A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir I.P.S. PDF Book download now - Free UPSC Materials
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Contents
Unit I
SOURCES AND APPROACHES 1
Chapter 1
Sources for the History of Modern India 3
Archival Materials 4
Central Government Archives 4
Archives of the State Governments 5
Archives of Three Presidencies 6
Archives of Other European Powers 6
Judicial Records 7
Published Archives 7
Private Archives 8
Foreign Repositories 8
Biographies, Memoirs and Travel Accounts 9
Newspapers and Journals 10
Oral Evidence 11
Creative Literature 11
Painting 12
Summary 14
Chapter 2
Major Approaches to the History of Modern India 15
Colonial Approach/ Historiography 16
Nationalist Historiography/ Approach 16
Marxist Historiography/ Approach 17
Subaltern Approach/ Historiography 18
Communalist Approach 19
Cambridge School 20
Liberal and Neo-Liberal Interpretations 20
Feminist Historiography 20
Summary 21
Unit II
ADVENT OF EUROPEANS AND 23
CONSOLIDATION OF BRITISH
POWER IN INDIA
Chapter 3
Advent of the Europeans in India 25
The Portuguese in India 25
The Quest for and Discovery of a 25
Sea Route to India
From Trading to Ruling 27
Portuguese State 31
Portuguese Lose Favour with the Mughals 34
Decline of the Portuguese 36
Significance of the Portuguese 37
The Dutch 39
Dutch Settlements 39
Anglo-Dutch Rivalry 40
Decline of the Dutch in India 41
The English 41
Charter of Queen Elizabeth I 41
Progress of the English Company 42
The French 46
Foundation of French Centres in India 46
The Anglo-French Struggle for Supremacy: the 48
Carnatic Wars
Causes for the English Success and the 55
French Failure
The Danes 58
Why the English Succeeded against 58
Other European Powers
Structure and Nature of the Trading Companies 58
Naval Superiority 59
Industrial Revolution 59
Military Skill and Discipline 59
Stable Government 59
Lesser Zeal for Religion 60
Use of Debt Market 60
Summary 61
Boxes
Portuguese Rise and Fall 37
Formative Years of the East India Company 45
Rise and Fall of Dupleix in India 51
About the Goods in Trade Initially 56
Chapter 4
India on the Eve of British Conquest 64
Challenges before the Mughals 64
External Challenges 64
Weak Rulers after Aurangzeb—An 67
Internal Challenge
Causes of Decline of Mughal Empire 69
Shifting Allegiance of Zamindars 70
Jagirdari Crisis 70
Rise of Regional Aspirations 73
Economic and Administrative Problems 74
Rise of Regional States 75
Survey of Regional Kingdoms 75
Nature and Limitations of Regional States 79
Socio-Economic Conditions 80
Agriculture 80
Trade and Industry 80
Status of Education 82
Societal Set-up 83
Development in Art, Architecture and Culture 85
Summary 86
Why Many Empire-shaking Battles at Panipat? 66
Causes of the Mughals’ Downfall in a Nutshell 74
Chapter 5
Expansion and Consolidation of British 88
Power in India
The British Imperial History 88
Was the British Conquest Accidental or Intentional? 88
When did the British Period Begin in India? 90
Causes of British Success in India 91
Superior Arms, Military and Strategy 91
Better Military Discipline and Regular Salary 92
Civil Discipline and Fair Selection System 92
Brilliant Leadership and Support of Second 92
Line Leaders
Strong Financial Backup 93
Nationalist Pride 93
British Conquest of Bengal 93
Bengal on the Eve of British Conquest 93
Alivardi Khan and the English 94
Challenges Before Siraj-ud-daula 95
The Battle of Plassey 95
Mir Kasim and the Treaty of 1760 97
The Battle of Buxar 98
The Treaty of Allahabad 100
Dual Government in Bengal (1765-72) 101
Mysore’s Resistance to the Company 102
The Wodeyar / Mysore Dynasty 102
Rise of Haidar Ali 102
First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69) 103
Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84) 104
Third Anglo-Mysore War 105
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War 106
Mysore After Tipu 109
Anglo-Maratha Struggle for Supremacy 109
Rise of the Marathas 109
Entry of the English into Maratha Politics 110
First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82) 110
Second Anglo Maratha War (1803-1805) 113
Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-19) 114
Why the Marathas Lost 116
Conquest of Sindh 118
Rise of Talpuras Amirs 118
Gradual Ascendancy over Sindh 119
Criticisms of the Conquest of Sindh 122
Conquest of Punjab 123
Consolidation of Punjab under the Sikhs 123
Ranjit Singh and the English 124
Punjab After Ranjit Singh 125
First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46) 126
Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) 128
Significance of the Anglo-Sikh Wars 129
Extension of British Paramountcy Through 129
Administrative Policy
The Policy of Ring-Fence 130
Subsidiary Alliance 130
Doctrine of Lapse 134
Relations of British India with Neighbouring 135
Countries
Anglo-Bhutanese Relations 136
Anglo-Nepalese Relations 136
Anglo-Burmese Relations 137
Anglo-Tibetan Relations 138
Anglo-Afghan Relations 139
John Lawrence and the Policy of 141
Masterly Inactivity
Lytton and the Policy of Proud Reserve 142
British India and the North-West Frontier 143
Summary