India And The Commonwealth 1885 1829

The story of the transformation of the old British Empire into the modern Commonwealth had often been told from the point of view of Great Britain and the ‘white dominions’. No attempt had so far been made to describe the decisive role of India in the shaping of the multi-racial Commonwealth of today. Originally published in 1965, the main theme of this work by an Indian author is the growth of the idea of Commonwealth in India from 1885, the year in which the Indian National Congress was organized, to 1929, when Congress declared ‘complete independence’ to be its goal. What did the British Empire mean to early Indian nationalists? How did the ideal of self-government of India on the Dominion model grow? What was India’s continued association with the Commonwealth valued in India and in Britain? Answers to these and similar questions are attempted in this book. Despite its great importance, the role of India in the Commonwealth in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries had received little attention from scholars. Dr Mehrotra’s clear, incisive, informed and balanced study was therefore the more welcome, not only for its source, but because it lent a new dimension to our understanding of India’s part in defining and enlarging the idea of Commonwealth. It is an important contribution to Commonwealth and to modern Indian history.

The author, a professor of history at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, presents a comprehensive survey of Commonwealth history from the time of soul-searching about the future of the British Empire, which marked the middle years of Queen Victoria’s reign, to the year when Britain decided to enter the European Community. The account is divided in three periods - 1869 to 1917, 1917 to 1941, and 1942 to 1971. Within each period a four-fold thematic divisions is followed: Dominions, Indian Empire, crown colonies, and protectorates.

The history of the Indian national movement deserves to be better studied and known than has been the case so far. It was marked by a great deal of heroism and sacrifice on the part of the Indian people. The fifteen essays included in this book deal with the problems of the national movement, constitutional development and political unity in India during the period of British rule. They bring out the uniqueness both of the Indian challenge and the British response to it.

The establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885 marked a turning point in modern South Asian history. At the time, few grasped the significance of the event, nor understood the power that its leader would come to wield. From humble beginnings, the Congress led by Gandhi would go on to spearhead India s fight for independence from British rule: in 1947 it succeeded the British Raj as the regional ruling power. Ian Copland provides both a narrative and analysis of the process by which Indians and Pakistanis emancipated themselves from the seemingly iron-clad yoke of British imperialism. In so doing, he goes to the heart of what sets modern India apart from most other countries in the region its vigorous democracy.

Did you know that India is the birthplace of four religions--Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism? The Indian culture is a spicy blend of customs, traditions, religions and languages, not just derived from its diverse states, but also from its Muslim and European rulers. The home of the Himalayas, the Taj Mahal and the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, this country has contributed to arts, science and world cuisine significantly. As part of the Asiapac Culture series, this book offers a glimpse at the origins of the Indian people and their religious and social customs. You can find out about the different gods that Hindus pray to, why Sikhs wear a turban and the reasons for celebrating Deepavali. This is the book to read if you would like a quick guide to Indian culture and many aspects of their lives.