75 Days Mains Revision Plan 2024 – MODERN INDIA
MODERN INDIA
Q1. Examine the ways in which Curzon’s domestic and foreign policies aimed to reinforce British dominance in India. (10m)
Introduction
Lord Curzon served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. His policies, intended to bolster British control over India, sparked significant resentment among the Indian populace. His tenure is noted for both domestic and foreign policies that had profound and lasting impacts on the Indian nationalist movement.
Body:
Curzon’s Domestic Policies:
- Partition of Bengal (1905): Curzon viewed Bengal as the epicentre of Indian nationalism and believed that partitioning it along communal lines would weaken the nationalist movement. Bengal was divided into East and West Bengal, provoking widespread opposition.
- Opposition to Regional Consolidation: Curzon opposed the integration of regions that might foster solidarity among local communities.
- For example, he resisted incorporating Berar into the province of Bombay to prevent the consolidation of the Maratha community.
- Calcutta Corporation Act (1899): This act reduced the number of elected Indian members, ensuring a majority of British members in the Calcutta Corporation, thereby curbing Indian influence in municipal governance.
- Indian Universities Act (1904): The act sought to suppress the growing nationalist sentiments within universities by imposing stricter regulations.
- Sedition Act and Official Secrets Act (1904): These acts were designed to stifle nationalist publications and restrict press freedom, thereby controlling the spread of nationalist ideas.
- Hostility towards the Indian National Congress: Curzon employed harsh measures against Congress leaders, aiming to suppress the organization. In 1900, he expressed his ambition to see the demise of Congress.
Curzon’s Foreign Policies and Actions
- Tibet Expedition: Curzon initiated a British military expedition to Tibet under Major Younghusband to counter Russia’s influence in the region.
- The Anglo-Tibetan Treaty of Lhasa (1904) ensured Tibet could not engage with other foreign powers, effectively making it a British protectorate.
- Persian Gulf Intervention: To maintain British dominance in the Persian Gulf, Curzon sent a military expedition to Persia, securing British control and preventing any rival power from gaining a foothold.
- Buffer Zone Policy: Curzon advocated creating buffer zones to separate rival empires. Thailand served as a buffer against French expansion, Afghanistan against Russia, and Tibet against China.
- Frontier Policies: Recognizing the challenges of administering the volatile frontier regions, Curzon established the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in 1901.
- This new province, managed by a British Chief Commissioner reporting directly to the Viceroy, implemented regular payments to frontier tribes, reducing border conflicts.
Conclusion
Curzon’s policies, particularly the partition of Bengal, ignited nationalist fervour in India, leading to movements such as the Swadeshi Movement. The repression and frustration resulting from political struggles and government measures ultimately contributed to the rise of revolutionary terrorism.
Q2. How did the political mobilization in the princely states develop over time and connect to the national movement? Discuss with examples. (15 m)
Introduction
Princely states ruled by local monarchs under the suzerainty of the British Crown, witnessed a gradual but definitive rise in political consciousness and activism. Over time, the mobilization in these regions intertwined with the broader national movement, driven by both local grievances and the influence of nationalist leaders and organizations.
Body:
Early Political Mobilization
- Initial Grievances and Local Movements: In the early 20th century, political mobilization in the princely states was often driven by local grievances such as heavy taxation, lack of civil liberties, and autocratic rule.
- For instance, in Mysore, the Mysore Representative Assembly was established in 1881, providing a platform for limited political engagement.
- Influence of Nationalist Ideals: The spread of nationalist ideals from British India gradually permeated the princely states. Organizations such as the Indian National Congress (INC) began to exert influence, encouraging political activism and the demand for reforms.
- g. The Praja Mandal movement emerged as a significant force, advocating for democratic reforms and the integration of princely states into a united India.
Intensification and Broader Connectivity
- Formation of Praja Mandals: Praja Mandals were formed in various princely states to represent the interests of the people and demand greater political rights. These organizations often collaborated with the INC and other nationalist groups.
