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Year Indian Freedom Struggle: Important Events

1857 Mutiny against the British
1885 Indian National Congress is founded by A.O. Hume
1905 Partition of Bengal announced
1906 Muslim League was founded at Decca on 31st December.
1908 Khudiram Bose was executed on 30th April.
1908 Tilak was sentenced to six years on charges of sedition on
22nd July.
1909 Minto-Morley Reforms of Indian Councils Act - 21st May.
1911 Delhi durbar held. Partition of Bengal is cancelled.
1912 New Delhi established as the new capital of India
1912 A Bomb was thrown on Lord Hardinge on his state entry into
Delhi on 23rd December.
1914
The Ghadar Party was formed at San Francisco on 1st
November
1914 Tilak was released from jail on 16th June.
1914 Outbreak of the 1st World War 4th August
1914 Komagatamaru ship reaches Budge Budge (Calcutta port) on
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29the September.
1915 Mahatma Gandhi arrived in India on 9th Jan
1915 Gopal Krishna Gokhale died on 19th February.
1916 Tilak founded Indian Home Rule League with its headquarters
at Poona on 28th April.
1916 Annie Besant started another Home Rule League on 25th
September.
1917 Mahatma Gandhi launches the Champaran campaign in Bihar
to focus attention on the grievances of indigo planters in April
1917 The Secretary of State for India, Montague, declares that the
goal of the British government in India is introduction of
Responsible Government on 20th August.
1918 Beginning of trade union movement in India.
1919 Rowlatt Bill introduced on Feb 16, 1919.
1919 The Jallianwala Bagh tragedy took place on 13th April in
Amritsar.
1919 The House of Commons passes the Montague Chelmsford
Reforms or the Government of India Act, 1919 on 5th
December. The new reforms under this Act came into
operation in 1921.
1920 First meeting of the All India Trade Union Congress, (under
Narain Malhar Joshi).
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1920 The Indian National Congress (INC) adopts the Non-Co-
operation Resolution in December.
1920-22 Mahatma Gandhi suspends Non-Co-operation Movement on
Feb 12 after the violent incidents at Chauri Chaura.
1922 Moplah rebellion on the Malabar coast in August.
1923 Swaraj Party was formed by Motilal Nehru and others on 1st
January.
1924 The Communist Party of India starts its activities at Kanpur.
1925 The Kakori Train Conspiracy case in August
1927 The British Prime Minister appoints Simon Commission to
suggest future constitutional reforms in India.
1928 Simon Commission arrives in Bombay on Feb 3. An all-India
hartal is called. Lala Lajpat Rai assaulted by police at Lahore.
1928 Nehru Report recommends principles for the new Constitution
of India. All parties conference considers the Nehru Report,
Aug 28-31, 1928.
1928 Lala Lajpat Rai died on 17th November due to injuries.
1929 Sarda Act passed: prohibs marriage of girls below 14 and boys
below 18 years of age.
1929 All Parties Muslim Conference formulates the 'Fourteen Points'
under the leadership of Jinnah on 9th March.
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1929 Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwari Dutt throw a bomb in the
Central Legislative Assen on 8th April.
1929 Lord Irwin's announced that the goal of British policy in India
was the grant of the Dominion status on 31st October.
1929 The Lahore session of the INC adopts the goal of complete
independence (poorna swarajya) for India; Jawaharlal Nehru
hoists the tricolour on the banks of the Ravi at Lahore on 31st
December.
1930 First Independence Day observed on 26th January.
1930 The Working Committee of the INC meets at Sabarmati and
passes the Civil Disobedience resolution on 14th February.
1930 Mahatma Gandhi launches the Civil Disobedience movement
with his epic Dandi Mar (Mar 12 to Apr 6). First phase of the
Civil Disobedience movement: Mar 12, 1930 to Mar 5, 1931.
1930 First Round Table Conference begins in London to consider the
report of the Simon Commission on 30th November.
1931 On 5th March, the Gandhi lrwin pact was signed and the Civil
Disobedience movement was suspended.
1931 Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev and Rajguru were executed on 23rd
March.
1931 Second Round Table Conference took place on 7th September.
1931 Gandhiji returns from London after the deadlock in llnd RTC on
28th December. Launches Civil Disobedience Movement. The
INC declared illegal.
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1932 Gandhiji was arrested and imprisoned without trial on 4th
January.
1932 British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald announced the
infamous "Communal Award" on 16th August.
1932 Gandhiji in jail, begins his epic "fast unto death" against the
Communal Award on 20th September and ends the fast on
26th of the same month after the Poona Pact.
1932 The Third Round Table Conference begins in London (Nov 17
to Dec 24)
1933 Gandhiji released from prison as he begins fast for self-
purification on 9th May. INC suspends Civil Disobedience
movement but authorizes Satyagraha by individuals.
1934 Gandhiji withdraws from active politics and devotes himself to
constructive programmes (1934-39).
1935 The Government of India Act 1935 was passed on 4th August
1937 Elections held in India under the Act of 1935 (Feb 1937). The
INC contests election and forms ministries in several provinces
(Jul 1937).
1938 Haripura session of INC was held on 19th February. Subhash
Chandra Boss was elected Congress president on the 20th of
February.
1939 Tripuri session of the INC was conducted from the 10th to the
12th of March.
1939 Subhash Chandra Bose resigns as the president of the INC in
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April.
1939 Second World War (Sep 1). Great Britain declares war on
Germany on 3rd September; the Viceroy declares that India
too is at war.
1939 Between 27th October to 5th November, the Congress
ministries in the provinces resign in protest against the war
policy of the British government.
1939 The Muslim League observes the resignation of the Congress
ministries as Deliverance Day on 22nd December.
1940 Lahore session of ihe Muslim League passes the Pakistan
Resolution in March
1940 Viceroy Linlithgow announces-August Offer on 10th of August.
1940 Congress Working Committee rejects the 'August Offer'
between 18th to the 22nd of August.
1940 Congress launches Individual Satyagraha movement on 17th
October.
1941 Subhash Chandra Bose escapes from India on 17 January;
arrives in Berlin (Mar 28).
1942 Churchill announces the Cripps Mission on 11th of March
1942 The INC meets in Bombay; adopts 'Quit India' resolution on
7th & 8th August.
1942 Gandhiji and other Congress leaders were arrested on 9th
August
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1942 Quit India movement begins on 11th of August; the Great Aug
Uprising.
1942 Subhash Chandra Bose established the Indian National Army
'Azad Hind Fauj' on 1st September.
1943 Subhash Chandra Bose proclaims the formation of the
Provisonal Government of Free India on 21st October.
1943 Karachi session of the Muslim League adopts the slogan Divide
arc in December.
1944 Wavell calls Simla Conference in a bid to form the Executive
Council at Indian political leaders on 25th January.
1946 Mutiny of the Indian naval ratings in Bombay.
1946 Cabinet Mission arrives in New Delhi (Mar 14);British Prime
Minister Attlee announces Cabinet Mission ro propose new
solution to the Indian deadlock on 15th March; ; issues
proposal (May 16).
1946 Jawaharlal Nehru takes over as Congress president on 6th
July.
1946 Wavell invites Nehru to form an interim government on 6th
August; Interim Government takes office (Sep 2).
1946 First session of the Constituent Assembly of India starts on
9th December. Muslim League boycotts it.
1947 On 20th February, British Prime Minister Attlee declares that
the British government would leave India not later than Jun
1948.
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1947 Lord Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy and Governor
General of India, sworn in on 24th March
1947 Mountbatten Plan was made on 3rd June for the partition of
India and the announcement was made on June 4th that
transfer to power will take place on August 15th

