Finally, 100 years later, in 1857 a number of Indians rose up and revolted. This angry outburst that has never before or after been witnessed by India became an important chapter in history books.

This has been termed as ‘The Revolt of 1857′, ‘Sepoy Movement’ and the ‘First War of Independence’. In his book, ‘Discovery of India’, the first Prime Minister of Independent India defined it as the ‘Feudal Revolt of 1857. He also wrote, “It was much more than a military mutiny and rapidly spread and assumed the character of a popular rebellion and a was of Indian Independence.”

This revolt was ignited by the Indian soldiers serving the East India Company. However, its impact spread and common people across the nation began to fight the British. This lasted over a year. The British simply called it the ‘Sepoy Mutiny’, trying to brush it aside.

The following are the causes for the revolt :
Economic downfall
Social causes
Religious causes
Political causes
Military causes

Reasons for the Revolt’s failure :
No planning
No organization
No leadership

The impact of the Revolt :
End of the rule of the Company
Alteration in the British Policy towards the Indian States
Conclusion of Peshwaship
End of the Mughal Rule
The Army was reorganized
India was economically exploited
Nationalism began to rise
Introduction of Policy of Divide and Rule

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While taking a look at the history of Indian freedom struggle, one needs to first look into the events that led to the need for struggle in the first place. And this dates back to the time the Europeans laid foot on Indian shores. The British came to India to make her a colony. And this is where the story begins…

Given here is the chronology of major events from 1757 to 1947 – the period from colonization to becoming Independent India…

1757 : The British defeat Siraj-ud-Daulah at the battle of Plassey.

1760 : The British defeat the French at the battle of Wandiwash.

1764 : The British defeat Mir Kasim at the battle Buxar.

1765 : The British bring the Diwani Rights into Bengal, Orissa and Bihar.

1767-1769 : The British enter into a humiliating peace pact with the ruler of Mysore – Hyder Ali.

1772 : Warren Hastings is appointed to the post Governor of Bengal.

1773 : The British Parliament passes the Regulating Act.

1774 : Warren Hastings is made the Governor-General.

1775 : The defeat the king of Mysore – Hyder Ali.

1784 : The Pitts India Act is introduced.

1799 : The British defeat Tipu Sultan

1803-1805 : The British defeat the Marathas.

1817-1819 : The Maratha rule is completely crushed by the British.

1831 : The east India Company takes overpowers the Raja of Mysore.

1833 : The Company’s trading rights is abolished.

1848 : Lord Dalhousie appointed to the post of Governor-General.

1857 : the Sepoy Mutiny, which was the first battle for Indian Independence.

1858 : The Indian Government is taken over by the British Crown.

1861 : Introduction of the Indian Councils Act, Indian High Courts Act and the Penal Code.

1877 : The Queen of England is introduced as Empress of India.

1885 : The first formal meeting of the Indian National congress was held.

1899 : Lord Curzon is appointed as Governor-General, as well as Viceroy.

1906 : The Muslim League was formed and Congress makes the declaration for Swaraj.

1908 : The Newspaper Paper Act was introduced.

1912 : The capital of the imperial was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.

1919 : Massacre at Jalianwalla Bagh

1921 : Mahatma Gandhi takes over leadership of Congress; beginning of the Non-co-operation Movement.

1922 : Civil Disobedience Movement.

1923 : Salt tax is certified.

1927 : The Simon Commission was appointed.

1928 : The Simon Commission arrives in India and is boycotted all the Indian parties.

1929 : Lord Irwin promises to provide Dominion status for the nation; the National flag of India is hoisted by Jawaharlal Nehru in Lahore.

1930 : Salt Satygraha, which took the form of the Dandi March; also the First Round Table Conference.

1931 : The pact between Irwin and Gandhi; as well as the Second Round Table Conference.

1932 : Third Round Table Conference.

1935 : Introduction of the Government of India Act.

1942 : Congress brings to the fore Quit India resolution; Indian National Army formed by Subash Chandra Bose; Cripps Mission.

3rd June 1947 : Lord Mountbatten announces his plan for partition of India.

15th August : India Independence; as well as India-Pakistan partition.

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The Mughals adopted Islam, and absorbed the Middle Eastern culture (especially Persian).

It is interesting to note that while the Mughals brought the widespread of Islam in India, yet they were not the ones to introduce this religion to the nation. It was the Muslim forces, which brought their religions as far back as the 7th century AD.

Babur is regarded as the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. His rule extended from 1483 to 1530. He originally ruled over Turkestan, as small kingdom, from where he extended his supremacy to Kabul in 1504. It was after this that he moved into India and established his kingdom extending from Turkestan to Deccan India.

Humayun, Babur’s son, took over the Mughal throne. Initially, he lost most of his father’s empire, but in 1555 he began regaining all that he lost. Though as a ruler and invader he was successful, yet his affinity towards the Persian culture grew by leaps and bounds, which he instilled in his son and successor to the Mughal throne – Akbar.

Mughal Indian history saw a turning point with Akbar. He is considered to be the greatest king of the history of India. He ascended at the young and raw age of thirteen. Akbar ruled and expanded his kingdom from 1556 to 1605, by which time he was ruling over almost all of north India.

Akbar was then succeeded by his son Jahangir. His reign was dated from 1605 to 1628. He did not really expand the Mughal Empire too much, only reaching till Bengal in East India. Jahangir spent more time in patronizing the arts, rather than indulging in rigorous invasions and conquests. However, his tenure as ruler is regarded as the richest era of Mughal culture in India.

Shah Jahan succeeded his father, Jahangir, to the Mughal throne. He had shifted the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. He also began some of the greatest architectural projects in north India. The most magnificent of them being the Taj Mahal in Agra… A tribute to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Shah Jahan was succeeded by his son Aurangzeb, who expanded the Mughal Empire to its maximum limits ever. However, while Aurangzeb went on expanding his empire, it was also during his reign that the Mughal Empire began to disintegrate.

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Ancient India has been a dynamic culture. There has been no constancy with progressing times. It has witnessed and suffered at the hands of invaders. But all the same, it has integrated within its progressive existence the multi-cultures that came here. This included religions, way of life, art and architecture, etc.

India, along the ages, came to be home for every religion of the world. So, in spite of being essentially a Hindu nation, it embraced Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, as well as gave rise to off shoots of Hinduism. And today, the nation is proud to be united in spite of the religious and cultural diversity.

While ancient India saw the birth of Hinduism, with passing time they let other religions come to be a part of the growing nation. The nation was the richest in the world. That is the cause of constant plundering. Poverty was never a part of the nation.

The way of life of the nation in the ancient time was wealthy, happy, culturally rich, and healthy. It was a natural way of living. However, one of the major negative aspects that were growing was the stringent caste and class system.

Given here is a brief chronological view of the India in its ancient era :

Indus Valley Civilization : 3200-1600 BC

Aryan Invasion : 1600-1500 BC

Birth of Gautama Buddha – the founder of Buddhism : 563 BC

Birth of Mahavira – the founder of Jainism : 540 BC

Alexander the Great first invades India : 327-326 BC

The rule of Ashoka : 273-232 BC

The end of the Maurya rule in India : 184 BC

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