- For example, the Saurashtra Praja Mandal in Gujarat played a key role in mobilizing the people of the Kathiawar region.
- Integration with National Movements: The princely states’ political movements increasingly aligned with national campaigns such as the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34), and the Quit India Movement (1942).
- Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel actively supported and guided these movements, emphasizing the need for a united struggle against colonial rule.
Key Examples of mobilization
- Hyderabad and the Razakar Movement: The Hyderabad State witnessed significant political mobilization, particularly during the late 1940s. The Razakar movement, led by Nizam’s private army, sought to resist integration into India.
- In response, the Hyderabad State Congress and other groups intensified their efforts to mobilize the populace against the autocratic rule of the Nizam, ultimately leading to the police action by the Indian government in 1948.
- Travancore and the Temple Entry Movement: In Travancore, the Temple Entry Movement became a focal point for political mobilization. The struggle for the right of lower-caste individuals to enter temples highlighted broader issues of social justice and political rights.
- The movement, supported by the INC, played a crucial role in the eventual integration of Travancore into the Indian Union.
- Kashmir and the National Conference: The National Conference, led by Sheikh Abdullah, was instrumental in mobilizing the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Originally founded as the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1932, it later transformed into a secular party advocating for the rights of all Kashmiris.
- The Quit Kashmir Movement in 1946 exemplified the region’s connection to the broader nationalist struggle.
Conclusion
The efforts of regional leaders, and organizations, and the influence of the INC facilitated the eventual integration of these states into the Indian Union. The legacy of this mobilization is reflected in the democratic and federal structure of independent India, underscoring the importance of inclusive and participatory political processes.
ETHICS
Q3. What are the ethical principles that dictate ethics in private life? List out the source of an individual’s private ethics. 10M
Introduction:
Private relationships are often given (e.g., life partner, friends) or inherited (e.g., parents) that are relatively permanent and have more tolerance for imperfections. Ethics in private relationships refers to the basic principles and values that govern interactions with family members, life partners, friends, etc. They are based on emotional bonds rather than any formal procedure that regulates them and are therefore informal in nature.
Body:
Ethical principles that dictate private relationships are:
- Care and Affection: An emotional bond of affection and care not driven by legal rules or quid pro quo but by human emotion.
- E.g., cricketer Virat Kohli is building geriatric care for destitute people.
- Fidelity: This is the key driver of the marital relationship and the essence of the ethics of marriage. It refers to being loyal to one’s life partner and avoiding sensual distraction or committing adulterous acts.
- Confidentiality: In order to maintain the sanctity of private relationships, secrecy and privacy are of paramount importance.
- E.g., sharing the secret with close friends.
- Truthfulness: It amplifies mutual trust and strengthens the emotional bonds in such relationships.
- E.g., Narayan Murthy and Sudha Murthy married based on trust and truth.
- Responsibility and Accountability: One is bestowed with various responsibilities, such as those towards the child, life partner, and parents.
- Tolerance and acceptance of minor imperfections: One must accommodate the imperfections of others to bring peace and harmony in such relationships.
- E.g., love among the two oppositely characterized individuals.
Sources of ethics in private relationships are:
- Divine command and religion: Those who are religious and theist accept Divine commands and follow them in their personal lives to please God in order to attain salvation.
- E.g., adaptation of Bagvatgita in individual life.
- Individual experiences: Even intuition and emotions are quite crucial in understating the proper behaviour towards private relationships.
- Social conditioning: Some of the values are also learned from environmental factors that influence human beings, such as family, peer groups, society, etc.
- Law of the Land (Constitution): Some of the ethical principles are governed by legislation and constitutional values.
- E.g., not outraging the modesty of women is a fundamental duty under the Indian Constitution.
Conclusion:
As we know, relationships are an inescapable necessity in our lives since our personality is the mere manifestation of how we manage these relationships. Hence, ethics in private play a significant role in making an individual an ethically upright person.
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