aibak.
1221 : Chengiz Khan invaded India (Mongol invasion).
1236 : Accession of Razia Sultana to the throne of Delhi.
1240 : Death of Razia Sultana.
1296 : Accession of Alauddin Khilji.
1316 : Death of Alauddin Khilji.
1325 : Accession of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
1327 : Transfer of capital from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad) in Deccan by the Muhammad-in-Tughlaq.
1336 : Foundation of Vijaynagar empire in the South.
1351 : Accession of Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
1398 : Timur’s invasion of India.
1469 : Birth of Guru Nanak.
1494 : Accession of Babur in Farghana.
1497–98 : First voyage of Vasco di Gama to India (discovery of sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope)
1526 : First Battle of Panipat; Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi; foundation of Mughal dynasty by Babur.
1527 : Battle of Khanwa-Babur defeated Rana Sanga.
1530 : Death of Babur and accession of Humayun.
1539 : Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa and became India’s emperor.
1555 : Humayun recaptured the throne of Delhi.
1556 : Second Battle of Panipat (Bairam Khan defeated Hemu).
1556 : Battle of Talikota (Rakshasa-Tangadi).
1576 : Battle of Haldighati-Rana Pratap was defeated by Akbar.
1582 : Din-i-Ilahi founded by Akbar.
1600 : English East India Company established.
1605 : Death of Akbar and accession of Jahangir.
1606 : Execution of Guru Arjun Dev, the 5th Guru of Sikhs.
1611 : Jahangir marries Nurjahan.
1615 : Sir Thomas Roe visits Jahangir.
1627 : Birth of Shivaji and death of Jahangir.
1628 : Shahjahan becomes emperor of India.
1631 : Death of Mumtazmahal.
1634 : The English permitted to trade in India (in Bengal).
1659 : Accession of Aurangzeb, Shahjahan imprisoned.
1665 : Shivaji imprisoned by Aurangzeb.
1666 : Death of Shahjahan.
1675 : Execution of Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Guru of Sikhs.
1680 : Death of Shivaji.
1707 : Death of Aurangzeb.
1708 : Death of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs.
1739 : Nadir Shah invades India.
1757 : Battle of Plassey, establishment of British political rule in India at the hands of Lord Clive.
1761 : Third battle of Panipat.

III. Modern

1764 : Battle of Buxar.
1765 : Clive appointed Company’s Governor in India.
1767–69 : First Angle-Mysore War.
1780 : Birth of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
1780-84 : Second Anglo-Mysore War.
1784 : Pitt’s India Act.
1790-92 : Third Anglo-Mysore War.
1793 : The Permanent Settlement of Bengal.
1799 : Fourth Anglo-Mysore War;Death of Tipu Sultan. 1802 Treaty of Bassein.
1809 : Treaty of Amritsar.
1829 : Practice of Sati prohibited.
1830 : Raja Rammohan Roy visits England.
1833 : Death of Raja Rammohan Roy at Bristol, England.
1839 : Death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
1839–42 : First Anglo-Afghan War.
1845–46 : First Anglo-Sikh War.
1852 : Second Anglo-Burmese War.
1853 : First Railway line opened between Bombay and Thane and a Telegraph line in Calcutta.
1857 : The Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence.
1861 : Birth of Rabindranath Tagore.
1869 : Birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
1885 : Foundation of Indian National Congress.
1889 : Birth of Jawaharlal Nehru.
1897 : Birth of Subhash Chandra Bose.
1903 : Tibet Expedition.
1905 : Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon.
1906 : Foundation of Muslim League.
1911 : Delhi Darbar, King George V and Queen visit India; Delhi becomes the capital of India.
1914 : World War I begins.
1916 : Lucknow Pact signed by Muslim League and Congress, Foundation of BHU, Home Rule League founded.
1918 : World War I ends.
1919 : Montague-Chelmsford Reforms introduced, Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Amritsar.
1920 : Khilafat Movement launched, first meeting of All-India Trade Union Congress, Hunter Commission Report on Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Published First Non-cooperation movement launched by Gandhi.
1922 : Violent incidents at Chaura Chauri Gandhi calls of Non-cooperation movement.
1925 : Communist Party of India organised at Kanpur.
1927 : Boycott of Simon Commission, Broadcasting started in India.
1928 : Death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Nehru Report.
1929 : Resolution of ‘Poorna Swaraj’ (complete independence) passed at Lahore Session of INC.
1930 : Civil disobedience movement launched, Dandhi March by Mahatma Gandhi (April 6, 1930) First round table conference held in London.
1931 : Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Civil Disobedience movement suspended Second round table conference held.
1932 : MacDonald announces communal award (modified by Poona Pact, September 24).
1935 : Government of India Act.
1937 : Provincial Autonomy, Congress forms ministries.
1938 : All India Kishan Sabha formed.
1939 : World War II begins (September 3), Resignation of Congress Ministries in Provinces.
1941 : Escape of Subhash Chandra Bose from India and death of Rabindranath Tagore.
1942 : Arrival of Cripps Mission in India, Quit India movement launched (August 8).
1943– 44 : SC Bose forms Provisional Government of Free India and Indian National Army in Singapore; Bengal famine.
1945 : Trial of Indian National Army at Red Fort, Shimla Conference; World War II ends.
1946 : British Cabinet Mission visits India; Interim government formed at the Centre. The Muslim league decides on “Direct Action” for winning Pakistan.
1947 : Division of India; India and Pakistan form separate independent dominions.

