Dictionary of History of India

Bheel Corps

2011-12-05T03:33:00.000+05:30

Bheeln(Bhil) Corps was raised by James Outram. It was raised in 1827 in Khandesh. It was a part of a policy of Governor Elphinstone.

Special Note: The nationalist historians make too much efforts to declare invader an invader. There are many such actions undertaken by invaders which could be a lesson for present to find solution to many problems. Alas, Indian Historiography lacks too much. There are strong biases, constraints and pressures which are hampering in its growth.

Battle of Swally 1612

2011-10-24T05:55:00.001+05:30

Battle of Swally:
It was fought between Portuguese and English in 1612.

The Portuguese did not like the establishment of the factory at Surat. They invaded it. Captain Best, who established the factory defeated them.

Surat remained the seat of the British activity in India upto 1686.

Source:
Raikes, Charles, "The Englishman of India", 1867, London

Further Reference:
Wikipedia Article on Battle of Swally

Sir James Lancaster

2011-10-24T05:42:00.002+05:30

Sir James Lancaster: He was the first commander of the first fleet sent by the East India company to India. It consisted of four big ships and one small boat. The names of the ships and boat were The Dragon, The Hector, The Swan, The Ascension and The Guest.

The fleet under the command of Sir James Lancaster was manned by 480 seamen.

It sailed for India on April 22, 1601.

Raikes, Charles, "The Englishman of India", 1867, London.

Further References:
Wikipedia Note on Sir James Lancaster (Click to Access)

George Earl of Cumberland

2011-10-24T05:28:00.001+05:30

George of Earl of Cumberland: He was the person received the first charter of East India Company on December 31, 1600. It was given along with him to 215 knights, aldermen and merchants. The charter was given for fifteen years.

Raikes, Charles, "The Englishman of India", 1867, London

Thomas Stevens

2011-10-24T05:25:00.001+05:30

Thomas Stevens: Thomas Stevens was the first Englishman to round the Cape of Good Hope and reached India. He was member of Jesuit mission to Goa. He traveled in a Portuguese ship. He was a native of Wiltshire. He studied in New College, Oxford. He was in India in 1579.

Source: Raikes, Charles, "The Englishman in India", 1867, London.

Dwarkanath Tagore

2011-02-13T18:14:00.002+05:30

Dwarkanath Tagore was the founder of illustrious Tagore (Thakur) family of Bengal in India. He was an entrepreneur who dominated the business world of Bengal in 1830s and 1840s in a short span of his life of 53 years. He was born in 1794 and died in 1846. He is credited with introduction of steam engine technology and modern corporate forms in India. He had business interests in coal mining, tea gardens, insurance companies, banking, joint stock companies, silk, indigo, newspapers, landed estates and ocean going ships. In his corporate vision he sought interracial cooperation in business. He also dreamed of an industrialized India to attain a status of equal partner in British commonwealth of nations. The other illustrious sons of this family after him were Debendranath and Rabindranath (Guruji). His decedents now live in Berlin.

Photograph Source: UNESCO as accessed on February 13, 2011

Information Source: Blair B Kling: Partner in Empire.

Nij Cultivation

2010-11-01T07:50:00.001+05:30

Nij Cultivation

It was also called zerat cultivation. It was a land settlement between the planters and ryots wherein the ryots were bound to a bond to undertake a cultivation for a particular crop. The issue of indigo crops became a major incidence in Bihar and Bengal region.

It is researched based observation that this system of contract was preferred by the English Planters of indigo. They leased the land from the zamindars and then executed the Nij or zerat cultivation with the crop producers or ryots. The nij contracts were adopted after indigo revolts. Before the indigo revolt (1858) raiyati system was practiced. The nij cultivation declined in Bengal after the indigo revolt and continued in Bihar where it had spread at a later stage.

The leases acquired by the English planters from the Big Zamindars were in form of Thika tenure ( temporary lease) or mukrari tenure (premanent lease).

Reference:

(based on the quotation and references from Plantations, proletarians and peasants in colonial Asia. pp.178, Edited by E. Valentine Daniel, Henry Bernstein, Tom Brass, Routledge, London, 1992. ISBN 0-7146-3467-0.

