HistoricalChronologyofBharat

Asyouknowit
Contributor:AlokVijay(onsoc.culture.indian)
Note:WiththeinterestinIndianhistoryonthisgroup,letmeposttheIndianhistoryasIknowof...Itismostly
fromtheHindustanYearBookbuttherearesomepersonaltouchesaddedinsomeplacesespeciallyPARTV).
Mostofitwaswrittenwaybackin1990andpostedonSCI.Sectionsfor199194areaddedtoday.
PartIYear3200B.C.712A.D.
PartIIYear712A.D.1605A.D.
PartIIIYear1612A.D.1858A.D.
PartIVYear1858A.D.1950A.D.
PartVYear1950A.D.1994A.D.

IndianChronology(PartI)
(Source:HindustanYearBook)

(Induscivilization,BirthandRiseofHinduism,Buddhism,JainismandIslam,InvasionsofAlexander
andHun)

B.C.
32002000
12001000
1000500
623543
540468
377
326
324

ThetraditionallyaccepteddateoftheIndusValleyCivilization.The
civilizationflourishedbetween23501750.
Rigvedacompiled
AgeoftheRamayana,theMahabharataortheBhagwadGita.
TraditionalyearsofbirthanddeathoftheBuddha(Sidhartha).Buddhism
foundedinIndia(Sanchi,Bihar)
TraditionalyearsofbirthanddeathofMahavira(FoundedJainism)
BuddhistCouncilatVaisali
InvasionofIndiabyAlexander

190

MauryaEmpirefoundedbyChandragupta
ReignofAsoka:AsokaspreadsmessageofBuddhismtoChinaand
towardsEast.
GreekKingdomsofN.W.India.

187
18775
58

EndoftheMauryadynasty
RuleoftheSungas
BeginningofVikramEra.

273232

A.D.(DeathofJesusChrist)
64225

KushandynastyinN.W.IndiaSouthIndianKingdomsofCholas,Cheras
andPandavas.

78
320475
335376

AccessionofKanishka.BeginningofSakaEra.
GuptadynastyAjantaCavefrescoesandElloraCavecarvings
ReignofSamudraGupta.

376414
40511
454
48090

ReignofChandraguptaII(Vikramaditya).
FaHienfromChinatravelsIndia.
FirstHuninvasion.
FallofGuptaEmpire.

606647
630644

ReignofHarshavardhana.
AnotherChineseHiuenTsangtravelsIndia.

600700
712

BirthandRiseofIslamintheMiddleEastandJerusalemarea.Followers
instructedtospreadIslamaroundtheworld.
ArabconquestofSindbyMohammedbinQasim.

IndianChronology(PartII)
(PeriodofIslamicinvasions,NorthIndiaenslavedby1200A.D.,EntireIndiaenslavedby1526A.D.,
FoundationofSikhism,DefianceagainstMughalrulebyRajputKingRanaPratap,EastIndiaCo.
foundedinIndia)
712

ArabconquestofSindbyMohammedbinQasim.

730
735

AccessionofYasovarmanofKanyakubja
FirstParsisettlement

7501202

Palas&SenasofBengal

820
800900

DeathofSankaracharya
Kashmir'sHindu/Budhistculturedestroyed.Templesburied.

9601200

ChandellasofBundelkhand

10001026
1050

IslamicinvasionofIndiabyMahmudofGhazni.
BuddhistmissionstoTibet

1191

InvasionofMuhammadofGhur

1192
12061290

DefeatandDeathofPrithviraj,thelastRajputKingofDelhi
EstablishmentofMuslimruleinNorthIndiaReignofSlaveKings

1221

FirstMongolinvasionbyChengizKhan.

1228
1230

ConquestofAssambytheAhoms.
VijaynagarKingdomfoundedintheSouth.

12901316
13201412

ReignoftheKhalifisatDelhi
ReighofTughlakSultansofDelhi

1347

BahmaniKingdomofDeccanfoundedintheSouth.

1398
14361533

InvasionofTimur.
LifeofSriChatanya,SaintofBengal.

14511526

ReignofLodiSultansofDelhi.

14691545

BirthandHindureformistteachingsofGuruNanak.ExiledbySlave
HinduKing.FoundationofSikhism.

1494
1498
1510

FoundationofAgrabySikanderLodi.
VascodaGama(Portugese)discoveredIndiabysearoute&reached
Calicut.