Important National Activities During Modern India

The Indian National Congress

Formed in 1885 by A.O. Hume, an Englishman and a retired civil servant.
First session in Bombay under W.C. Banerjee in 1885 (72 delegates attended it).
In the first two decades (1885-1905), quite moderate in its approach and confined in British justice and generosity.
But the repressive measures of the British gave rise to extremists within Congress like Bipin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai (Lal, Bal, Pal).

Partition of Bengal

By Lord Curzon on October 16,1905, through a royal proclamation, reducing the old province of Bengal in size by creating East Bengal and Assam out of rest of Bengal.
The objective was to set up a communal gulf between Hindus and Muslims.
A mighty upsurge swept the country against the partition.

Swadeshi Movement (1905)

Lal, Bal, Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh played the important role.
Indian national congress took the Swadeshi call first at the Banaras Session, 1905, presided over by Gopal Krishan Gokhale.
Bonfires of foreign goods were conducted at various places.

Formation of Muslim League (1906)

Setup in 1906 under the leadership of Aga Khan, Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk.
It was a loyalist, communal and conservative political organization which supported the partition of Bengal, opposed the Swadeshi movement, demanded special safeguards to its community and a separate electorate for Muslims.

Demand for Swaraj

In December 1906 at Calcutta, the Indian National Congress and adopted ‘Swaraj’ (Self-government) as the goal of Indian peo

Surat Session of Indian National Congress (1907)

The INC split into two groups-The extremists and The moderates, at the Surat session in 1907, extremists were led by Bal, Pal, Lal while the moderates by G.K. Gokhale.

Indian Councils Act or Minto Morley Reforms (1909)

Besides other constitutional measures, it envisaged a separate electorate for Muslims.
Aimed at dividing the nationalist ranks and at rallying the Moderates and the Muslims to the Government’s side.

Ghadar Party (1913)

Formed by Lala Hardayal, Taraknath Das and Sohan Singh Bhakna.
Head Quarter was at San Francisco.

Home Rule Movement (1916)

Started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak (April, 1916) at Poona and Annie Besant and S.Subramania Iyer at Adyar, near Madras (Sept, 1916).
Objective: Self-government for India in the British Empire.
Tilak linked up the question of Swaraj with the demand for the formation of Linguistic States and education in vernacular language. He gave the slogan: Swaraj is my birth right and I will have it.

Lucknow Pact (1916)

Happened following a war between Britain and Turkey leading to anti-British feelings among Muslims.
Both INC and Muslim League concluded this (Congress accepted the separate electorates and both jointly demanded for a representative government and dominion status for the country).