Saptanaga

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Saptanga:

Saptanga means seven elements of State, a theory of state as given by Kautilya and Valluvar. The seven elements are Swami, Amatya, Janapada, Durga, Kosa, Danda and Mitra.

Reference: R. S. Sharma, Aspects of Political Ideas and Institution in Ancient India, pp. 31, Chapter III.

Sultan Nizam Shah

2010-06-20T18:07:00.000+05:30

Sultan Nizam Shah was the founder of the Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar. His actual name was Malik Ahmad. He was governor of Junar under Bahmani Kingdom. He established his independent rule in 1490 and founded Nizam Shahi dynasty.

Ahmednagar Kingdom was one of the five independent kingdoms which came up after the end of Bahmani Kingdom.

The other four dynasties were Adil Shahi dynasty at Bijapur, Imadshahi dyansty of Berar, Qutubshahi dynasty of Golkonda and Barid Shahi dynasty at Bidar.

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Kingdom of Ahmadnagar
Cultural Archaeology of Ahmadnagar During Nizam Shai Period, 1494-1632

Memoirs of Chand Bibi,: The princess of Ahmadnagar (Nawab Lutf un-Dawlah Memorial Series)

Yusuf Adil Shah

2010-06-20T17:59:00.001+05:30

Yusuf Adil Shah was the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur. He was a Turkish Noble. The Adil Shahi dynasty was founded by him in 1489.

Bijapur was one of the five dynasties which replaced the Bahmani Kingdom.

The other four dynasties were Nizam Shahi dynasty at Ahmadnagar, Imadshahi dyansty of Berar, Qutubshahi dynasty of Golkonda and Barid Shahi dynasty at Bidar.

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HISTORY OF THE RISE OF THE MUHAMMADAN POWER IN INDIA. Volume Two: History of the Dekhan. Part One: Bahmani Kingdom of Kulbarga
The Bahmani kingdom (Short studies in Indian history)

Pabna Unrest

2010-06-09T08:36:00.001+05:30

Pabna Unrest:
Pabna Unrest was an agrarian unrest. It started in 1873 and continued upto 1885. It was directed against the oppressive zamindars. The peasants adopted the methodology of resisting the payment of revenue which was over and above the legal limits. The Bengal leaders like Bankim Chandra Chatterjea, R. C. Dutt and Surendranath Banerjea, the young Bengalis who were forming an all India ideology of counter the imperialistic rule of Britain, supported it. The time period of 70s and 80s suggests that the Indians had started evolving an ideology against the oppressive rule. However, in the Pabna Unrest, there was no indication of direct opposition to the British rule. It was not an anti-British war cry. They had rather projected that they supported Her Majesty government.

Agrarian Unrest in Karnataka
Agrarian Unrest and Socio-Economic Change in Bihar 1900-1980
Agrarian Unrest in North India: United Provinces, 1918-22
Agrarian unrest in Patna: An investigation into recent repression
Agrarian unrest, peasant struggles, and social change: A study of Telangana in A.P
Peasants and princes: Agrarian unrest in the East Punjab states, 1920-48
Political unrest in Orissa in the 19th century: Anti-British, anti-feudal and agrarian risings (Orissan studies project)

Bishnu Biswas

2010-06-08T19:23:00.002+05:30

Bishnu Biswas: Govindpur Village, Nadia District, Bengal Province, Indigo Revolt 1859-60

The Santhals
Santhal Women: A Social Profile
Ethnobotany of Santhal Pargana
The Santhals in Historical & Social Perspectives
History of Jharkhand: Birsa Munda, History of Ranchi District, Santhal Rebellion, Rajmahal, Ramgarh Raj, Chasnala Mining Disaster

Digambar Biswas

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Digambar Biswas: Govindpur Villagae, Nadia District, Bengal Province, Indigo Revolt 1859-1860. He with his brother Bisnu Biswas started a social boycott movement against the Indigo Planters. They adopted the policy of resistance through legal and political mobilization movement when the nationalist intellectuals were yet to define their role in national movement. The movement started just when the British government had suppressed the Uprising of 1857.

