Modern Indian History key Events

• Late 15th Century: Baba Guru Nanak founds Sikhism.
• 1498: Vasco da Gama, guided by Abdul Majid, reaches Calicut (Kozhikode), initiating Portuguese trade with India.
• 1500: Pedro Alvarez Cabral travels to Calicut to trade spices and sets up a factory.
• 1501: The Portuguese establish a trade settlement at Cochin.
• Within Fifteen Years of 1498: The Portuguese destroy Arab navigation and secure their monopoly over spice trade. They establish trade settlements at Cochin, Goa, Diu, and Daman.
• 1510: The Portuguese establish a trade settlement at Panaji (Goa).
• 1528: The Portuguese establish their first factory in Bengal at Chittagong, with permission from the Bengal Sultan, Mahmud Shah.
• 1534 (23rd December): The Sultan of Gujrat signs a treaty of peace and commerce with the Portuguese, ceding Bassein and reaffirming Portuguese possession of Thana, Salsette, and Bombay.
• 1579: The Portuguese found the town of Hugli in Bengal after obtaining permission from Mughal emperor Akbar.
• End of the 16th Century: Dutch and English merchant companies enter the Eastern trade, challenging the Portuguese monopoly.
• 1602: The Dutch East India Company is formed with a Charter empowering it to make war, conclude treaties, acquire territories, and build fortresses.
• 1609: The Dutch land in Pulicat and, with permission from Queen Eraivi (wife of the Vijayanagar King Venkata II), establish a factory for trading in textiles and diamonds.
• 1641: The Dutch conquer Malacca from the Portuguese.
• 1654: Intermittent war between the Dutch and English in India begins.
• 1658: The Dutch conquer Ceylon from the Portuguese.
• 1663: The Dutch conquer Cochin from the Portuguese.
• 1667: The war between the Dutch and English in India ends with the English giving up claims to Indonesia and the Dutch agreeing to leave English settlements in India alone.
• 1699: Raja Sawai Jai Singh becomes the ruler of Amber.
• 1700: Murshid Quli Khan is appointed Diwan of Bengal.
• 1707-1712: Bahadur Shah (Shah Alam I) reigns as Mughal Emperor.
• 1711: Daud Khan Panni, deputy governor of Deccan, concludes an agreement with Maratha King Shahu, giving Shahu the right to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of the Deccan (collected by Mughal officials).
• 1712-1713: Jahandar Shah reigns as Mughal Emperor.
• 1713: Shahu makes Balaji Vishwanath his Peshwa.
• 1713-1719: Farrukh Siyar reigns as Mughal Emperor. Saiyid brothers sign an agreement with King Shahu, giving him Swarajya and the right to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of six provinces of the Deccan.
• 1717: Murshid Quli Khan becomes Governor of Bengal and establishes dynastic rule.
• 1719-1748: Muhammad Shah reigns as Mughal Emperor.
• 1720: Baji Rao I succeeds Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa.
• 1720-1722: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I consolidates his hold over the Deccan.
• 1722: Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk is appointed Governor (Subahdar) of Avadh and establishes an autonomous kingdom. Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I becomes Wazir of the Mughal Empire but his reform efforts are obstructed by Muhammad Shah.
• 1723: Saadat Khan carries out a fresh revenue settlement in Awadh.
• 1724: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I founds the Hyderabad State.
• 1725: The French open their factory at Mahe (on the Malabar coast).
• 1729: King Martanda Varma becomes the ruler of Travancore.
• 1731: The Swedish East India Company is formed, focusing on trade with China.
• 1739: Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk dies. Safdar Jang succeeds him as Nawab of Avadh. Chimaji Appa defeats the Portuguese and captures Salsette and Bassein. The French open their factory at Karikal.
• 1739-1754: Safdar Jang serves as Nawab of Awadh, forming an alliance with Maratha sardars.
• 1740-1761: Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb) is the Peshwa, during which Maratha power reaches its zenith.
• 1743: Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber dies.
• 1748-1754: Ahmad Shah reigns as Mughal Emperor.
• 1767: Raja Prithvi Narayan Shah leads the Gorkha army to attack the Kathmandu Valley, disrupting trade between Nepal and Patna.
• 1774: The English take Bassein but later return it.
• 1780: The English take Bassein again but later return it.
• 1784: Emperor Shah Alam gives Mahadji Sindhia the management of Delhi and Agra in return for a monthly allowance.