Major Events in Revolt of 1857
Summarized View of Major Events in the Revolt of 1857
Date Major Events
22 Jan,
1857
New cartridges cause concern amongst sepoys at
Dum Dum
Jan- Mar,
1857
Greased cartridges cause unrest. Berhampore and
Barrackpore see outbreaks. Chapaties and lotus
passed from village to village as a symbollic
message.
11 May,
1857
Rebels reach Delhi and proclaim Bahadur Shah
Zafar as Emperor and their leader.
31 May,
1857
Khan Bahadur Khan, a government pensioner takes
the lead, and is proclaimed ruler under the King of
Delhi. Moradabad and Shahjahanpur see a revolt
and rebels attack Christians at the latter. The native
regiments are disarmed in Agra
3 Jun, 1857 Abbas Ali proclaims himself the ruler in Moradabad.
6 Jun, 1857
Nana Sahib joins the rebels and is proclaimed
Peshwa. Revolt at Jhansi, Europeans massacred.
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Revolt in Azamgarh.
8 Jun, 1857 Battle of Badle ki serai in Delhi.
11 Jun,
1857
Brigadier General James Neill arrives at Allahabad.
Jhansi rebels leave for Delhi.
12 Jun,
1857
Nana Sahib massacres over Europeans fugitives
from Fatehgarh at Bithur.
15 Jun,
1857
Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh imprisoned in Fort William,
Calcutta.
16 Jun,
1857
Maulvi Liaqat Ali flees Allahabad. Nawabs rule
proclaimed at Fatehgarh.
27 Jun,
1857 Massacre at Satichaura Ghat, Kanpur.
30 Jun,
1857
British defeated at Chinhat ; Bulandshahr captured
by Walidad Khan.
2 Jul, 1857 Bakht Khan arrives in Delhi with the Bareilly brigade
4 Jul, 1857
European fugitives from Fatehgarh and Farrukhabad
masacred at Rampore. Sir Henry Lawrence dies in
the Lucknow Residency.
7 Jul 31
Jul, 1857
Fatehpur occupied by Havelock.
Bibighar massacre at Kanpur.
Nana Sahib defeated by Havelock at Fatehpur, and
First Battle of Kanpur.
Havelock enters Kanpur and Nana Sahib retreats to
Bithur.
Siege of Arrah House.
Parade Ground Massacre at Farruckhabad
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(Fatehpur).
Havelock defeats rebels at Unnao.
A large rebel force from Mhow and Indore arrives
at Gwalior
5 Aug, 1857
Havelock defeats the rebels at Bashiratganj.
Kunwar Singh proclaims himself as King of Shahbad.
17 Aug,
1857
Sir Colin Campbell becomes British Commander-in-
Chief.
14 Sept,
1857 British assaults on Delhi start
20 Sept,
1857 Delhi conqured by British
21 Sept,
1857
Bahadur Shah Zafar captured at Humayuns Tomb
by Captain Hodson.
22 Sept,
1857 Hodson murders Mughal Princes.
17 Nov,
1857
Lucknow Residency releived by Campbell. Outram
at the Alambagh; rebels see his withdrawal from
Awadh as a great victory.
24 Nov,
1857 Havelock dies of dysentery
27 Nov,
1857
Gwalior Contingent attacks Nawabganj (Unnao).
British retreat
3 Dec, 1857
Campbell sends rescued women and sick from
Lucknow Residency to Allahabad.
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6 Dec, 1857
Tatya Tope defeated in the third battle of Kanpur by
Campbell
6 Jan 14
Jan, 1858
Fatehgarh reclaimed by British. Sir Hugh Rose
launches the operation in Central India.
Bahadur Shah Zafar is tried at The Red Fort in
Delhi.
Laxmi Bai issues a proclamation against the British
17 Mar,
1858
Brigadier Stuart attacks Chanderi. Kunwar Singh
wins Battle of Atraulia.
21 Mar,
1858 Rose reaches Jhansi.
1 Apr, 1858 Tatya Tope loses Battle of Betwa
3 Apr, 1858 Jhansi captured by British
5 Apr, 1858
Jhansi fort taken by the British. Rani, with her step-
son, reaches Kunch.
17 Apr,
1858 British forces attack Kunwar Singh near Azamgarh.
18 Apr,
1858 Battle of Banda.
26 Apr,
1858 Kunwar Singh dies
6 May, 1858
Battle of Bareilly, included the famous change of
the Ghazis of whom 133 were bayonettled. Bareilly
taken but rebel leaders escaped.
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8 May, 1858 Tatya Tope defeated in Battle of Kunch by Rose
11 May,
1858
Amar Singh defeated but manages to escape. Battle
of Shahjahpur.
22 May,
1858
Battle of Kalpi, armory captured by British under
Rose
25 May,
1858 Hamirpur falls to the British
1 Jun, 1858
Rani of Jhansi, Rao Sahib and Tatya Tope capture
Gwalior, occupy Lushkar and Gwalior fort. Madho
Singh captured by Rose.
12 Jun,
1858
Battle of Nawabganj; Sir Hope Grant wins Awadh.
Amar Singh returns to Buxar. Khan Bahadur Khan
attacks Shahjanpur.
15 Jun,
1858 Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah is killed while attacking
16 Jun,
1858 Battle of Morar
17 Jun,
1858
Battle of Kota-Ki- Serai; Rani of Jhansi dies in the
battle-field
19 Jun,
1858 Gwalior falls to British
20 Jun,
1858
Gwalior fort captured by Rose. Battle of Jaora.
Scindia returns to Gwalior.
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5 Jul, 1858 Banpur Raja surrenders
1 Nov, 1858
Queen Victorias abolishes the rule of the East India
Company in India.
25 Nov,
1858
Raja of Gonda defeated by Sir Patrick Grant, Gonda
occupied.
Dec, 1858 Bihar rebels finally dispersed.
7 Jan, 1859 Awadh rebellion ends
7 Apr, 1859
Khan Bahadur Khan, Begum of Awadh, Nana Sahib
and Birjis Qadr flee to fort of Niacote in Nepal.
8 Apr, 1859 Tatya Tope captured by British.
18 Apr,
1859 Tatya Tope hanged.
20 Apr,
1859 Nana Sahib sends 'Ishtiharnama' to Queen Victoria
8 Jul, 1859 British declare State of peace.
24 Sept,
1859 Nana Sahib dies
Dec, 1859
Amar Singh captured in the Terai by Jung Bahadurs
troops.
9 Dec, 1859 Khan Bahadur Khan captured
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24 Feb,
1860 Khan Bahadur Khan hanged.
3 May, 1860
Jwala Prasad hanged at Satichaura Ghat, the
massacre site.

Causes, Outbreak, Failure, and Impact of the 1857 Mutiny
The Revolt of 1857, Causes, Outbreak, Failure, and Impact
Causes of the Revolt:
Political Causes:
The policy of Doctrine of Lapse.
o Nana Sahib was refused pension, as he was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II
o Rani Laxmi Bais adopted son was not recognized by the East India Company as the
hier to Jhansi
o Bahadur Shah's successor was denied the right to live at the red fort
o The British did not obey the treaties sometimes and they were broken according to the
need of the British and the nawabs at that time could not trust any treaty at all.
Economic Causes:
Heavy taxation, evictions, discriminatory tariff policy against Indian products and
destruction of traditional handicrafts that hit peasants, artisans and small zamindars,
large scale unemployment and economic distress caused due to annexation of Indian
states.
Military Discrimination:
Discrimination between the Indian and the British soldiers. Indian soldiers were paid
low salaries compared to his British counterpart; they could not rise above the rank of
subedar and were racially insulted.
They were also grieved because of the refusal of British to pay Foreign Service
allowance (batta) while fighting in remote regions such as Punjab and Sindh.
Religious Discrimination:
British social reforms (widow remarriage, abolition of Sati, education for girls, Christian
missionaries).
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The introduction of Enfield rifle, the cartridge of which was greased with animal fat,
provided the spark.
Inventions like railway and telegraphs spread of Western education also promoted the
cause.
The British looked down upon Indians and followed a policy of racial discrimination and
separated themselves as 'superiors' from the Indian society.
Outbreak:
On Mar 29, 1857, a soldier named Mangal Pandey attacked and fired at his senior at
Barrackpur in Bengal (in 19th and 34th Native infantry).
On May 10, there was a mutiny of sepoys at Meerut (3rd native cavalry).
Mutiny spread throughout UP along with some other parts of the country.
Mar to Delhi became the battle cry of the rebels. At Delhi, the Mughal emperor
Bahadur Shah II was proclaimed the Emperor of India.
Where the rulers were loyal to the British, the soldiers revolted as in Gwalior and
Indore. In some places, the people revolted before the sepoys did.
In the beginning, the rebels were successful. Europeans were killed, law courts and
police stations were attacked and revenue records were destroyed. But reverses soon
began to occur.
Causes of Failure of the Revolt:
Lack of planning, organization and leadership.
Unfortunately, some Indians supported the British in suppressing the revolt. Scindia of
Gwalior, the Holkar of Indore, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Raja of Jodhpur, the
Nawab of Bhopal, the rulers of Patiala, Sindh and Kashmir and the Rana of Nepal
provided active support to the British.
The modern intelligent Indians also didnt support the cause.
The military equipment of the rebels was inferior.
Impact of the revolt:
The revolt was mainly feudal in character carrying with it some nationalist elements.
The control of Indian administration was passed on to the British crown by the
Government, of India Act, 1858. The army was carefully reorganized to prevent the
recurrence of such an event.