The Insurrection of Little Selves: The Crisis of Secular-Nationalism in India
The Emergence of Hindu Nationalism in India

Hem Chandra Kar

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Hem Chandra Kar, Deputy Magistrate, Indigo Revolt 1859-60

Indigo Revolt 1859-1860

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Indigo Revolt 1859-60: Peasant Uprising in post 1857 period.
The main leaders were Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas. It started from Nadia district. The peasants Biswass Brothers of village Govinderpur in Nadia District of erstwhile Bengal province started it. It is being evaluated by historians to have influenced the nationalist intellectuals who were growing in the perception of anti-colonial rule and germinating the national movement. It had just started after the first war of independence or the Uprising of 1857.

The main methodology of protest was social boycott. No doubt, there were incidences of violent attacks which were rather provoked by the Planters.

Kanhu Murmu

2010-06-08T19:18:00.002+05:30

Kanhu Murmu: Santhal Revolt: 1855 to 1866. He was brother of Sido Murmu. They jointly motivated 60000 Santhals against the British Rule whom they called Dihku. Dikhu in their dialect meant the outsider. It were some Dikhus who even helped them like the milk man, black smiths etc. They targeted the British establishment.

History of Jharkhand: Birsa Munda, History of Ranchi District, Santhal Rebellion, Rajmahal, Ramgarh Raj, Chasnala Mining Disaster
Tribes of West Bengal: Santhal, Santals, Oraon, Rabha, Munda People, Toto Tribe, Lepcha People, Bhutia, Santhal Rebellion, Bhumij

Sido Murmu

2010-06-08T19:17:00.004+05:30

Sido Murmu: Santhal Revolt of 1855 to 1866. He was brother of Kanhu Murmu. They jointly mobilized 60000 Santhals who fought desperately with bow and arrows. It is recorded in the British annals that Rajmahal Hills were drenched red with the blood of Santhals. They fought to push out the Dikhu and bring back independence under the direction of Thakur (God). Their uprising was called hool in their dialect.

Tribes of West Bengal: Santhal, Santals, Oraon, Rabha, Munda People, Toto Tribe, Lepcha People, Bhutia, Santhal Rebellion, Bhumij
Santhal Women: A Social Profile

Santhal hool

2010-06-08T17:49:00.001+05:30

Santhal hool is translated as Santhal uprising. Santhals are a tribe of Rajmahal hills between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal (falls now in present Jharkhan state of India). It was headed by Sido Murmu (Santhal) and Kanhu Murmu (Santhal). They were able to motivate 60,000 Santhals from nearly 400 villages to stand against the oppressive activities of British officers and their associates in form of zamindars and moneylenders. The uprising took place in 1855 and was suppressed only by 1866. A major massacre took place during this suppression. An officer of Major General was deputed to crush their uprising. According to British officers, the major carnage resulted because of brute and reckless activities of Santhals. Report of Calcutta Review had called them meek and yielding tribe.

Digital Source: Official Website of Jharkhan State

Authority Referred: Bipin Chandra and five authors: India's Struggle for Freedom

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Chandra Bipin : India'S Struggle for Independence
The Epic Struggle
Nationality and Empire. A running study of some current Indian problems
The Epic Struggle

Gadkaris Revolt

2010-06-07T10:48:00.000+05:30

Gadkaris Revolt was a civil uprising which took place in 1844 in Maharashtra. It was participated by peasants against the British revenue policy adopted after subduing the Peshwas.

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Ram Ganesh Gadkari (Makers of Indian literature)

Chuar Rebellion

2010-06-07T10:31:00.000+05:30

Chuar Rebellion was a civil rebellion. It was spread over numerous districts of Bengal and Bihar. It was participated by displaced peasants and demobilized soldiers of Bengal Nawab. It continued from 1766 to 1772 and again from 1795 to 1816.

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Simon Fraser

2010-06-07T05:50:00.001+05:30

Simon Fraser (Must Read the note below within this section): He was the political agent residing at Delhi where the pensioner Padshah Bhadur Shah II was living. He was killed somewhere after May 11, 1857 by the sepoys who had come from Meerut and the people who had gathered around those sepoys.