153945

Portugeseinvasions.PortugesecapturedGoa.
FirstBattleofPanipat,EstablishmentofMughalEmpirebyBabar.
EmpireincludemanySouthernkingdoms.
ReignofSherShah.

15561605

SecondBattleofPanipat(1556),ReignofAkbar

15561597
1597

RajputKingRanaPratapdefiesAkbarandretainshisKingdom
DeathofRanaPratap.

1600

EastIndiaCo.foundedbyRoyalCharter.

1605

DeathofAkbar

1526

IndianChronology(PartIII)
(MoghulDecline,BritisharriveinIndia,BuildingoftheTajMahal,TerrorofAurangzeb,Shivaji
outsmartsMughuls,CourageousSikhresistancetoIslamicterrorandoppression,NadirShahsacked
NorthWestIndia,EastIndiaCo.takesoverNorthEastIndia,ReformsinHindupractices,English
introducedasmediumofinstructionin1835,IndianMutinyof1857,IndiagovernedbyBritishCrownin
1858)

1612

1stEnglishfactorysetupatSurat.

1627
162757

BirthofShivaji
ReignofShahJahan.

1644

FarmanpermittingtheEnglishtotradeinBengal.

16581707
1668

ReignofAurangzeb.
1stFrenchfactorysetupatSurat.

1675

SikhresistancetoMoghulsintensifies.ExecutionofGuruTegBahdur,
9thSikhGuru,byAurangzeb.

1680
168687

E.I.CompanyestablishedtradingcenteratCalcutta.
FalloftheKingdomsofBijapurandGolconda.

1698

TheE.I.Co.obtainedZamindariofthreevillagesofSutanati,Kalikata,
andGobindpurnucleusofCalcutta.

1707
1734
1757

DeathofAurangzeb,the"terrorist"MughulKing.
NadirShahsackedNorthIndia/Delhi.
BattleofPlassey

1761
1764

1772

ThirdBattleofPaniput.
BattleofBuxar.
GrantofDewaniofBengal,Bihar,andOrissatoE.I.Co.byMughal
EmperorShahAlam.
WarrenHastingsappointedfirstGovernalGeneralofBritishIndia.

1775
1781
1784

ExecutionofNandaKumar.
FirstNewspaper,Hickey'sCalcuttaGazetteinIndia.
Pitt'sIndiaBillpassedbytheBritishParliament.

178690
1790

1793
1799

ReformsofCornwallis.
ThirdMysorewar.
RanjitSinghsucceedshisfatherasleaderofaSikhMisl.Hadlavishlife
styleandHarems,Hindu'seldestsonraisedasSikh.TenthGuruGovind
Singh'steachings,SikhsbraveIslamicterrorandoppression.
PermanentsettlementofBengal.
DeathofTipuSultan.

182835
1829
1835

LordBentinckasGovernorGeneral.
BrahmoSamajfoundedbyRajaRammohanRoyProhibitionofSati.
IntroductionofEnglishasmediumofinstruction.

1839
183942
1854

DeathofRanjitSingh.
AngloAfghanWar.
Firstpostagestampintroduced.

1856

AnnexationofOudhbytheBritishIntroductionofHinduwidow
marriage.

1765

17921839

1857
1858

IndianMutiny.TantayaTope,JhansiRaniLakshmiBaibravelyfightthe
Britisharmybutlosethe'freedommovement'.Britishreassert.
TransferofIndiafromE.I.Co.toBritishCrown.

IndianChronology(PartIV)
(BritishRule,BirthofRabindranathTagore,M.K.Gandhi,AryaSamajFoundedbySwamiDayanand
Sarsawati,BirthofSubhasChandraBose,SwamiVivekanandtravelstoAmerica,IndianNational
Congressfounded,MuslimLeaguefounded,Britishreforms,GandhireturnstoIndiafromSouthAfrica,
Gandhi'squestforfreedomandnoncooperationmovement,JalianwalabaghmassacrebyBritishat
Amritsar,SikhsjointhefreedomstruggleagainstBritish,WorldWarI,BurmaseparatedfromIndia,
Provincialautonomygranted,Congressministriesinmostprovinces,WorldwarII,Bose'sI.N.A.
movement,Crippsmission,QuitIndiamovement.Indiapartitioned,Freedomatmidnight,Kashmir
attackedbyAfghan/Pakistan,Gandhi'sassasination,IndiabecomesRepublic)

18581947

TransferofIndiafromE.I.Co.toBritishCrownin1857.Periodofgrowth
oftechnologyandsocioreligiousreformsbutaccompaniedwitharrogant
racismandsuppressionofnativeIndianpeople'srights,Hardlaborand
widespreadeconomicexploitation.