Mahatma Gandhi - 100 important events - a timeline
Mahatma Gandhi's life - 100 Important Events
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1 1869
Born at Porbandar, Kathiawad, Father: Karamchand
Mother: Putlibai
2 1876 Primary schooling in Rajkot
3 1881 Started high school in Rajkot
4 1883 Married to Kasturba
5 1887
Passed matriculation examination at Ahmedabad and
entered Samaldas College, Bhavnagar, Kathiawad
6 1891 Sailed from Bombay for England to study law
7 1891
Returned to India after being called to bar. Began
practice of law in Bombay and Rajkot
8 1893
Sailed for South Africa to become lawyer for an Indian
firm
9 1893 Faced color discrimination / apartheid
10 1894
Drafted first petition sent by the Indians to a South
African legislature
11 1894 Organised Natal Indian Congress
12 1896
Returned to India for six months to bring back his wife
and two children to Natal
13 1896
Reached South Africa with family. Was mobbed when he
disembarked at Durban for his writings about South
Africa when he was in India
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14 1899
Organised Indian Ambulance Corps for British in Boer
War
15 1901
Moved back to India. Promised to return to South Africa
if Indian community needed his services again
16
1901
1902
Attended Indian National Congress meeting in Calcutta,
and opened law office in Bombay
17 1902
Returned to South Africa after urgent request from
Indian community
18 1903 Opened law office in Johannesburg
19 1904 Established Indian Opinion, a weekly
20 1904
Organised Phoenix Settlement near Durban, after
reading Ruskin's Unto This Last
21 1906 Organised Indian Ambulance Corps for Zulu "Rebellion"
22 1906 Took vow of continence for life
23 1906
First satyagraha campaign in Johannesburg in protest
against proposed Asiatic ordinance directed against
Indian immigrants in Transvaal
24 1906
Sailed for England to present Indians case to Colonial
Secretary
25 1907
Organised satyagraha against Compulsory Registration of
Asians ("The Black Act")
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26 1908
Stood trial for instigating satyagraha and was sentenced
to two months' imprisonment in Johannesburg jail (his
first imprisonment)
27 1908
Summoned to consult General Smuts at Pretoria;
compromise reached; was released from jail
28 1908
Attacked and wounded by Indian extremist, Mir Alam, for
reaching settlement with Smuts
29 1908
Second satyagraha campaign began with bonfire of
registration certificates after Smuts broke agreement
30 1908
Arrested for not having certificate, and sentenced to two
months' imprisonment in Volksrust jail
31 1909
Sentenced to three months imprisonment in Volksrust
and Pretoria jails
32 1909 Sailed for England again to present Indians' case
33 1909 Returned to South Africa, wrote 'Hind Swaraj' on the way
34 1910 Established Tolstoy Farm near Johannesburg
35 1913
Helped campaign against nullification of marriages not
conducted as per Christian rites
36 1913
Third satyagraha campaign begun by leading "great
march" of 2,000 Indian miners from Newcastle across
Transvaal border in Natal
37 1913
Arrested three times in four days (at Palmford,
Standerton, and Teakworth) and sentenced at Dundee to
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nine months' imprisonment; tried at Volksrust in second
trial and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with
his European co-workers, Polak and Kallenbach.
38 1913
Released unconditionally in expectation of a compromise
settlement, C.F. Andrews and W.W. Pearson having been
sent by Indians in India to negotiate
39 1914
Underwent fourteen days' fast for moral lapse of
members of Phoenix Settlement
40 1914
Satyagraha campaign suspended, with pending
agreement between Smuts, C.F. Andrews, and Gandhi,
and with ultimate passage of Indian Relief Act
41 1914 Left South Africa
42 1914 Organised Indian Ambulance Corps in England
43 1915
Established Satyagraha Ashram at Kochrab, near
Ahmedabad, and soon admitted an untouchable family.
The ashram was moved in 1917 to a new site on
Sabarmati River
44 1916 Gave speech at opening of Hindu University at Benares
45 1917
Led successful satyagraha campaign for rights of
peasants on indigo plantations in Champaran. Defied an
order to leave the area , was arrest at Motihari and tried,
but case was withdrawn. Mahadev Desai joined him at
Champaran
46 1918
Led strike of mill workers at Ahmedabad. Mill owner
agreed to arbitration after his three-day fast (his first
fast in India)
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47 1918 Led satyagraha campaign for peasants in Kheda
48 1918
Attended Viceroy's War Conference at Delhi and agreed
for recruitment of Indians for World War I
49 1919
Rowlatt Act (perpetuating withdrawal of civil liberties for
seditious crimes) passed, and first all-India satyagraha
campaign conceived
50 1919 Organised "nation-wide hartal" against Rowlatt Act
51 1919
Arrested at Kosi near Delhi on way to Punjab and
escorted back to Bombay, but never tried
52 1919
Fasted at Sabarmati for three days in penitence for
violence and suspended satyagraha campaign, which he
called a Himalayan miscalculation" because people were
not disciplined enough
53 1919
Became the editor of English weekly, Young India, and
Gujarati weekly, Navajivan
54 1920 Elected president of All-India Home Rule League
55 1920
Successfully urged resolution for a satyagraha campaign
of non-cooperation at Muslim Conference at Allahabad
and at Congress sessions at Calcutta and Nagpur
56 1920
Gave up Kaisar-i-Hind medal. Second all-India
satyagraha campaign started
57 1921 Presided at bonfire of foreign cloth in Bombay.
58 1921
Resolved to wear only a loin-cloth in devotion to Khadi
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and simplicity
59 1921
Fasted at Bombay for five days because of communal
rioting following visit of Prince of Wales
60 1921
Mass Civil Disobedience. Gandhi invested with "sole
executive authority" on behalf of Congress.
61 1922
Civil disobedience movement is suspended following
violence at Chauri Chaura and undertook five-day fast of
penance at Bardoli
62 1922
Arrested at Sabarmati in charge of sedition in Young
India. Pleaded guilty at the "great trial" in Ahmedabad.
Sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Yeravda jail
63 1923
Wrote Satyagraha in South Africa and part of his
autobiography in prison
64 1924
Was operated on for appendicitis and unconditionally
released from prison
65 1924
Began 21-day "great fast" at Mohammed Ali's home near
Delhi as penance for communal riots between Hindus
andMuslims, especially at Kohat
66 1924 Presided over Congress session at Belgaum as president
67 1925
Announced one-year political silence and immobility at
Congress session at Cawnpore (Kanpur)
68 1928
Moved compromise resolution at Congress session at
Calcutta, calling for complete independence within one
year, or else the beginning of another all-Indian
satyagraha campaign
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69 1929
Congress session at Lahore declared 'complete
independence' and a boycott of the legislature and
declared January 26 as National Independence Day
70 1930
Set out from Sabamarti with 79 volunteers on historic
salt march 200 miles to sea at Dandi
71 1930 Broke salt law by picking salt up at seashore
72 1931
Gandhi-Irwin (Viceroy) Pact signed, Civil Disobedience
ended
73 1931
Attended the second Round Table Conference. Resided at
Kingsley Hall in London slums, broadcast to America,
visited universities, met celebrities
74 1931
Traveled to Switzerland, met Romain Rolland, met
Mussolini in Italy
75 1932
Arrested in Bombay with Sardar Patel and detained
without trial at Yeravda prison
76 1932
Began "perpetual fast unto death" while in prison in
protest of British action giving separate electorates to
untouchables
77 1932
Concluded "epic fast with historic cell scene in presence
of Tagore after British accepted "Poona Pact"
78 1933
Began weekly publication of Harijan in place of Young
India
79 1933
Sentenced to one year's imprisonment at Yeravda.
Started a fast against refusal of permission to work
against untouchability while in prison; taken to hospital
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on the fifth day a, unconditionally released on eighth day
80 1933
Began ten-month tour of every province in India to help
end untouchability
81 1933
Kasturba arrested and imprisoned for sixth time in two
years
82 1934
Fasted at Wardha ashram for seven days against
intolerance of opponents of the movement against
untouchability
83 1934 Launched All-India Village Industries Association
84 1940
Launched limited, individual civil-disobedience campaign
against Britain's refusal to allow Indians to express their
opinions regarding World War II
85 1942
Met Sir Stafford Cripps in New Delhi but called his
proposals "a post-dated cheque". Proposals were
ultimately rejected by Congress
86 1942
Congress passed "Quit India" resolution - the final
nation-wide satyagraha campaign - with Gandhi as
leader
87 1942
Arrested with other Congress leaders and Kasturba and
imprisoned at Aga Khan Palace near Poona
88 1943
Began 21-day fast at Aga Khan Palace to end deadlock of
negotiations between Viceroy and Indian leaders
89 1944
After decline in health, was released unconditionally from
detention
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90 1946 Conferred with British Cabinet Mission in New Delhi
91 1946
Toured villages in East Bengal to quell communal rioting
over Muslim representation in provisional government
92 1947 Toured Bihar to ease Hindu-Muslim tension
93 1947 Began conferences in New Delhi with Lord Mountbatten
94 1947
Opposed Congress decision to accept division of country
into India and Pakistan
95 1947
Fasted and prayed to combat riots in Calcutta as India
was partitioned and granted independence
96 1947
Fasted for three days to stop communal violence in
Calcutta
97 1947
Visited Delhi to stop rioting and to visit camps of
refugees (Hindus and Sikhs from the Punjab)
98 1948 Fasted for five days in Delhi for communal unity
99 1948
Bomb exploded in midst of his prayer meeting at Birla
House, Delhi
100 1948
Assassinated in 78th year at Birla House by Nathuram
Vinayak Godse