August Declaration (1917)

After the Lucknow Pact, a British policy was announced which aimed at “increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration for progressive realization of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British empire”. This came to be called the August Declaration.Rowlett Act (March 18, 1919)
This gave unbridled powers to the government to arrest and imprison suspects without trial for two years maximum. This law enabled the Government to suspend the right of Habeas Corpus, which had been the foundation of civil liberties in Britain.
Caused a wave of anger in all sections. It was the first country-wide agitation by Gandhiji and marked the foundation of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919)

People were agitated over the arrest of Dr. Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal on April 10, 1919.
General O’ Dyer fires at people who assembled in the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar.
As a result, hundreds of men, women and children were killed and thousands injured.
Rabindranath Tagore returned his Knighthood in protest. Sir Shankaran Nair resigned from Viceroy’s Executive Council after this.
Hunter Commission was appointed to enquire into it.
On March 13, 1940, Sardar Udham Singh killed O’Dyer when the later was addressing a meeting in Caxton Fall, London.

Khilafat Movement (1920)

Muslims were agitated by the treatment done with Turkey by the British in the treaty that followed the First World War.
Two brothers, Mobil. Ali and Shaukat Ali started this movement.

Non-cooperation Movement (1920)

It was the first mass-based political movement under Gandhiji.
Congress passed the resolution in its Calcutta session in September 1920.

Chauri-Chaura Incident (1922)

A mob of people at Chauri-Chaura (near Gorakhpur), clashed with police and burnt 22 policemen on February 5,1922.
This compelled Gandhiji to withdraw the Non-Cooperation movement on February 12, 1922.

Simon Commission (1927)

Constituted under John Simon, to review the political situation in India and to introduce further reforms and extension of parliamentary democracy.
Indian leaders opposed the commission, as there were no Indians in it.
The Government used brutal repression and police attacks to break the popular opposition. At Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was severely beaten in a lathi charge. He succumbed to his injuries on October 30, 1928.

Lahore Session (1929)

On December 19, 1929 under the Presidentship of J. L. Nehru, the INC, at its Lahore Session, declared Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as its ultimate goal.
On December 31, 1929, the newly adopted tai-colour flag was unfurled and an 26 November, 1930 was fixed as the First Independence Day, was to be celebrated every year

Dandi March (1930)

Along with 78 followers, Gandhiji started his march from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930 for the small village Dandhi to break the salt law.
He reached the seashore on Apr. 6, 1930.
He picked a ‘handful of salt and inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Revolultionary Activities

The, first political murder of a European was committed in 1897, at Pune by the Chapekar brothers. Damodar and Balkishan. Their target was Mr. Rand, President of the Plague Commission, but Lt. Ayerst was accidentally shot.
In 1907, Madam Bhikaiji Cama, a Parsi revolutionary, unfurled the flag of India at Stuttgart Congress (of Second international).
In 1908, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki threw a bomb on the carriage of kingford, the unpopular judge of Muzaffapur. Khudiram, Kanhaiyalal Dart and Satyendranath Bose were hanged. (Alipur Case).
In 1909, M.L. Dhingra shot dead CH. William Curzon Whyllie, the political advisor of “India Office in London
In 1912, Rashbihari Base and Sachindra Nath Sanyal threw a bomb at Lord Hardinge at Delhi. (Delhi Conspiracy Case).
In October 1924, a meeting of revolutionaries from all parts of India was called at Kanpur. They setup Hindustan Socialist Republic Association/Army (HSRA).
They carried out a decoity on the Kakori bound train on the Saharanpur-Lucknow railway line on August 9, 1925.
Bhagat Singh, with his colleagues, shot dead Saunders (Asst. S. P. of Lahore, who ordered lathi charge on Lala Lajpat Rai) on December 17, 1928.
Then Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Assembly on April 8, 1929. Thus, he, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on March, 23, 1931 at Lahore Jail (Lahore Conspiracy Case) and their bodies cremated at Hussainiwala near Ferozepur.
In 1929 only Jatin Das died in Lahore jail after 63 days fast to protest against horrible conditions in jail.
Surya Sen, a revolutionary of Bengal, formed the Indian Republic Army in Bengal. In 1930, he masterminded the raid on Chittagong armoury. He was hanged in 1933. In 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself at Alfred Park in Allahabad.