1861
1869
1874

BirthofRabindranathTagore
BirthofMahatama(MohandasKaramchand)Gandhi(2ndOctober).
GreatFamineofBengal

1875
1885

1897

AryaSamajfoundedbySwamiDayanandSaraswati.
IndianNationalCongressfoundedinBombay.
SwamiVivekanandtravelstoAmericatoattendFirstWorldReligious
Conference.EnlightensattendiesaboutHinduism.
BirthofSubhashChandraBose(23rdJan).

1905
1906
1907

PartitionofBengal.AntiPartitionMovementbegins.
FoundationoftheMuslimLeague
Congresssplitbetweenextremistsandmoderates.

1909
1911
1913

MorleyMintoReforms.
PartitionofBengalrevoked.Firstinlandairmailflight.
NobelPrizeforRabindranathTagore.

1914

GandhireturnstoIndiafromSouthAfricaBeginningofWorldWarI
MontagueChelmsfordReformsJalianwalabaghmassacreatAmritsarby
British(13April)SikhsjoinIndianfreedomstruggleThirdAfghanwar.
WorldWarIends.

1892

1918
192022
1930
1931

NoncooperationMovementKhilafatMovement.
CivilDisobedienceMovementstartedbyCongress
1stRoundTableConferenceandGandhiIrwinpact.

1932
1935

SecondCivilDisobedienceMovement.
GovernmentofIndiaActpassed.
InaugurationofProvincialAutonomyCongressMinistriesinmost
provincesBurmaseparatedfromIndia(1stApril).
SecondWorldWarbegins,ResignationofCongressMinistriesin9
provinces.

1937
1939
1941

SubhashChandraBoseescapesfromIndiatoorganizetheI.N.A.
Movement.

1942

Cripps'Mission'QuitIndia'MovementstartedbyGandhi.1943Bengal
Famines.

1946

CabinetMission'splanInterimGovernmentwithJ.L.NehruasPrime
Ministerandwidespreadcommunalriots.

1947

1948
1949
1950

PartitionofIndiaIndiabecomesindependent(15August)Home
MinisterVallabhBhaiPatelconsolidatesIndianstates.JawaharLalNehru
isthefirstPrimeMinister.KashmirattackedbyAfghans/Pakistan.Raja
HariSinghsignsKashmirdocumentstomakeitapartofIndia.
MahatamaGandhicontendsIndiaowedPakistan55millionrupees.
VolunteerstotraveltoPakistantoseekreconciliationbutisassasinatedby
NathuramGodse(Jan30).UNresolutionsonKashmir.
India'snewconstitutionpassedintolaw(26Nov)
IndiabecomesaRepublic(26Jan).Kashmirgivenspecialstatus.
IndianHistory(PartV)(Source:HindustanYearBook,Personal
Recollections)

IndianChronology(PartV)
(IndependentIndia,DemocracyandElections,EconomicDevelopmentFiveYearPlans,IndoChinawar
of1962,IndoPakistanwarsof1965and1971,India'sscientific&technologicalachievements,Jai
PrakashNarainmovement,EmergencyPeriodof197577,GrowthofIndianoppositionparties,Assam
Unrest,Punjab/SikhUnrest,AssasinationofIndiraGandhi,RajivGandhiLeads,IndoSriLanka
Accord,IndiasHighTechnologyVentures,RiseinCorruption,DeclineofRajivGandhi,Indiadevelops
analternativegoverningcoalition,KashmirUnrest,V.P.Singh,RajivGandhiAssasinated,Raoleads)
1950

IndiabecomesaDemocratic,SocialisticRepublicwithitsown
Constitution(Jan26).

1951
1952

FirstFiveYearPlanlaunched.
FirstGeneralElection

1953

Mt.EverestconqueredforthefirsttimebyTenzing&Hillary.