Important Wars and Battles in Indian History
Important Battles and Wars in Indian History. You can ask questions about them or
discuss them in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
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Year War / Battle Outcome
326 B.C.
Battle of
Hydaspas
Porus loses to Alexander
261 B.C. Kalinga War Asoka wins but adapts Buddhism
712 A.D. Invasion of Sind
Mohammed-bin-Qasim invades from the
west
1191
A.D.
First Battle of
Tarain
Prithviraj Chauhan defeats Mohammed
Ghori
1192
A.D.
Second Battle of
Tarain
Ghori defeats Prithviraj Chauhan
1194
A.D.
Battle of
Chhandwar
Ghori defeats Jaichandra of Kannauj
1526
A.D.
First Battle of
Panipat
Babar defeats Ibrahim Lodhi
1527
A.D.
Battle of Khanua Babar defeats Rana Sanga
1529
A.D.
Battle of
Ghaghara
Babar defeats the Afghans
1539
A.D.
Battle of Chausa Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun
1540
A.D.
Battle of Kannauj
(or Bilgram)
Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun
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1556
A.D.
Second Battle of
Panipat
Bairam Khan (representing Akbar)
defeats Hemu
1565
A.D.
Battle of Talikota
(or Banihatti)
Vijaynagar empire (represented by
Sadasiva) loses against an alliance
formed by Ahmednagar, Bijapur,
Golkonda and Bidar
1576
A.D.
Battle of
Haldighati
Akbar defeats Maharana Pratap
1615
A.D.
Mewar submitted
to the Mughals
Peace treaty signed between Jahangiri
and Rana Amar Singh of Mewar.
1649
A.D.
Mughal-Safavid
War
Mughals lose Kandahar to Persia
1658
A.D.
Battle of
Dharmatt and
Samugarh
Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shikoh
1665
A.D.
Seige of Purandar
Raja Jai Singh defeats Shivaji. Treaty of
Purandar signed
1708
A.D.
Battle of Khed Shahu defeats Tara Bai.
1737
A.D.
Battle of Bhopal Baji Rao defeats Mohammed Shah.
1739
A.D.
Battle of Karnal Nadir Shah defeats Mohammed Shah.
1757
Battle of Plassey
Robert Cive defeats Siraj-ud-daula, the
27 | P a g e

A.D. Nawab of Bengal
1760
A.D.
Battle of
Wandiwash
English defeat the French
1761
A.D.
Third Battle of
Panipat
Ahmed Shah Abdali defeats Marathas
1764
A.D.
Battle of Buxar
Hector Munro defeats combined armies
of Nawab Mir Qasim of Bengal, Nawab
Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and Mughal
emperor Shah Alam
1767-69
A.D.
First Anglo Mysore
War
Hyder Ali defeats English forces
1766-69
A.D.
First Anglo
Maratha War
British defeatsed
1770
A.D.
Battle of Udgir Marathas defeat the Nizam
1780-84
A.D.
Second Anglo
Mysore War
Hyder Ali dies. Treaty of Mangalore is
signed
1789-92
A.D.
Third Anglo
Mysore War
Tipu Sultan defeated. Treaty of
Serirangapatnam is signed.
1799
A.D.
Fourth Anglo
Mysore War
Tipu Sultan is defeated and killed
1803-06
A.D.
Second Anglo
Maratha War
Marathas lose to the British
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1817-19
A.D.
Third Anglo
Maratha War
Marathas lose to the British again
1824-26
A.D.
First Anglo
Burmese War
British win over Burmese.
1839-42
A.D.
First Anglo Afghan
War
British defeat Afghan ruler Dost
Mohammad
1845-46
A.D.
First Anglo Sikh
War
Sikhs lose to the British
1848-49
A.D.
Second Anglo Sikh
War
Punjab annexed by the British
1852
A.D.
Second Anglo
Burmese War
British win the war
1865
A.D.
Third Angio
Burmese War
British win and Burma is annexed
1868-80
A.D.
Second Anglo
Afghan War
Treaty of Gandamak is signed
1919-21
A.D.
Third Anglo
Afghan War
Ended in an Artimice. Durand line
established.
Delhi Sultnate: Study Notes
Delhi Sultnate is a term given to five kingdoms that ruled over Delhi between 13
th
and the 16
th
Centuries. There were five different
dynasties that ruled during this period. The Sultanate was preceded by Muhammad Ghori and was succeeded by the Mughal Empire.
The dynasties and their period of rule
Mamluk dynasty (1206-1290)
Khilji dynasty (1290-1320)
Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1413)
29 | P a g e

Sayyid dynasty (1414-1451)
Lodi dynasty (1451-1526)

Mamluk Dynasty 1206-1290
Mamluk Dynasty is commonly known as the Slave Dynasty. Mamulks had a Turkic origin. It was the first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.
Mamluk Dynasty was established by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak who a slave and general of Muhammad Ghori. Aibak took control of Ghoris
territories in the Indian region after his death.

Important rulers of the Mamluk dynasty:

Qutub-ud-din-Aibak (1206-1210 AD)
o He initiated the construction of the Qutub Minar.
Shams-ud-din-Iltutmish (1211-1236)
o The Qutub Minar was finally completed under Iltutmish
Razia Sultana (1236-1240)
o The first female ruler.
Ghiyas-ud-din-Balban (1266-1287)

Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
The Khiljis had a Turkic-Afghan origin. Ala-ud-din-Khilji (1296-1316 AD) was a prominent Khilji ruler. Notable events during his rule
were:
Averting the Mongol invasion between 1294 AD and 1308 AD
Invasion of Southern-India. His general Malik Kafur won over Hoysalas, Devagiri, and Warangal.
He introduced a price control system.

Tughlaq Dynasty (1321 to 1394 AD)
The Tuglaqs were of Turkic origin. The Tughlaq dynasty was founded by Ghiyas-al-din Tughlaq in 1321 AD.
The empire grew vastly under is son Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325-1351 AD).
Notable events during his rule were:
He shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, a move that failed.
He was responsible for the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate southwards into the Deccan region
Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced copper-based token currency. Another failed experiment, that could have been a turning point in
history.
30 | P a g e

Muhammad bin Tughlaq was succeeded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388 AD).
Firoz Shah Tughlaq re-built the top two storeys of the Qutub Minar with white marble.