• 1790: Sardar Mahan Singh, Chief of the Sukerchakia Misl, dies. His son, Ranjit Singh, becomes the chief.
• 1793: The Permanent Settlement System of land revenue collection is introduced.
• 1801: Ranjit Singh takes control of Sikh Misls west of the Sutlej and establishes the autonomous state of Punjab. Saadat Ali Khan II of Awadh signs the Subsidiary Alliance Treaty.
• 1802: Under the Treaty of Bassein, Bassein becomes British territory during the reign of Bajirao II.
• 1806-1837: Akbar Shah II reigns as Mughal Emperor.
• 1809: The British sign the Treaty of Friendship with the Amir of Sindh, agreeing to exclude the French and exchange agents.
• 1814-1816: Anglo-Nepal War.
• 1816: The Treaty of Sugauli is signed, ending the Anglo-Nepal War.
• 1820: The Ryotwari system of land revenue collection is introduced in parts of South India.
• 1822: The Mahalwari System of land revenue collection is introduced. Jagannath Shankarshet assumes responsibility for the family business after his father's death.
• 1824: The Bombay Native Institution is founded (later becomes Elphinstone Educational Institution). The First Anglo-Burmese War begins.
• 1824-1826: First Anglo-Burmese War.
• 1826: The Treaty of Yandabo is signed, ending the First Anglo-Burmese War.
• 1830-1834: Civil Disobedience Movement.
• 1832: William Bentinck sends Colonel Pottinger to Sindh to sign a treaty opening roads and rivers to British trade but prohibiting movement of English troops. Harijan Sevak Sangh (All-India Anti-Untouchability League) is established.
• 1833: William Bentinck makes changes to the Mahalwari system. Harijan weekly paper is started.
• November 7, 1833: Gandhi embarks on a nine-month country-wide tour against untouchability.
• 1835: The Elphinstone College is established with Jagannath Shankarsheth's help.
• 1837-1857: Bahadur Shah Zafar reigns as Mughal Emperor.
• 1839: Debendranath Tagore founds the Tatvabodhini Sabha. The Amirs of Sindh agree to a treaty with the British, stationing a subsidiary force and paying an annual tribute. Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk dies. Safdar Jang succeeds him as Nawab of Avadh.
• 1840: The Bombay Native Institution's name changes to the Board of Education.
• 1843: Debendranath Tagore joins and reorganizes the Brahmo Samaj. On 17 February, British forces under Sir Charles Napier defeat the Amir and conquer Sindh at the Battle of Miani. Sindh is annexed and made part of the Bombay Presidency.
• 1843 (Sindh): The Conquest of Sindh occurs.
• 1845: The Grant Medical College is established with Jagannath Shankarsheth's help. The First Anglo-Sikh War begins.
• 1845-1849: British fight two Anglo-Sikh Wars.
• 1848: Satara becomes the first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse.
• 1848-1856: Lord Dalhousie is the Governor-General of India and uses the Policy of Doctrine of Lapse.
• 1849: Punjab is annexed after the Anglo-Sikh Wars.
• 1855: The Government Law College is established with Jagannath Shankarsheth's help.
• 1856: The Board of Education's name changes to the Elphinstone Educational Institution.
• 1857: The Bombay University is established with Jagannath Shankarsheth's help.
• 1858: Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati is born.
• 1880-1901: Abdur Rahman Khan rules Afghanistan.
• 1888-1891: Gandhi is in London studying law.
• 1891: Gandhi returns to India after qualifying as a barrister.
• 1893: Gandhi goes to South Africa to assist Dada Abdullah with a civil suit.
• 1894-1906: Moderate Phase of Gandhi's political activities in South Africa.
• 1895: Birsa Munda declares that God appointed him to save his people.
• 1906: The Transvaal government introduces an ordinance requiring Indian citizens to carry passes and register with fingerprints. Passive Resistance Phase of Gandhi's political activities in South Africa begins.
• 1909: Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) are implemented, including limited right to ask supplementary questions in legislative councils.
• 1911-1948: Osman Ali Khan is the Last Nizam of Hyderabad.
• 1914-1918: First World War.
• 1917: Champaran Satyagraha, the First Civil Disobedience Movement in India, led by Gandhi.
• 1918: Ahmedabad Mill Strike and Kheda Satyagraha led by Gandhi.
• 1919: Government of India Act of 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) divides central and provincial subjects.
• February 24, 1919: Gandhi forms a Satyagraha Sabha in Bombay to protest against the Rowlatt Bills.