1957

FrenchSettlementsinIndiamergedtoIndiaDoctrineofPanchShila
(Fiveprinciplesofnoninterference)acceptedbasisforIndoChinese
relations.USsupportsPakistanwhileUSSRsupportsIndiaonissueslike
Kashmir.
IndianStatesreorganizedonlinguisticbasis2ndFiveYearPlan
launched.
SecondGeneralElectionsheld.

1958
1960
1961

MetricSystemofweightsandmeasuresintroduced.
BombayandSourashtraregionsconvertedintoMaharashtraandGujarat.
Portugesesurrender.GoaagainbecomespartofIndia.

1962
1963

CommunistChinaattackedIndia(Oct.)ThirdGeneralElections.
RocketcentreofThumbalauncheditsfirstrocket.
JawaharLalNehrudiesofheartattack(May27),LalBahadurShastri
becomesPrimeMinister(June9).
Mt.EverestconqueredbyIndians(May20)IndoPakundeclaredwar
(August5September22).IndiawinsterritoriesofPakistan.Reaches
veryclosetoLahore.PakistanwinssomepartsofKashmir.

1954

1956

1964
1965

1966

1966
1967
1968

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

197778

1979
1980
1981

USSRmediatesthetalkbetweenIndiaandPakistan.POWsandterritories
wontobereturnedtoeachother.Indianarmyvieweditasanunjust
settlement.LalBahadurShastrisignssuchaccordanddies(Jan11)
suddenlyinTashkent,USSRaftersigningtheaccord.Hisdeathremained
amysteryWhetheritwasheartattackoranactofmurder.Indiansdecide
tonegotiateontheirowninfuture.
IndiraGandhibecomesPrimeMinister(24Jan).Punjabunreststarts.
PunjabpartitionedagainintoPunjabispeakingPunjabandHindispeaking
Haryana.
FourthGeneralElectionheld.
CongressPartysplitsMrsIndiraGandhiexpelledfromtheCongress.
1970CreationofMeghalayaState.
HimachalpradeshbecomesaState(2ndApril):MidtermLokSabha
Elections(March),NixonIndiraGandhimeetingsinUSdonotgowell.
IndiraGandhipushesforandIndoSovietFriendshiptreaty(Aug9)is
signedIndoPakwartakesplace(Dec316).Bangladeshcreated.
FifthGeneralElectionNewStatesofTripuraandManipurformed.
MutuallynegotiatedSimlaagreementsignedbetweenIndiaandPakistan
toresolvedifferencesbetweenthemwithoutuseofforce.
IndiandacoitgangssurrenderunderJaiPrakashNarayan'sefforts.JP
startsmovementforsocialequality.Itslowlybecomesamovementfor
greatersocialism.ChangeofprioritiesfromScience&Technologyto
moresocialisticvaluesissuggested.
IndiraGandhicontinuestopushScience&Technology.Indiaconducts
undergroundnuclearexplosion(May18).SeenasdeterrenttoChina.
SikkimbecomesaStateofIndia(April)FirstIndiansatellitelaunched
SanjayGandhipushesaveryaggressiveandambitiousfamilyplanning
program.Excessesarecommittedwiththevillagers.JaiPrakashNarayan
movementforSocialismgainsmomentum.StateofEmergencydeclared.
DissolutionofLokSabhaandthenationgoestothepolls.TheCongress
partyledbyIndiraGandhiisrejectedbythepeople.Janatagovernment
gainspower.MorarjiDesaibecomesPM.PresidentF.A.Ahmeddies.
IndiraGandhiisharassedandalmostputintojail.
PMMorarjiDesairesignsinfaceofnoconfidencemotion(July15).
ChaudharyCharanSinghbecamethePMonJuly28butresignedon
August20.PresidentSanjivaReddydissolvestheLokSabha(Aug22).
SeventhLokSabhaPollisheld.Mrs.IndiraGandhiwinshandilyand
returnsasPMonceagain(Jan14).
RohiniSatellitelaunchedfromSriharikota(May31).FirstTelecomm.
satelliteAPPLEputintoorbitbyEuropeanSpaceAgency.
Sikhunreststarts.Itbecomesviolent.Khalistandemandsaremade.Sant
BhindranwaledirectsaviolentSikhmovementfromtheGoldenTemple
Complex.IndiraGandhiordersArmyassaulttocaptureBhindranwaleand