Note: Simon Fraser here is about a person who was in India in 1857. There are a number of persons by the same name associated with histories of different regions, nations and times. Use discretion while picking reference from here. It is valid only in case of Indian History, Colonial period.

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Sultana Turkman Katun

2010-06-04T12:31:00.001+05:30

Sultana Turkman Katun was the chief wife of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish of Delhi Sultanate. Sultan Razia bint al Sultan was born to her from Iltutmish. Razia was nominated as successor by Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish. Razia was sidelined by the nobles on the demise of Itutmish. Razia managed to establish her claim by her strong will power and character. Sultana Turkman Katun and Razia lived in the royal place Kushk-Firozi.

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Shah Turkhan

2010-06-03T12:35:00.002+05:30

Shah Turkan
Shah Turkan was one of the wives of Shamsuddin Iltutmish, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate. She was actually a maid servant in the royal house and later raised to the status of a queen. Ruknuddin Firoze was her son. Iltutmish wished to appoint his son Nasiruddin Mahmud as his successor, but he died a premature death. He was capable of succeeding him. Anyhow, Iltutmish then nominated Razia, his daughter from his wife Turkman Khatun which is authoritatively known through Minhajus Siraj, the author of Tabaqat i Nasiri. However, on the death of Iltutmish, the Chalgani Shamshi nobles and Shah Turkan conspired and raised Ruknuddin Firoze on the throne in April 1236. From then onwards, it is alleged, Shah Turkan secretly murdered many ladies in the harem. The privy purses of many other ladies had been stopped. Even an attempt was made to administer poison to Razia. Within next seven months, Ruknuddin Firoze and Shah Turkan became very unpopular whereas Razia was highly popular many nobles and especially among the citizens of Delhi. On November 19, 1236, Ruknuddin Firoze was put to death on the orders of Razia. Shah Turkhan was also killed probably at the behest of the Sultan Razia bint Sultan

Vadamyuta

2010-06-03T08:18:00.001+05:30

Vadamyuta was the older name of modern Badaun. It was a centre of a principality established by Gopala, a Rahstrakuta king, in the vicinity of Kanauj.

Gopala was earlier ruling at Kanauj, the actual centre of power of Bharata before Delhi became the new centre of power which was declared by Tomar king Anang Paul when he gave his throne to his maternal grand son Prithvi Raj III Chauhan.

Gopal, the Rashtrakuta King of Kanauj was defeated by the Mahmud, around 80's of eleventh century the governor of Punjab. The Punjab was a part of Ghazni under Sultan of Ghazni at that time since the days of the attack of Mahmud of Ghazni from 999 CE to 1027 CE.

Near about 1090, Gopala was defeated by Chandradeva, a gahadavala rajput who established the Gahadvala dynasty at Kanauj. After the defeat, Gopala established his rule at Vadamyuta. His descendents continued to live as the feudatory of Gahadavala dynasty of Kanauj. Finally, in 1202, Qutubudin Aibek, the slave and governor of Muhammad Ghori, defeated Lakhanpal, the last Rashtrakuta king of Vadamyuta and deputed his own slave Shamsudin, his son in law and later Sultan Shamsudin Iltutmish, as governor of Vadamyuta which was then named as Badaun. Shamsudin became the first Muslim governor of Badaun in this manner.

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Authority Referred: J. L. Mehta, The Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India.

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Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India: 1000-1526 A.D.
Medieval Indian Society and Culture (Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India, Vol. III)

Iltutmish

2010-06-02T17:41:00.000+05:30

Iltutmish: Iltutmish is a Turkish word which means 'saviour fo the kingdom'. The persian word for it is Altamish or Altamsh. The synonymous words are alamgir or Jahangir.

This word had been used with the name of Shamsuddin who was the real founder of Delhi Sultanate as it was he shifted the capital of his Shamsi rule from Lahore to Delhi. He was slave as well as the son-in-law of Qutubuddin Aibek, the founder of Slave dynasty and slave of Muhammad Ghori.

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Authority Referred: Jaswant Lal Mehta, Advanced Study of in the History of Medieval India.

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Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India: 1000-1526 A.D.
Medieval Indian Society and Culture (Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India, Vol. III)