First Round Table Conference (1930)

It was the first conference arranged between the British and Indians as equals. It was held on November 12, 1930 in London to discuss Simon commission.
Boycotted by INC, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Liberals and some others were there.

Gandhi Irwin Pact (1931)

Moderate Statesman, Sapru, Jaikar and Srinivas Shastri initiated efforts to break the ice between Gandhiji and the government.
The two (government represented by Irwin and INC by Gandhiji) signed a pact on March 5, 1931.
In this, the INC called off the civil disobedience movement and agreed to join the second round table conference.
The government on its part released the political prisoners and conceded the right to make salt for consumption for villages along the coast.

Second Round Table Conference (1931)

Gandhiji represented the INC and went to London to meet British P.M. Ramsay Macdonald.
However, the session was soon deadlocked on the minorities issue and this time separate electorates was demanded not only by Muslims but also by Depressed Classes, Indian Christians and Anglo-Indians.

The Communal Award (Aug 16, 1932)

Announced by Ramsay McDonald. It showed divide and rule policy of the British.
Envisaged representation of Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo Indians, women and even Backward classes.
Gandhiji, who was’ in Yeravada jail at that time, started a fast unto death against it.

Poona Pact (September 25, 1932)

After the announcement of communal award and subsequent fast of Gandhiji, mass meeting took place almost everywhere.
Political leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, B. R. Ambedkar and M. C. Rajah became active.
Eventually Poona pact was reached and Gandhiji broke his fact on the sixth day (September 25, 1932).
In this, the idea of separate electorate for the depressed classes was abandoned, but seats reserved to them in the provincial legislature were increased.

Third Round Table Conference (1932)

Proved fruitless as most of the national leaders were in prison. The discussions led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935.

Demand for Pakistan

In 1930, Iqbal suggested that the Frontier Province, Baluchistan, Sindh and Kashmir be made the Muslim State within the federation.
Chaudhary Rehmat Ali gave the term Pakistan in 1923.
Mohd. Ali Jinnah of Bombay gave it practicality.
Muslim League first passed the proposal of separate Pakistan in its Lahore session in 1940.

The Cripps Mission-1942

In December 1941, Japan entered the World War II and advanced towards Indian borders. By March 7, 1942, Rangoon fell and Japan occupied the entire S E Asia.
The British government with a view to getting co-operation from Indians sent Sir Stafford Cripps, leader of the House of Commons to settle terms with the Indian leaders.
He offered a draft which proposed dominion status to be granted after the war.
Rejected by the Congress as it didn’t want to rely upon future promises.
Gandhiji termed it as a postdated cheque in a crashing bank.

The Revolt of 1942 and The Quit India Movement

Called the Vardha Proposal and Leaderless Revolt.
The resolution was passed on August 8, 1942, at Bombay. Gandhiji gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’.’
On August 9, the Congress was banned and its important leaders were arrested.
The arrests provoked indignation among the masses and, there being no program of action, the movement became spontaneous and violent. Violence spread throughout the country.
The movement was however crushed.

The Indian National Army

Founded by Rasbehari Bose with Captain Mohan Singh.
S.C. Bose secretly escaped from India in January 1941, and reached Berlin. In July 1943, he joined the INA at Singapore. There, Rasbehari Bose handed over the leadership to him.
The soldiers were mostly raised from Indian soldiers of the British army who had been taken prisoners by the Japanese after they conquered S.E. Asia.
Two INA head quarters were Rangoon and Singapore (formed in Singapore).
INA had three fighting brigades named after Gandhiji, Azad and Nehru. Rani Jhansi Brigade was an exclusive women force.

The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

The struggle for freedom entered a decisive phase in the year 1945-46. The new Labour Party PM Lord Attlee, made a declaration on March 15, 1946, that British Cabinet Mission (comprising of Lord Pethick Lawrence as Chairman, Sir Stafford Cripps and A.V. Alexander) will visit India.
The mission held talks with the INC and ML to bring about acceptance of their proposals.
On May 16, 1946, the mission put towards its proposals. It rejected the demand for separate Pakistan.
Both Congress and Muslims League accepted it.