Sayyid Dynasty (1414 AD to 1451 AD)
The Sayyids came to power after Timurs plunder of Delhi in 1398 AD. The Sayyids were succeeded by the Lodis.

Lodi Dynasty (1451 AD to 1526 AD)
The Lodis were of Afghan origin.
The Lodi dynasty was founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi in 1451 AD.
Sikandar Lodi (1489 AD-1517) founded the city of Agra in 1504.
Ibrahim Lodi (1489 AD-1526) was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty. He was defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat and Mughal
rule was established in India.
Jawahar Lal Nehru - 50 Important Events - A
Timeline

1
14 November
1889
Born in Allahabad to Motilal Nehru and Swaruprani
2 1905-05 Studied at the Harrow School, Middlesex.
3 Oct-07
Went to Trinity College, Cambridge and studied
Natural Science
4 1910 Moved to London for Law studies
5 1912 Admitted to the English Bar
6 Aug-12
Returned to India. Enrolled as an advocate of the
Allahabad High Court
7 1913
Collected funds for the civil rights campaigners led
by M.K. Gandhi
31 | P a g e

8
First World-
War
Joined St John Ambulance and worked as one of its
provincial secretaries in Allahabad
9 1916 Married Kamla Nehru
10 1916
Met M.K. Gandhi for the first time at the Lucknow
session of the Congress
11 1917
Joins and become secretary of Besant's All India
Home Rule League
12 1919
Joined Gandhiji in protest against Jallianwala
Massacre
13 1920
Joined and led the Non-Cooperation Movement in
the United Provinces.
Note: After the sudden closure of the non-
cooperation movement due to the Chauri Chaura
incident, Nehru remained loyal to Gandhi and did
not join the Swaraj Partyformed by his father
Motilal Nehru and CR Das.
14 1921
Nehru followed Gandhi in sympathy with the
Khilafat movement. Nehru joined the first civil
disobedience campaign as general secretary of the
United Provinces Congress Committee.
15 1921 Imprisoned for the first time by the British
16 1922 Released 3rd March. Imprisoned 11th May
17 1923
Imprisoned in Nabha for defying an order banning
entry into Nabha state
18 1923
Elected General Secretary of the Congress party
from Kakinada session of the Congress in 1923
32 | P a g e

19 1923
co-operated with Dr. N.S. Hardiker in founding the
Hindustani Seva Dal
20 1923
elected chairman of the Allahabad Municipal Board
in 1923
21 1927
second term as general secretary with the Madras
session of Congress
22 1927
introduced a resolution demanding "complete
national independence" - rejected because of
Gandhi's opposition
23 1927
Congress invited to attend the congress of
oppressed nationalities in Brussels in Belgium.
Nehru represented India; elected to the Executive
Council of the League against Imperialism formed
at this meeting.
24 1928 Founded the Independence for India League
25
29th
December
1929
Became the President of the Congress party during
the Lahore session and introduced a successful
resolution for complete independence.
26
31st December
1929
hoisted the tricolour flag of India upon the banks of
the Ravi in Lahore
27 1930
Arrested and imprisoned for violation of the Salt
Law
28 1935
Became the President of All India States People's
Conference
29 1936
Kamala Nehru died from tuberculosis in Lausanne,
Switzerland
33 | P a g e

30 1936
Nehru along with V.K. Krishna Menon went to Spain
and extended support against the fascist
31 1936
Mussolini expressed a desire to meet Nehru Nehru
refused to meet
32 1937
Muslim League offered to cooperate with the All-
India Congress Committee in forming a coalition
government in the United Provinces - Nehru refused
33 1938
Became Chairman of the National Planning
Committee
34 Mar-42
Cripps mission offered dominion status for India -
Nehru refused
35 1942 Quit India Movement. Nehru imprisoned till 1945
36 1946
Interim government formed 2 September with
Nehru as Vice-President of the Viceroy's Executive
Council and member for External Affairs and
Commonwealth Relations
37 Jan-1947
said that independent India would not accept the
Divine Right of Kings
38 May-1947
declared that any princely state which refused to
join the Constituent Assembly would be treated as
an enemy state
39 Jun-1947 Accepted the partition proposal
40 Aug-1947
Became the first Prime Minister of Independent
India
41 Nov-1948
Addressed the Special Session of the United Nations
34 | P a g e

General Assembly, Paris.
42 Jan-1949
Inaugurated the eighteen nation conference to
condemn Dutch aggression on Indonesia.
43 Oct-1949 First visit to the U.S.A. and Canada.
44 1950 Became the Chairman of the Planning Commission
45 1951 Elected President of Indian National congress
46 1952
Formed new government after the first General
Elections
47 1954
Chou En-lai visited India. A joint statement listing
the five principles (Panchsheel) for the regulation of
relations between nations was issued.
48 1960
Addressed the United Nations General Assembly in
New York.
49 1961 Non-Alignment movement founded
50 1962 War with China. Emergency proclaimed
51 May-1964 Died in New Delhi
5000 BC: the Kurgan culture in the steppes west of the Ural Mountains (Indo-Aryans)
3120 BC: mythical Indian war of the Mahabarata
3000 BC: the proto-indo-european language develops in Central Asia
3000 BC: Dravidian speaking people develop the civilization of the Indus Valley
TM, , Copyright 2005 Piero Scaruffi All rights reserved.
2500 BC: the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley
2000 BC: the civilization of the Indus Valley declines
2000 BC: the Kurgan culture spreads to eastern Europe and northern Iran
1700 BC: Indo-Iranians separate from the other Indo-European tribes and migrate eastward
to settle in Iran
1600 BC: Indo-Aryans invade India from the west and expel the Dravidians
35 | P a g e

1500 BC: religious texts are written in Vedic, an Indo-European language
1100 BC: the Indo-Aryans use iron tools
1000 BC: the Rig-Veda are composed
900 BC: Indo-Aryans invade the Ganges Valley
876 BC: Hindus invent the zero
750 BC: Indo-Aryans rule over 16 mahajanapadas ("great states") in northern India, from
the Indus to the Ganges
700 BC: the caste system emerges, with the Brahman priests at the top
600 BC: the Upanishads are composed in Sanskrit
543 BC: Bimbisara of Bihar conquers the Magadha region in the northeast and moves the
capital to Rajagriha
527 BC: prince Siddhartha Gautama is enlightened and becomes the Buddha
521 BC: Darius of Persia expands the Persian empire beyond the Indus River (Punjab and Sind)
500 BC: the ascetic prince Mahavira founds Jainism in northern India
493 BC: Bimbisara dies and is succeeded by Ajatashatru
461 BC: Ajatashatru dies after expanding the Magadha territory
400 BC: Panini's grammar (sutra) formalizes Sanskrit, an evolution of Vedic
327 BC: Alexander of Macedonia invades the Indus valley
323 BC: at the death of Alexander, Seleucus obtains India (Punjab)
304 BC: the Magadha king Chandragupta Maurya buys the Indus valley for 500 elephants from
Seleucus, and thus founds the Maurya dynasty with capital in Patna (Pataliputra)
300 BC: the Ramayama is composed
300 BC: the Chola dynasty rules over southern India with capital in Thanjavur
290 BC: the Mauryan king Bindusara, son of Chandragupta, extends the empire to the Deccan
259 BC: the Mauryan king Ashoka, grandson of Chandragupta, converts to Buddhism and sends out
Buddhist missionaries to nearby states
251 BC: Ashoka's son Mahinda introduces Buddhism to Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
250 BC: Diodotos, ruler of the satrapy of Bactria (Afghanistan), declares its independence from the
Seleucids and conquers Sogdiana
250 BC: Buddhists carve the first cave temples (Lomas Rishi)
232 BC: Ashoka dies
220 BC: the Maurya dynasty under Ashoka's son Bindusara expands to almost all of India
206 BC: Seleucid king Antiochus III conquers Punjab
206 BC: Youstol Dispage dies
200 BC: the Mahabarata is composed
200 BC: Demetrios I expands Bactria to northwestern India
200 BC: the Andhras occupy the Indian east coast
184 BC: the Maurya ruler Brihadratha is assassinated by Pushyamitra Sunga/Shunga, the Maurya
dynasty ends and the Sunga dynasty begins
190 BC: Bactrian king Euthydemus defeats Seleucid king Antiochus III at Magnesia
170 BC: Batrian king Demetrios I expands Bactria to northwestern India
155 BC: Bactrian king Menander invades northwestern India
150 BC: Patanjali writes the "Yoga Sutras"
36 | P a g e