• April 1930: Surya Sen leads a raid on the government armoury in Chittagong under the banner of the Indian Republican Army, Chittagong Branch. C. Rajagopalachari starts the Vedaranyam March to break the salt law.
• March 12, 1930: Gandhi starts the Salt March (Dandi March) from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 followers.
• March 12, 1930 – April 6, 1930: Dandi March (Salt March).
• April 5, 1930: Gandhi reaches Dandi.
• April 6, 1930: Mahatma Gandhi and his followers break the Salt Act by producing salt from seawater, launching the Civil Disobedience Movement. P. Krishna Pillai participates in the Salt March from Kozhikode to Payyannur.
• March-December 1931: Civil Disobedience is suspended.
• February 2, 1931: Bhagat Singh writes his final advice to young political workers.
• 1932-1934: Revival of Civil Disobedience.
• May 1933: Gandhi is released from prison and devotes himself to the campaign against untouchability.
• 1936: Sindh is separated from the Bombay Presidency.
• February 17, 1946 (Night): Ratings of "HMIS Talwar" in Bombay Harbour refuse to eat dinner due to poor food quality.
• February 18, 1946: Ratings of "HMIS Talwar" go on strike in Bombay Harbour, initiating the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny.
• August 1959: The Nagpur resolution of the Congress calls for land ceilings, state takeover of food grain trade, and adoption of cooperative farming.
• 1962: C. Rajagopalachari leads a delegation to the USA to plead for a ban on nuclear tests.

• Bahadur Shah (Shah Alam I): Mughal Emperor from 1707 to 1712. His administration deteriorated, and state finances worsened due to reckless grants. Adopted a policy of conciliation towards Rajputs and initially towards Sikhs, later campaigning against Banda Bahadur.
• Jahandar Shah: Mughal Emperor from 1712 to 1713. The Ijarah System of revenue collection became widespread during his time.
• Farrukh Siyar: Mughal Emperor from 1713 to 1719. The Saiyid brothers signed an agreement with Maratha King Shahu during his reign.
• Muhammad Shah: Mughal Emperor from 1719 to 1748. Obstructed Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I's reform efforts. Granted the French permission to mint coins with the Mughal Emperor's stamp.
• Ahmad Shah: Mughal Emperor from 1748 to 1754.
• Alamgir II: Mughal Emperor from 1754 to 1759.
• Shah Alam II: Mughal Emperor from 1759 to 1806. Escorted from Allahabad Fort by Mahadji Sindhia. Gave Mahadji Sindhia management of Delhi and Agra.
• Akbar Shah II: Mughal Emperor from 1806 to 1837.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar: Mughal Emperor from 1837 to 1857.
• Baba Guru Nanak: Founder of Sikhism (late 15th century) and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
• Guru Gobind Singh: Under his leadership, the Sikhs became a political and military force.
• Banda Bahadur: Rebel Sikh figure against whom Bahadur Shah I led a campaign.
• Vasco da Gama: Portuguese explorer who reached Calicut in 1498, initiating Portuguese trade with India.
• Abdul Majid: Gujarati pilot who guided Vasco da Gama to Calicut.
• Zamorin: Ruler of Calicut who initially welcomed Vasco da Gama.
• Pedro Alvarez Cabral: Portuguese who travelled to Calicut in 1500 to trade spices and set up a factory.
• Sultan Mahmud Shah: Sultan of Bengal who gave the Portuguese permission to establish their first factory at Chittagong in 1528.
• Akbar: Mughal Emperor who gave the Portuguese permission to found the town of Hugli in 1579.
• Sultan of Gujrat: Signed a treaty of peace and commerce with the Portuguese in 1534, ceding Bassein.
• Queen Eraivi: Wife of Vijayanagar King Venkata II, who gave the Dutch permission to establish a factory in Pulicat in 1609.
• Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I: Founder of the Hyderabad State in 1724. Leading noble of the post-Aurangzeb era, served as Subadar of the Deccan and Wazir of the Mughal Empire.
• Nasir Jung: Nizam of Hyderabad (1748-1750).
• Muzaffar Jung: Nizam of Hyderabad (1750-1751).
• Salabat Jung: Nizam of Hyderabad (1751-1762).
• Osman Ali Khan: Last Nizam of Hyderabad (1911-1948).
• Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk: Appointed Governor (Subahdar) of Avadh in 1722, established the autonomous kingdom of Avadh.