Formation of Interim Government (September 2, 1946)

Based on Cabinet Mission Plan, an interim government consisting of Congress nominees was formed on Sept. 2, 1946. J. L. Nehru was its Vice-President and the Governor-General remained as its President.

Jinnah’s Direct Action Resolution (August 16, 1946)

Jinnah was alarmed at the results of the elections because the Muslim League was in danger of being totally eclipsed in the constituent assembly.
Therefore, Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan on July 29, 1946.
It passed a ‘Direct action’ resolution, which condemned both the British Government and the Congress (August 16, 1946). It resulted in heavy communal riots.
Jinnah celebrated Pakistan Day on March 27, 1947.

Formation of Constituent Assembly (December 9, 1946)

The Constituent assembly met on December 9, 1946 and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as its president.

Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947)

On June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten put forward his plan which outlined the steps for the solution of India’s political problem. The outlines of the Plan were:
India to be divided into India and Pakistan.
Bengal and Punjab will be partitioned and a referendum in NEFP and Sylhet district of Assam would beheld.
There would be a separate constitutional aswmbly for Pakistan to frame its constitution.
The Princely states would enjoy the liberty to join either India or Pakistan or even remain independent.
August 15, 1947 was the date fixed for handing over power to India and Pakistan.
The British govt. passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947 in July 1947, which contained the major provisions put forward by the Mountbatten Plan.

Partition and Independence (August 1947)

All political parties accepted the Mountbatten plan.
At the time of independence, there were 562 small and big Princely States in India.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first home minister, used iron hand in this regard. By August 15, 1947, all the States, with a few exceptions like Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagarh had signed the Instrument of Accession. Goa was with the Portuguese and Pondicherry with the French.

Social and Cultural Uprising

Brahino Samaj

Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828.
Criticized Sati Pratha. casteism and advocated widow remarriage.
He was opposed to Sanskrit system of education, because he thought it would keep the country in darkness.
Other important leaders were Devenddranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore) and Keshap Chandra Sen.

Arya Samaj

Founded by Swami Dayanand (or, Moolshankar) in 1875.
His motto was ‘Go back to the vedas’ and ‘India for the Indians’. He disregarded Puranas, idol worship, casteism and untouchability. He advocated widow remarriage.
Dayanand’s views were published in his famous work, Satyarth Prakash. He also wrote Veda Bhashya Bhumika and Veda Bhashya.

Ramakrishna Mission

Founded by Vivekanand (earlier, Narendranath Dutta) (1863-1902) in 1897, 11 years after death of his guru Ram Krishna Paramhans.
Vivekanand attended the Parliament of Religion at Chicago in 1893.
Irish woman Margaret Nobel (Known as sister Nivedita) popularized it.

Young Bengal Movement

Founded by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-31). He was a teacher in Hindu College in Calcutta.
He urged the students to live and die for truth. He also supported women’s education and their rights.

Veda Samaj

Veda Samaj called Brahmo Samaj of South. Started by Sridharalu Naidu.
He translated books of Brahmo Dharma into Tamil and Telegu.

Servants of India Society

Formed by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1915.
It did notable work in providing famine relief and in improving the condition of the tribals.

Radhaswami Movement

Founded in 1861 by a banker of Agra, Tulsi Ram, popularly known as Shiv Dayal Saheb or Swami Maharaj.
The sect preached belief in one supreme being, tae Guru’s supreme position and a simple social life for the believers (the Satsangis).

Theosophical Society

Founded by Westerners who drew inspiration from Indian thought and culture.
Madam H. P. Blavatsky laid the foundation of the movement in US in 1875. Later, Col. M. S. Olcott of the US Army joined her.
In 1882, it was shifted to India at Adyar (Tamil Nadu).
Annie Besant was elected its president in 1907. She founded the Central Hindu College in 1898, which became Banaras Hindu University in 1916.