198284

198588

1989

1990

1991

199294

crushtheviolentmovement(June).Bhindranwalediesintheassault.
SikhstakerevengebyassasinatingIndiraGandhiinOcotober.North
India/DelhiwitnesseswidespreadHinduSikhriots.Almost3000ofSikhs
arekilledinrevenge.Sikhsclaimkillingswereorganizedand
premeditatedbyCongressofficials.RajivGandhiisswornasPM.Rajiv
Gandhiseekspeople'smandateandwonshandilyintheDecemberpolls
(EighthLokSabha).RajivpushesScience&Technology,visionsof
takingIndiainto21stcentury.
Assamagreementissignedwithstudents.Assamlifereturnsnormal.
Punjabproblemcontinues.Sikhsremainemotionallyalienated.Thousands
arekilledinSikhterroristviolenceinPunjab.RajivGandhipushesfor
economicdevelopment.Hightechindustriespropup.Consumerismand
pricesriseinIndia.Indiansoftwareindustrybecomeshighlysuccessful.
Publiccorruptionincreases.RelationswithUS,PakistanandChinaare
improved.RelationswithSriLankaandNepaldeteriorate.Indianpeace
keepingforceissenttoSriLankaunderIndoSriLankaagreementto
weedoutextremistsandbringpeacetothestrifetornislandnation.Itis
metwithmixedsuccess.TamilminorityrightsaregainedbutLTTE
resistsIKPF.IndiahelpsMaldivesfightagovernmentoverthrowattempt.
RajivGandhicomesunderstrongfirefromVPsinghandothersfor
mishandlingBoforscase.Heisalsocitedasineffectivetosolvethe
Punjabproblemdespiteastrongpeople'smandatein1984polls.Heis
deemedinexperiencedandadventuristic.NinthLokSabhaelectionsare
heldandRajivGandhi'scongresspartyisrejectedforpower.JanataDal,
BhartiyaJanataPartyandCommunistPartiesforgearulingalliance.VP
Singh,oncedefenseandfinanceminsterinRajivGandhi'sgovt.becomes
thePrimeMinister.HemakesattempttosoothSikhemotionsby
travellingtoGoldenTempleandmeetingSikhreligiousleaders.Kashmir
militancymeanwhilerises.
Kashmirunrestgrows.ExternalhandofPakistanisseen.IndoPak
relationstakeasteepfall.KashmirisputunderGovernor'srule.Armyis
keptonthealert.Ayodhyatempleissueflaresup.VPSinghpullsout
Mandalreportandordersadditional27%reservationsforBackward
Castes(BC).Studentunrest.
VPSinghlosesnoconfidencemotionduetoAyodhyaandReservation
Issues.BJPsplitsfromcoalition.ChandrashekarbecomesPMwith
supportfromRajivGandhi'sCongressparty.DeviLalisthedeputyPM.
DeviLalandRajivGandhidon'tgetalong.RajivGandhiisharassedin
Boforscase.RajivGandhiwithdrawssupportandgovt.falls.New
electionsorderedbythePresidentR.Venkataraman.RajivGandhiisonce
againpopularandisfavoritetowinelection.Rajivassasinatedin
TamilnadubyLTTEsuicidebomber.Raoischosenassuccessor.
NarsimhaRaoleadscongresspartyandnation.BJPgainsasapartyand
becomesmajoropposition.
Indiaalmostdefaultsonforeignloans.Precariousforeignexchange
situation.ManmohanSinghlaucheswidespreadeconomicreforms.India
reboundseconomically.VHPleadsAyodhyatempleissue.Babrisiteis
destroyedandmakeshiftRamtempleisbuiltonthedisputedsite.VHPis
banned.RAAandBJPalsobannedbutlaterrestored.BJPgovernmentsin
fournorthernstatesdismissed.Stateelectionsoneyearlaterhasmixed
resultsforBJP.Congressgainsmajority.JanataDalsplits.BJPcontinues
asmajoroppositionparty.ForeigncompaniesinvestinIndiainlarge
numbers.StockexchangeandmajorbuildingsinBombayarerockedwith
Bombexplosions.PakistanihandseeninviolenceinBombay.Kashmir
situationworsens.Punjabviolenceiscontrolled.

REFERENCES
HindustanYearBook
BackToLibraryOfHinduHistory

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