• Safdar Jang: Nephew and successor of Saadat Khan, appointed Nawab of Awadh in 1739. Suppressed rebellious zamindars and formed an alliance with Maratha sardars.
• Shuja-ud-Daula: Nawab of Awadh (1754-1775). The Battle of Panipat and the Battle of Buxar were fought during his rule.
• Saadat Ali Khan II: Nawab of Awadh (1798-1814). Signed the Subsidiary Alliance Treaty in 1801.
• Wajid Ali Shah: Nawab of Awadh (1847-1856). His state was annexed by the British.
• Murshid Quli Khan: Appointed Diwan of Bengal in 1700 and became Governor in 1717, establishing dynastic rule.
• Shuja-ud-din: One of the rulers who made Bengal virtually independent alongside Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan.
• Alivardi Khan: One of the rulers who made Bengal virtually independent alongside Murshid Quli Khan and Shuja-ud-din.
• Shivaji: Maratha King whose kingdom's territories were granted as Swarajya to Shahu.
• Shahu: Maratha King who made Balaji Vishwanath his Peshwa and concluded agreements with Daud Khan Panni and the Saiyid brothers.
• Balaji Vishwanath: First Peshwa of the Maratha state (1713-1720). Made the Peshwa the de facto ruler of the Maratha Empire. Signed a pact with the Saiyid brothers.
• Baji Rao I: Succeeded Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa in 1720. Considered the greatest of all the Peshwas and "the greatest exponent of guerrilla tactics after Shivaji".
• Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb): Peshwa from 1740 to 1761. Maratha power reached its zenith during his rule.
• Daud Khan Panni: Deputy governor of Deccan who concluded an agreement with Maratha King Shahu in 1711.
• Zulfiqar Khan: Confirmed the agreement between Daud Khan Panni and Maratha King Shahu.
• Saiyid brothers: Mughal officials who signed an agreement with King Shahu.
• Mahadji Sindhia: Prominent Maratha ruler (Sardar) in the North. Escorted Shah Alam from Allahabad Fort and mediated the Treaty of Salbai. Organised a powerful army and established control over Emperor Shah Alam.
• Sardar Mahan Singh: Chief of the Sukerchakia Misl and father of Ranjit Singh.
• Ranjit Singh: Son of Sardar Mahan Singh. Took control of Sikh Misls to the West of Sutlej and established the autonomous state of Punjab in 1801.
• Hyder Ali: Prioritised war and increased military capacity, modernising his army.
• Tipu Sultan: Prioritised war and increased military capacity, modernising his army. Increased the state's income by reducing hereditary holdings of poligars, preventing unlawful tax collections, and eliminating the practice of granting jagirs.
• Martanda Varma: King of Travancore (ruled from 1729). Organised a strong army, undertook irrigation works, built roads and canals, encouraged foreign trade, and defeated the Dutch.
• Raja Sawai Jai Singh: Most well-known Rajput ruler, ruled Jaipur (Amber) from 1699 to 1743. Founded the city of Jaipur based on scientific principles, established observatories, and attempted social reforms.
• Captain Alexander Reed: Tried the Ryotwari Settlement on a small scale in areas taken over after the wars with Tipu Sultan.
• Thomas Munro: Governor of Madras who developed and expanded the Ryotwari system.
• William Bentinck: Governor General of India who sent Colonel Pottinger to Sindh to sign a treaty in 1832 and made changes to the Mahalwari system in 1833.
• Lord Auckland: Governor General of India (1836-1842). The British EIC clashed with Dost Muhammad of Afghanistan during his tenure.
• Lord Ellenborough: Governor General of India in 1842. Wanted to secure the western boundaries of British India and annexed Sindh in 1843.
• Sir Charles Napier: British commander who defeated the Amir and conquered Sindh at the Battle of Miani in 1843.
• Lord Dalhousie: Governor-General of India (1848-1856). Used the Policy of Doctrine of Lapse to annex Indian princely states.
• Raja Prithvi Narayan Shah: Led the Gorkha army to attack the Kathmandu Valley in 1767.
• Dost Muhammad: Figure in Afghanistan with whom the British EIC clashed during Lord Auckland's tenure.
• Abdur Rahman Khan: Ruled Afghanistan from 1880 to 1901. A joint Anglo-Russian Boundary Commission was formed during his reign.
• Cornwallis: Modernised the old Indian system of Thanas, putting India ahead of Britain in police system development. Relieved zamindars of police functions.