150 BC: the Andhras under king Krishna move their capital to Paithan
150 BC: the "Kama" sutra is composed
100 BC: India is mainly divided among Bactria (northwest), Andhras (east) and Sungas (south)
100 BC: the Bhagavata Gita is composed
80 BC: the Scythians (Sakas) under Bhumaka conquer northwestern India from Bactria
78 BC: the Sunga dynasty ends
50 BC: King Simuka installs the Satavahanas in Andhra Pradesh and extends his kingdom to the whole
of the Deccan plateau
50 BC: the Scythians (Sakas) conquer Muttra and Taxila
50 AD: Thomas, an apostle of Jesus, visits India
50 AD: the first Buddhist stupa at Sanchi
127? AD: Kanishka, king of the Kushan, enlarges the kingdom from Bactria into Uzbekistan, Kashmir,
Punjab, moves the capital to Peshawar and promotes Buddhism
162: Kushan king Kanishka dies
200: the Manu code prescribes the rules of everyday life and divides Hindus into four castes (Brahmins,
warriors, farmers/traders, non-Aryans)
233: Ardashir I Sassanid conquers the Kushan empire
250: the Satavahanas disintegrate
300: the Pallava dynasty is founded in Kanchi
318: Chandra Gupta founds the Gupta kingom in Magadha and extends its domains throughout
northern India with capital at Patna
350: Samudra Gupta extends the Gupta kingdom to Assam, Deccan, Malwa
350: the Kadambas of Karnataka rule from Banavasi
350: the Sangam is compiled in the Tamil language in the kingdom of Madurai
350: the Puranas are composed (a compendium of Hindu mythology)
380: Buddhist monks carve two giant Buddha statues in the rock at Bamiya, Bactria (Afghanistan)
390: Chandra Gupta II extends the Gupta kingdom to Gujarat
391: Youstol Dispage Fromscaruffi dies
400: the Shakas kingdom in Gujarat and Sindh dissolves
400: the Licchavi family unites Nepal
450: the Gupta king Kumargupta builds the monastic university of Nalanda (near Patna)
455: the Huns raid the Gupta empire (Punjab and Kashmir)
465: king Harisena of the Vakataka dynasty begins work at the Ajanta caves
467: Gupta king Skanda dies and the empire declines
499: the Hindu mathematician Aryabhata writes the "Aryabhatiya", the first book on Algebra
499: the Huns attack the Gupta empire from the northwest seizing Punjab and Kashmir
500: bhakti cult in Tamil Nadu
510: Huns led by Mihiragula conquer Punjab, Gujarat and Malwa from the Gupta
528: the Gupta empire collapses under continuous barbaric invasions
535: cave-temple of Elephanta Island (Bombay)
550: the Chalukyan kingdom is established in central India with capital in Badami
578: Badami shrines in Karnataka
600: shakti cult (mother-goddess)
37 | P a g e

600: the Pallava dynasty dominates southern India from Kanchi
606: Harsha Vardhana, a Buddhist king of the Gupta dynasty, builds the kingdom of Thanesar in north
India and Nepal with capital at Kanauij in the Punjab
625: Pulikesin extends the Chalukyan empire in central India
629: the Chinese monk Xuanzang (Huang Tsang) travels to India
630: Songzen Gampo introduces Buddhism to Bhutan
647: Thanesar king Harsha Vardhana is defeated by the Chalukyas (based in Karnataka) at Malwa
(central India)
650: Ellora caves
650: the Pallavas rule from their capital at Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) are defeated by the Chalukyas
670: the Pallavas build a new city at Mamallapuram
700: the Mahavamsa is composed in the Pali language in Ceylon
700: the Shore temple at Mamallapuram
700: the Pallavas rule southern India from their capital Kanchipuram
711: the Arabs conquer Sindh and Multan (Pakistan)
723: Kathmandu is founded in Nepal
730: King Lalitaditya rules in Kashmir
750: temples of Bhubaneshwar and Puri
750: the Gurjara-Pratiharas rule the north of India
750: the Palas rule eastern India
753: the Rashtrakutas, a Chalukya dynasty, expand from the Deccan into south and central India
757: the capital of the Chalukyan kingdom is moved from Badami to Pattadakal
757: the Kailasa temple at Ellora
TM, , Copyright 2005 Piero Scaruffi All rights reserved.
775: the Rashtrakutas are defeated by the Chalukyas, who move the capital at Kalyani (Mysore)
775: Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty builds the rock-cut Kailasha Temple at Ellora
784: the Pratihara king Nagabhata II conquers the sacred capital of the north, Kanyakubja
800: kingdoms are created in central India and in Rajastan by Rajputs (warlords)
800: Shankar (Samkara) Acharya founds the Hinduist monastery of Sringeri
846: the Cholas regain independence from the Pallavas
871: Sindh and Multan (Pakistan) are de facto independent from the Baghdad caliphate
885: the Pratihara empire reaches its peak under Adivaraha Mihira Bhoja I, extending from Punjab to
Gujarat to Central India
888: the Pallava dynasty ends
890: first Hindu temples at Khajuraho
900: the Bhagavata Purana is composed in Sanskrit
950: the Tomara Rajputs gain independence from the Gurjara-Pratihara empire and found their capital
at Delhi
950: the Chandellas gain independence from the Gurjara-Pratihara empire and found their capital at
Khajuraho (Madhya Pradresh)
977: Sebaktigin, a slave general, founds the Ghaznavid dynasty in Afghanistan, northern India and
Central Asia
985: Rajaraja Chola I extends the Chola empire to all of south India and builds the temple of Thanjavur
38 | P a g e

997: Mahmud of Ghazni raids northern India
998: Mahmud of Ghazni conquers Punjab
1000: the tribal chieftain Nripa Kama conquers the area between the Cholas (south) and the Badami
Chalukyas (north) and founds the Hoysala dynasty
1000: Lingaraja and Rajarani temples at Bhubaneshwar (Orissa)
1000: the Shahi state is annexed to the Ghaznavid empire
1000: the Chola king Rajaraja builds the Brihadeshvara Temple in Thanjavur (Tanjore)
1014: Rajendra Chola I becomes the Chola ruler of the south and defeats the Palas in Bengal
1017: the Cholas conquer Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
1019: Mahmud Ghaznavid raids north India and destroys Kanauj, capital of the Gurjara-Pratihara
empire
1021: Mahmud appoints Malik Ayaz to the throne and makes Lahore the capital of the Ghaznavid
Empire
1030: the Ghaznavid empire conquers Punjab
1030: the Solanki kings build the Jain temples at Mount Abu
1050: the Chola empire conquers Srivijaya, Malaya and the Maldives
1070: Vijayabahu I of Rohanna expels the Cholas from Ceylon and moves the capital to Polonnaruva
1084: Mahipala brings the Palas to the peak of their power
1084: Youstol Dispage dies
1150: the Senas conquer the Palas
1153: Parakramabahu I of Ceylon moves the capital to Polonnaruva and builds the gigantic artificial lake
of Parakrama Samudra
1175: Ghurid Turks defeat the Ghazni Turks in the Punjab and the Ghaznavid state is absorbed into the
Ghurid empire
1189: the Yadava dynasty adopts Marathi as the court language
1190: the Chalukya empire is split among Hoysalas (south), Yadavas and Kakatiyas
1192: Turkic-speaking chieftains from Afghanistans led by Muhammad of Ghor defeat Prithvi Raj,
capture Delhi and establish a Muslim sultanate at Delhi
1197: the Ghuris destroy the Hindu monasteries at Nalanda and Vikramashila
1211: Iltutmish Shams becomes the sultan of Delhi
1206: The Ghurid prince Qutb al-Din Aybak becomes the first sultan of Delhi (Delhi Sultanate)
1225: Qutb al-Din Aybak builds the Qutb Minar in Delhi, the tallest minaret in the world
1250: the Urdu language develops by absorbing elements of Persian, Arabic and Indian dialects
1250: a temple to the Sun in the form of a giant chariot is built at Konarak
1250: end of the Chola dynasty
1266: one of Iltutmish's slaves, Baban, seizes power of the Delhi sultanate, and welcomes Islamic refugees
fleeing the Mongol hordes the Delhi sultanate
1288: the Italian explorer Marco Polo visits India
1290: Jalal al-Din Firuz founds the Khalji sultanate
TM, , Copyright 2005 Piero Scaruffi All rights reserved.
1298: the Muslims of Delhi capture Cambay in Gujarat
1300: the Tamil establish a kingdom in Ceylon
1303: Jalal al-Din Firuz rebuilds Delhi
39 | P a g e

