Number 1 India

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https://pixabay.com/fr/photos/taj-mahal-inde-agra-l-architecture-3654227/

About colonization of India, see page 3

Lycée Dominique Savio, Douala

About British Empire, see page 2

Main events in Indian Independence Process

See biography page 14

See page 9

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world" Mahatma Gandhi.

# Number 1

History and Geography

Seconde section européenne

DNL 2019-2020

Let's discover the struggles of that incredible and human leader of India...

Movie review: Gandhi (1982) by Richard Attenborough

India, a land of contrasts

Caste system, spicy food, impressive monuments, colorful cities... India will not leave you indifferent !

Indian leaders led a long and determined struggle for the independence of their country. Let's discover the steps of their struggle...

Let's discover India!

Do you know how important the British Colonial Empire was in the past? Do you know how India was conquered and ruled by the British Empire? Let's discover together all the information you need to understand the History of India...

From British India to Independence...

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• The British Empire was the largest empire in History and, for over a century, was the foremost global power.

Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Privateer & Explorer (c. 1539 - 1583)

https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/78203/capital-of-british-empire-without-britain?rq=1

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British Colonial Empire

In the late 19th century, the British Empire had reached its peak. The UK was present on all continents with colonies that covered more than 1/5 of the globe. Colonisation began with the maritime explorations of the 15th and 16th century (John Cabot and Sir Gilbert) that sparked the era of the European colonial empires.

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• The native population in these territories outnumbered by far the British settlers (who yet lived in much more comfortable conditions and had much better standards of living).

Wealth of the British Colonial Empire through stamps

If initially it was just a trade issue. However, the British were in the process of expanding their empire, and they considered India to be a beneficial addition to it, mainly because of the riches the country held. Slowly but surely, the British, through the East India Company, gained more and more influence over India, until they were indirectly controlling it.

British colonization of India began with the East India Company, a joint-stock company whose purpose was to have more control over Britain’s spice trade with India.

The colonization of India

Administrative division of British India (source: Wikipedia)

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• To extend British power and to accumulate richness : - the colonies were “source of raw materials” (timber in the forests, fruits, spices, coton ...) - and the working force could be used for the “outlet for manufactured goods” (exploitation of the people, difficult living conditions...) - The products from these countries were sent back to the Great Britain.

The East India Company flag (1801)

Coat of arms (1698)

An 1876 political cartoon of Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) making Queen Victoria Empress of India. The caption was "New crowns for old ones!"

Two Seapoy Officers and one Seapoy Private

In 1876, Queen Victoria became Empress of British India.

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Sepoys were Indian soldiers who served in lower ranks of the militia and worked for the British. However, they did not have the same rights, payment, nor privileges as British soldiers in India, but still did the harder work. May 1857 : This inequality escalated into the Sepoy Mutiny, in which these soldiers rebelled and protested against the British. They were mostly unsuccessful, and the British, wanting to prevent this from happening again, seized full and direct control of India.

How did this become direct control?

Signs like this could be found all over colonial India.

Measuring land for cultivation, Allahabad, India, 1877. © Global Look Press / Science Museum

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Indians were submitted to laws that limited their rights and liberties. For example, they were obligated to buy salt, ink, textiles… that was produced by the British.

How was Indian society under British rule?

Racism was also a problem, as they were frequently harassed and insulted by the British. Also, they were segregated, and had to sit in the back of trains and public transports.

in Indian independence process?

what are the most

Important Events

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People all over India were making salt illegally, and were getting sent to jail by the British control. On April 6th 1930 Gandhi marched 241 miles on foot and arrived at the coastal village of Dandi, India, where he gathered salt.

A horrifying day for all Indians who sought independence, 10,000 people including women, and children gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh to peacefully protest against the arrest of 2 national congress leaders. The British brutally attacked these Indians who were protesting, killing at least 400 of them.

The Civil Disobedience Movement was formed under the leadership of Gandhi, and is one of the most important phases in the Indian National Movement. The main goal was to disobey unjust laws created by the British Government

This event was also called India's First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny, or the Sepoy Mutiny. It began on 10 May 1857, as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company’s army. Sepoys in the Presidency of Benghal revolted against their British officers.

1930: The Salt March

April 13, 1919: Amristar Massacre

1915: Civil Desobedience Movement

Sepoy Rebellion of 1857

Salt March, Mohandas and Kasturba Gandhi, 1930

Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre 1919

Gandhi and His Spinning Wheel, Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett

Attack of the Mutineers on the Redan Battery at Lucknow, Steel Engraving, English, 1859.

https://thedredward.com/indian-independence-movement-timeline

Portfolio Day in Mumbai,India

Known as the most populous city in India with more than 20 million inhabitants, Mumbai is also the whealthiest. The city, located on the coast of Maharashtra State, is often linked to Bollywood, where many movies were shot. Slums still represent just over half of the population of the megacity. The city in a blend of traditional festivals, food, music and theaters. As many other cities in India, the main language is hindi and the religion is hindouism. There are some famous monuments as the Rajani Clock Tower, the GATEWAY OF India or the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The city has many other things to show, let’s dicover it…

Bangalore

High technology • World's largest research hub specializing in computer sciences • Indian Silicon Valley

Karnataka High Court (Attara Kacheri)

Tipu Sultan’s summer palace

Let's discover Indian cities

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Mumbai

• Hindu name : Bengaluru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) • 3rd largest city in India • Superficie: around 700 km² • Population : around 10 million • Capital of Karnataka • Main religion : Hinduism