• Birsa Munda: Declared that God had appointed him to save his people in 1895 and started his religion, Birsait. Aimed at reforming tribal society.
• Shah Mal: His men destroyed the bridge of boats over the Yamuna in Baghpat and disrupted English communication lines. Sent supplies to mutinous sepoys in Delhi. Took over an English officer's bungalow and transformed it into a "hall of justice".
• Debendranath Tagore: Father of Rabindranath Tagore. Founded the Tatvabodhini Sabha in 1839 and started the Tatvabodhini Patrika. Joined, reorganised, and revitalised the Brahmo Samaj in 1843.
• Rammohun Roy: His ideas were propagated by the Tatvabodhini Sabha.
• Derozio: His followers were included in the Tatvabodhini Sabha.
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: Included in the Tatvabodhini Sabha.
• Akshay Kumar Dutt: Included in the Tatvabodhini Sabha.
• Jagannath Shankarshet (Nana Shankarsheth): Social reformer, educationist, and philanthropist (1803-1865). Made significant contributions to Mumbai and is called the architect of Modern Bombay. One of the founders of the Native School of Mumbai. Played a role in establishing Elphinstone College, Grant Medical College, Government Law College, and Bombay University.
• Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy: Legendary merchant and philanthropist who inspired Jagannath Shankarshet.
• Robert Grant: Governor of Bombay in whose memory the Grant Medical College was established.
• Dadoba Pandurang: Extended support to the Students' Literary and Scientific Society.
• Bhau Daji: Extended support to the Students' Literary and Scientific Society.
• Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati: Indian social reformer (1858-1922). First woman to be awarded the title of Pandita. Moved to Pune to work for the emancipation of women.
• Bipin Behari Medhvi: Non-Brahmin Bengali lawyer whom Pandita Ramabai married.
• Bhandarkar: Supported Pandita Ramabai's efforts in Pune.
• Justice Ranade: Supported Pandita Ramabai's efforts in Pune.
• Swami Dayanand: Regarded the Vedas as infallible but took a rationalist approach to their interpretation.
• Mahatma Gandhi: Indian leader who vehemently opposed the Rowlatt Bills, referring to them as a "Black Law". Formed a Satyagraha Sabha to protest the bills. Deployed Satyagraha in Champaran, Ahmedabad, and Kheda. Embarked on a country-wide tour against untouchability. Launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the Salt March.
• M.A. Jinnah: Opposed the Rowlatt Bills and warned the government of dangerous consequences.
• Bhagat Singh: Believed revolution was not associated with the bomb cult. Threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly with B.K. Dutt.
• B.K. Dutt: Threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly with Bhagat Singh.
• Surya Sen: Gathered a band of revolutionary youth and led a raid on the Chittagong armoury in 1930.
• Anant Singh, Ganesh Ghosh, Ambika Chakravarty, Loknath Pau: Revolutionary youth who joined Surya Sen.
• Sarojini Naidu, Dr Sumant, Abbas Tyabji, Mithuben Petit: Joined the Dandi March in Dandi.
• P. Krishna Pillai: Participated in the Salt March from Kozhikode to Payyannur and defended the national flag against police attack.
• Sharma: Fought with Krishna Pillai to get the flag back from the police during the Salt March.
• C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji): Started the Vedaranyam March to break the salt law. Second Chief Minister of Madras state (1952-1954). Among the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna. Proponent of peace and opposed the use of nuclear weapons. Led a delegation to the USA to plead for a ban on nuclear tests in 1962.
• Viceroy Irwin: Viceroy of India from 1926 to 1931. Gandhi sent him a letter stating eleven demands. Unwilling to negotiate, leading to the Salt March.
• Lord Willingdon: Viceroy of India from 1931 to 1936. Formally inaugurated the Vanita Vishram by Lord Willingdon.
• Lord Linlithgow: Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943.
• Lord Wavell: Viceroy of India from 1943 to 1947.
• Lord Mountbatten: Viceroy of India from 1947 to 1947 and Governor-General of India from 1947 to 1948. Proposed the Mountbatten Plan (3rd June Plan) to divide India.
• Jawaharlal Nehru: First Indian Prime Minister. Governor-General Lord Mountbatten served under him. Rajaji served under him as Governor-General. Opposed the Cabinet Mission Plan.
• Mohan Singh: Came up with the idea of forming the Indian National Army (INA) in Malaya. Formed the INA in Singapore in 1942.

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