CLASS VIII
Chapter 8 The Modern Period
Reference Notes
PERIODISATION
Modern Period of Indian history which began in the eighteenth century after
1707 when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb breathed his last. The crumbling of
the old system gave place to new ideas and many new powers emerged on the
political horizon of India.
ARRIVALS OF EUROPEANS
√The ever-changing political scenario heralded the dawn of modern period
especially with the coming of Europeans to India.
√ During this period India was exploited politically, socially, economically and
culturally.
√ The East India Company was established as a trading company but it took
advantage of the political instability and gradually took over the control of a
large part of India.
√ In 1858 the power went into the hands of British crown.
MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE EAST INDIA COMPANY TO EXTEND ITS CONTROL
OVER INDIA
√The nineteenth century witnessed various measures adopted by East India
Company to extend and consolidate its control over India like military action,
introduction of railways, postal service, passing different acts etc.
√ The Revolt of 1857 was a major event but the colonial power suppressed it
ruthlessly.
√The British rule continued over India but the discontentment against the
colonial power strengthened the national movement.
√The establishment of Indian National Congress in 1885 had far reaching
effects
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MAJOR EVENTS OF 20th CENTURY
Partition of Bengal, Formation of Muslim League, Formation of Home Rule
League, Jallianwala Bagh massacre etc are some of the major events of 20th
century. The British government introduced a series of reforms to pacify
Indians and to weaken the freedom struggle.
END OF BRITISH ERA
India was able to end the British rule in 1947 Under the leadership of Mahatma
Gandhi and many other national leaders. Unfortunately,India was divided into
two countries- India and Pakistan
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
SOURCE INFORMATION FROM THE EXAMPLES
SOURCE
The condition of the people as Reforms- Morley Minto
BRITISH well as administration of that Reforms (1909), Report of
DOCUMENT time. the Simon Commission
(1929), Government of
A lot of information of the various India Act (1935).
bills that were passed by the
British parliament. Bills- Ilbert Bill, Arms Bill.
Poetry/prose/drama/stories/auto Anandmath by Bankim
BOOKS biographies/biographies written Chandra Chattopadhyay,
in this duration give us an insight My Experiments with
into the conditions of that time. Truth by Mahatma
Gandhi,
Unhappy Indians by Lala
Lajpat Rai.
The development that take place Collection of writings of
LETTER, during a particular period. Gandhiji at the Gandhi
WRITINGS, Smriti near Rajghat has a
SPEECHES library with around
60,000 books and 6000
original photographs of
Gandhiji.
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Slogans tell us about the patriotic ‘Freedom is our birth
feelings and the national fervour right’ slogan given by Bal
during our struggle for Gangadhar Tilak
independence. ‘You give me blood and I
will give you freedom ’
slogan given by Subash
Chandra Bose.
Day to day events that took place. London Times, Bombay
NEWSPAPERS Times, vernacular
newspaper Kesari by Bal
Gangadhar Tilak in
Marathi, Amrita Bazar
Patrika in Bengali.
ADMINISTRAT The basic objective behind the Report on the survey and
IVE REPORTS surveys and reports of the British settlement operations in
OF THE government was to learn about the District of Champaran
GOVERNMEN India before it could be (1913-19) in Bihar.
T administered effectively.
Collection of documents in an Digital South Asia Library
INTERNET OR organised electronic form and the British Library’s
DATABASE available on internet. Oriental and Indian Office
Collections.
OLD Tell us the tales of the past, many Victoria Terminus –
BUILDING, people who participated in the Mumbai
ARTIFACTS freedom struggle and saw the Gateway of India-
AND PEOPLE important changes share their Mumbai
experiences which throw light on Victoria Memorial-
the people and the conditions Kolkata
that existed. Rashtrapati Bhawan- New
Delhi.
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