1304: Mongols under Ali Beg invade India but are repelled by the Delhi sultanate
1321: Jordanus, a Dominican monk, is the first Christian missionary in India
1325: Muhammad ibn Tughluq becomes sultan of Delhi
1327: sultan Muhammad ibn Tughluq moves his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Deogiri) in the
Deccan
1328: the Mongols invade India but are repelled by the Delhi sultanate
1333: the Muslim explorer Ibn Battuta travels to India
1336: the southernmost province of the Delhi sultanate declares independence
1341: Bengal (under Fakhruddin Mubarak) declares its independence from the Delhi sultanate
1343: the southern kingdom builds its capital at Vijayanagar (Hampi)
1345: Muslim nobles revolt against Muhammad ibn Tughluq, declare their independence from the Delhi
sultanate, and found the Bahmani dynasty in the Deccan
1346: the Vijayanagar kingdom conquers the Hoysalas
1346: the Hoysala dynasty disintegrates
1347: Turkish governor Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah rebels against the Sultan of Delhi and founds the
Bahmani Sultanate in Bijapur
1349: Muslims raid Kathmandu in Nepal
1350: the Kadambas empire disintegrates into the dynasties of Goa, Hanagal and Chandavar
1370: the Vijayanagar kingdom conquers the Muslim sultanate of Madura (Tamil Nadu)
1382: Jaya Sthiti of the Malla dynasty seizes power in Nepal
1387: the Kalan Masjid is built in Delhi
1398: Timur invades India and sacks Delhi, causing the decline of the Delhi Sultinate
1451: Succeeding the last king of the Sayyid dynasty, Bahlul Lodi founds the Lodi dynasty of Afghan
origin that rules the Delhi Sultanate
1490: Guru Nanak Dev founds Sikhism and the city of Amritsar
1490: the Adil Shahi sultan conquers Bijapur
1497: Babur, a descendant of both Genghis Khan and Timur, becomes the ruler of Ferghana
(Uzbekistan)
1498: the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reaches India
1499: Guru Nanak founds the Sikh religion
1501: Muhammad Shaybani defeats Babur at Samarkand
1504: Babur captures Kabul (Afghanistan)
1505: Portugal lands in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
1507: the Qutb Shahi dynasty seizes power in Hyderabad
1508: the Portuguese found Bom Bahia (Bombay/Mumbai) in territory held by the sultan of Gujarat
1509: Portugal conquers Diu and Goa in India
1509: the Vijayanagar kingdom reaches its zenith under Krishna Raja
1518: the Bahmani Sultanate splits into five Deccan sultanates
1526: After the battle of Panipat, Babur captures Delhi from Ibrahim, the sultan of Delhi, and founds the
Mughal/Mogul dynasty in India with capital in Agra
1527: Babur defeats an army of Rajputs at the battle of Kanua using artillery
1530: Babur dies and his son Humayun succeeds him
1534: Portugal acquires Bom Bahia/Bombay/Mumbai from Gujarat
40 | P a g e

