Modern Indian History: 1857 to Independence

Modern Indian History: 1857 to Independence

RRB NTPC asks factual questions on dates, persons and events of the freedom struggle.

Key timeline

• 1857 – Revolt begins at Meerut (10 May). Leaders: Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Saheb, Begum Hazrat Mahal.
• 1858 – Rule passes from the East India Company to the Crown.
• 1885 – INC founded by A.O. Hume; first president W.C. Bonnerjee.
• 1905 – Partition of Bengal (Lord Curzon) → Swadeshi Movement.
• 1917 – Champaran Satyagraha.
• 1919 – Rowlatt Act; Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13 April, Amritsar).
• 1920–22 – Non-Cooperation; withdrawn after Chauri Chaura.
• 1929 – Lahore Session: Purna Swaraj.
• 1930 – Dandi March / Civil Disobedience.
• 1942 – Quit India (8 August), "Do or Die".
• 1947 – Independence on 15 August.

Exam tips

• Pair each event with its year and place.
• First Viceroy: Lord Canning (1858).

Analogy

Think of the freedom struggle as a long railway journey from 1857 to 1947. 1857 is the first station where the train was flagged off, but it stalled. In 1885 the INC became the engine. Gandhi's movements — Non-Cooperation (1920), Dandi March (1930) and Quit India (1942) — are big junctions where millions of passengers boarded. 15 August 1947 is the final destination. Remember the stations in order and the dates fall into place.