Victoria Memorial

Howrah Bridge

• Official name of Kolkata during the colonized period and until 2001 • Original Bengali pronunciation • Kolkata : Capital city of West Bengal  Population: 5.8 million inhabitants  Area: 185 km²  Climate: Tropical wet and dry  River: The Ganges River A colonial city established in 1686 by Job Charnock  Capital city of British Empire in India (1772-1911)  Developed by: -British East India Company (1690) -British Empire (1772)  Monuments: European models (bridges, palaces, etc.)  In 1911: capital city = New Delhi

Kolkota

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Mother Teresa

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (1910–1997) - Born in Skopje (North Macedonia), 08/26/1910 - From an Albanian family : she became Indian- Catholic religious nun missionary - Nobel Peace prize (1979) - Devoted her life to help people - Died in Kolkata, 09/05/1997

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Rashtrapati Bhavan

The Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi

New Delhi

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Jaipur

The Pink City

Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the Rajashtan which makes it rich and prosper in every field. It is also known as the Pink City. The heritage city Jaipur lures a huge number of tourists each year with its fascinating forts and palaces, historical monuments, traditions and culture, parks, vibrant festivals, museums and temples. This land of Jaipur has its own performing arts. Street circus, plays and annual events artists performs various activities which explains so many things about the culture of the old city.You can visit this city and enjoy all of it.

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We saw on this topic an Indian city named New Delhi. This is the capital of India, it has many important institutions such as the Parliament, the head of the government, the Supreme Court and the president’s residence. There are 16.3 million inhabitants. It was the capital of multiple Indian empires. But the city is also known for its majestic monuments, for example Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Indian’s Gate, Column of the Martyr and finally the Humayun’s Tomb. To conclude, there are many local dishes which are liked all around the world like the “dal” and the “paneer”.

Let's discover other elements of Indian culture

Recipe

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India is known for his scrumptious dishes full of various flavors, colors and spices. Many vegetables, fruits and herbs are used to finally have their delicious dishes. The main dishes of the Indian food are: the Taandori Chicken which is a famous Indian barbecue chicken recipe, Murg Makhani in English is “butter chicken” and the Samosa. There you can find the recipe of the samosa and then you can try at home and taste this delicious dish! Enjoy your meal!

Even after banning discrimination in India, the Caste system, or Jati in Hindu, is still relevant. This system is a 3000 years old system which divides Hindu social structure into rigid hierarchical groups based on their work and duty. It goes from the Brahmins, the priests, who are at the top of the ranking to the Shudras, the manual labourers, who are the lower class of this ranking. Some people are considered so low that they are not even on the ranking.

Indian food

The Caste System

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-07/indias-untouchables-how-caste-system-affects-politics/10900280

Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India’s independence movement and also the architect of a form of non-violent civil disobedience that nfluenced the world. He gave his nation its independence after a long non-violent protest in 1947. His life and teachings inspired activists including Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was his birth given name. He was born in Porbandar on October 2, 1869 and murdered in Delhi on January 30, 1948.

Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation

“In a gentle way you can shake the world” -Mahatma Gandhi

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He was an important spiritual guide of India and of the movement for the independence of this country. Gandhi studied law and organized boycotts against British institutions in peaceful forms of civil disobedience.

Trailer

Movie review : Gandhi by Richard Attenborough

One of the best ways to discover Indian History!

Synopsis: This historical drama is based on a real story that happens between 1893 and 1948. In the movie the talented actor Ben Kingsley plays the role of Gandhi, an Indian lawyer, the main character of this film. This movie is about the epic life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, that defended human’s and women’s rights, Hindu-Muslim unity, and also the whole story of how he used non-violence to win his country’s independence. the great man remains patient and calm all his life despite the injustice and the violence that he received by the British he suffered as well as colored people like him. Ben Kingsley played the iconic role of Mahatma Gandhi and he delivered an outstanding performance. He makes the role so completely his own that there is a general feeling that the of Gandhi is on the screen, he is almost always quiet, observant, and soft-spoken that we realize that the force of Gandhi must have been behind the words. It is one of the best biopics of history that we have watched. The movie begins in the early years of the century in South Africa. Gandhi was a target of South Africa’s system of racial segregation. Gandhi’s reaction to the system was nonviolent but firm. Before long Gandhi was in India, ruled by the British, he realized that Indians have been made into second class citizens in their own country and he begins a program of civil disobedience. This movie is wonderful; everyone should watch it! Richard Attenborough chose good actors that played their role very well. The film brings a lot of emotions and let use live the moment. For me Gandhi is a source of inspiration of serenity despite of the violence that he endured. He doesn’t lose hope and continues to fight for his rights. Gandhi is an icon, he is brave and he is a very good person. This self-searching human being makes everyone want to be a calm person like him. It reports the bad things that British made and the wildness of the time. The days of fast that Gandhi made and the sufferance that he was subjected to touch the public.

Let's play with vocabulary

brahman (the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category) Buddha (founder of Buddhism; worshipped as a god (c 563-483 BC) Buddhism (the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth) caste (a hereditary social class among Hindus) dynasty (a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family) Ganges (an Asian river) guru (a Hindu or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher) Himalayas (a mountain range extending 1500 miles on the border between India and Tibet; this range contains the world's highest mountain) Hinduism (a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system) karma (effects of one's actions that determine his or her destiny) nirvana (the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation) raja (a prince or king in India) reincarnation (a second or new birth) Sanskrit (an ancient language of India) Sepoys (Indian troops commanded by British officers) theocracy (a political unit governed by a deity).