1537: Afghan warlord Sher Khan Sur invades Bengal
1539: Viswanatha founds the Nayak dynasty with capital in Madurai (south India)
1540: Babur's son Humayun loses the empire to Afghan Leader Sher Shah Sur and goes into exile to
Lahore
1544: Babur's son Humayun goes into exile to Safavid Persia
1545: Sher Shah Sur dies and is succeeded by Islam Shah Sur
1550: the Jain complex at Palitana
1553: Islam Shah Sur dies and the Sur empire is divided among his relatives (Punjab, Delhi/Agra, Bihar,
Bengal)
1553: Humayun with help from the Safavids reconquers Kabul
1555: a famine strikes northern India
1555: Humayun reconquers Delhi from the Sur ruler
1556: the Mogul emperor Humayun dies and is succeeded by his 12-year old son Akbar under the
tutelage of the Persian Shia noble Bairam Khan
1558: the Mogul conquer Ajmer in Rajastan and Gwalior
1560: Akbar fires Bairam Khan and assumes sole power
1561: The Mogul conquer the kingdom of Malwa
1562: Akbar marries Padmini, a Hindu princess of the Rajaputana kingdom
1564: The Mogul conquer the kingdom of Gondwana/ Garha-Katanga
1564: Uzbek nobles rebel against the Mogul emperor Akbar in the eastern provinces
1565: four Muslim kingdoms ally to destroy the Vijyanagar kingdom at the battle of Talikota
1565: Mysore, a former Vijayanagar principality, becomes independent under the Wodeyars
1566: Akbar's half-brother Muhammad Hakim seizes Kabul
1568: Muslim invaders destroy the Sun Temple at Konark
1571: Akbar moves the Mogul capital from Agra to Fatehput Sikri
1572: the Mogul conquer Gujarat
1574: the Mogul conquer Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from the Afghan kings
1579: Mogul emperor Akbar abolishes the tax on non-Muslims
1584: Akbar mints the Ilahi coin (based on the solar year but still in Persian)
1585: After the death of Muhammad Hakim, Akbar conquers Kabul and moves the Mogul capital to
Lahore
1589: the Mogul conquer Kashmir
1591: Akbar demands that the Decca sultans surrender to the Mogul empire
1593: the Mogul conquer Sind
1595: the Mogul conquer Kandahar (Afghanistan) from the Safavids
1598: Akbar moves the Mogul capital from Lahore back to Agra
1600: The British East India Company is established.
1601: the Mogul conquer the Decca sultanates
1605: Akbar dies and is succeeded by his son Salim, who renames himself Jahangir
1606: Jahangir defeats a conspiracy by his son Khusrau
1611: Jahangir marries queen Nur Jahan
1617: Jahangir's son, prince Khurram, pacifies the southern states and receives the title of Shah Jahan
1618: Jahangir's son, prince Khurram, conquers the fortress of Kangra, thus subjecting the Himalaya
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hills to Mogul control
1622: the Safavids reconquer Kandahar
1623: Thirumala Nayakan brings Madurai to its maximum glory
TM, , Copyright 2005 Piero Scaruffi All rights reserved.
1627: Jahangir dies
1628: After a civil war that pits Nur Jahan against her brother the wazir Asaf Khan, Jahangir's son
Khurram (Asaf Khan's choice) is proclaimed emperor with the name Shah Jahan while Jahangir's other
son Shahryar (married to Nur Jahan's daughter) is executed together with all the other potential
pretenders
1629: Afghan noble Khan Jahan Lodi, the governor of Deccan, rebels against Shah Jahan and joins the
ruler of Ahmadnagar
1630: Afghan noble Khan Jahan Lodi is defeated and killed
1630: A famine strikes the Deccan and Gujarat
1631: Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz Mahal dies giving birth to her 14th child
1633: Shah Jahan adopts Sharia and destroys Hindu temples
1631: Shah Jahan builds the Taj Mahal
1632: the Mogul conquer the western Deccan sultanate of Ahmadabad
1635: the Mogul defeat the Deccan sultanates of Golconda (Hyderabad) and Bijapur that become
tributary states
1636: the Mogul fail to invade the Ahom kingdom on the eastern side of the Brahmaputra
1638: Muhammad Said, a businessman from Golconda (Hyderabad), becomes its prime minister with the
title Mir Jumla
1638: Holland intervenes in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to defend the king of Kandy, Raja Singa, against
Portugal
1639: Britain acquires Madras from the raja of Chandragiri
1639: Shah Jahan begins construction of a new city, Shahjahanabad, in Delhi
1640: the British found Madras/Chennai
1640: Holland and Portugal sign a treaty leaving most of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to Holland
1642: the Mogul construct the Shalimar water garden in Lahore
1642: Mir Jumla of Golconda attacks the Hindu kingdoms of Karnataka
1643: Youstol Dispage Fromscaruffi dies
1646: Shivaji (Sivaji) Bhonsla, a Hindu prince, gains independence from the sultan of Bijapur around
Pune
1647: the Mogul fail to invade Uzbekistan
1648: Shah Jahan inaugurates the mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal in Agra, the Taj Mahal
1648: Shah Jahan moves the capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad (Delhi)
1649: the Vijayanagar empire dissolves
1652: Mir Jumla of Golconda completes the conquest of the Hindu kingdoms of Karnataka
1655: Shah Jahan appoints Mir Jumla of Golconda as the new wazir of the Mogul empire
1656: Holland captures Colombo and takes control of Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
1657: Shah Jahan falls ill and his four sons fight a civil war (the progressive and intellectual Dara
Shukoh from the capital, the conservative and integralist Aurangzeb from the Deccan, Shah Shuja from
Bengal, Murad from Gujarat)
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1658: Aurangzeb arrests his father Shah Jahan, wins the civil war against his three brothers, becomes the
new Mogul emperor and enforces an orthodox version of Islam
1659: Shivaji (Sivaji) Bhonsla defeats Bijapur at the battle of Pratapgarh and at the battle of Kolhapur
1660: the Mogul fail to capture the Ahom kingdom rbr>1664: Shivaji (Sivaji) raids Surat, the busiest
port of the Mogul
1665: Britain acquires Bombay/Mumbai from Portugal
1668: the British acquire Bombay from Portugal as marriage dowry from Catherine of Braganza
1669: the Mogul emperor Aurangzeb orders the destruction of Hindu temples, including the Kesev Rai
temple at Mathura rbr>1670: Shivaji (Sivaji) raids again Surat
1672: France settles Pondicherry
1674: having expanded his territory around Pune, Shivaji (Sivaji) founds the Maratha kingdom with
capital at Raigad
1675: Mogul emperor Aurangzeb executes the Sikh guru and the Sikh stage a revolt
1679: the Rajputs rebel against Mogul emperor Aurangzeb
1680: Shivaji (Sivaji) of the Maratha kingdom dies and is succeeded by his son Shambhaji
1681: Aurangzeb's son Akbar allies with the Rajputs and rebels against his father
1686: Mogul emperor Aurangzeb conquers Bijapur, ending the Adil Shahi dynasty
1687: Mogul emperor Aurangzeb conquers Golconda (Hyderabad)
1689: the Mogul capture and execute Shambhaji of the Maratha kingdom, who is succeeded by his
brother Rajaram and by the prime minister (peshwa) Ramchandra Pant Amatya Bawdekar, while the
seven-yeard old heir Shahu is jailed by the Mogul
1690: the British found Calcutta
1698: the Mogul defeat the Maratha at Jini but Rajaram escapes to the his capital Satara
1699: Guru Gobind Singh creates the Sikh armed wing of the Akalis
1699: Jai Singh becomes rajput of Amber in Rajastan
1700: Maratha's king Rajaram dies and is succeeded by his four-year old son Shambhaji II, with queen
Tara Bai as regent
1702: the Deccan is devastated by famine and plague
1707: Aurangjeb dies, and is succeeded by his son Muazzam, with the title Bahadur Shah, who kills his
brothers Azam Shah and Kam Bakhsh, while Shahu is released from jail, challenging Tara Bai for
control of the Maratha kingdom, and while the Rajput Ajit Singh reconquers Jodhpur from the Mogul
and bans Islam
TM, , Copyright 2005 Piero Scaruffi All rights reserved.
1709: the assassination of the Sikh guru Govind Singh starts a Sikh insurrection against the Mogul in
Punjab led by the ascetic Banda
1712: Mogul emperor Bahadur Shah dies and is succeeded by his son Jahandar Shah, the protege of amir
Zulfikar Khan, who becomes the new wazir
1713: the prime minister (peshwa) of Maratha, Balaji Vaishvanath, becomes the real ruler of the
Maratha kingdom and the peshwa becomes a hereditary title while queen Tara Bai moves her court to
Kolhapur
1713: Mogul emperor Jahandar Shah and his wazir Zulfikar Khan are overthrown by Farrukhsiyar,
who becomes the new emperor, and Sayyid Abdullah Khan, who becomes the new wazir
1714: Jai Singh is appointed governor of Malwa by the Mogul
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1715: Banda is captured by the Mogul and the Sikh insurrection ends
1715: Mogul emperor Farrukhsiyar marries the daughter of Ajit Singh
1715: Mogul emperor Farrukhsiyar appoints Mubariz Khan as governor of the Deccan, that becomes an
autonomous state
1716: Banda is publicly executed in Delhi
1719: Mogul wazir Sayyid Abdullah Khan and his brother assassinate the Mogul emperor and install
Muhammad Shah on the throne with help from Maratha peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, who obtains
recognition of his independence
1719: Maratha peshwa Balaji Vishwanath dies and Shahu appoints his son Baji Rao to succeed him
1720: Mogul wazir Sayyid Abdullah Khan is overthrown and killed
1724: the Mogul governor Nizam-ul-Mulk defeats and kills Deccan governor Mubariz Khan and founds
the Asaf Jahi dynasty (the Nazims) in Hyderabad
1727: Muhammad Khan seizes power in the Mogul provinces of Bengal and Orissa
1736: the Nayak dynasty ends in south India (Madurai is bought by the British)
1737: the Mogul replace Jai Singh with Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah as ruler of Malwa
1738: Persian general Nader Shah invades India and captures Delhi
1738: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah surrenders Malwa to the Marathas
1739: Persians sack Delhi and steal the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-noor diamond
1747: Ahmad Shah Duran, the Afghan commander of Nadir's bodyguard, proclaims himself the ruler of
Afghanistan with capital in Kandahar and founds the Durrani dynasty
1747: Nader Shah is assassinated and the Afghans regain their independence and the Koh-i-noor
1747: Ahmad Shah Abdali, who renames himself Durrani, unites the Pashtun tribes in Kandahar while
the Moghuls in India, the Safavids in Iran and the Uzbeks in Central Asia are declining, and creates an
Afghani empire from Central Asia to Delhi to the Arabian sea
1749: Maratha's king Shahu dies
1751: by capturing the town of Arcot from the French, Britain becomes the leading colonial power in
India
1751: The Marathas and the Mughals/Moguls sign the Ahamdiya treaty that de facto cedes the Marathas
control of the whole of India from their capital at Pune
1756: The Muslim ruler of Bengal, Siraj, invades British Kalikut
1756: The Afghans of Ahmad Shah Durrani raid the Mughal capital Delhi, and de facto install their own
ruler, Alamgir II, over the Mogul empire, that de jure still rules over Punjab, Sindh, and Kashmir
1757: at the battle of Plassey in Bengal the East India company defeats France and installs a puppet
ruler
1758: the Marathas conquer Punjab
1761: the Marathas rule over most of northern India
1761: Afghani invaders led by Ahmad Durrani defeat the Marathas at Panipat, thus starting the decline
of the Maratha empire
1764: Britain expands to Bihar
1765: Bengal revolts against the British but Britain wins and acquires more rights
1769: A famine kills ten million people in Bengal in two years
1772: Britain chooses Calcutta as the capital of India
1772: Afghanistan moves its capital from Kandahar to Kabul
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1773: Warren Hastings, governor of Bengal (India), establishes a monopoly on the sale of opium
1776: the Marathas conquer Mysore
Dec 1781: The Muslim general Tipu Sultan of Mysore defeats the British army
Dec 1782: Tipu Sultan becomes the ruler of Mysore , a largely Hindu nation
1783: Oman acquires the port of Gwadar
1784: The defeated British sign the Treaty of Mangalore with the victorious ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan
1785: Charles Cornwallis is appointed governor of India
1786: Tippu Sahib sends emissaries to Istanbul to pay homage to the sultan as the caliph of the whole
Islamic world
1789: For the first time the British employ Indian soldiers abroad, in Sumatra
1794: the Marathas conquer Delhi
1796: Holland cedes Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to Britain
1797: Richard Wellesley is appointed governor of India
May 1799: Britain conquers Mysore and kills Tipu at the battle of Seringapatam