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National movement & independence

Mass mobilisation, constitutional negotiations and the consequences of partition.

An introductory chronology from early urban societies to the republic, supported by NCERT, official archives and institutional histories. Ancient dates are approximate, and different regional histories overlap rather than forming a single uniform sequence.

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Indian National Congress

A national political organisation emerged and later became central to the independence movement.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗

1885

Champaran movement

Gandhi’s intervention concerned grievances among indigo cultivators.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗

1917

Rowlatt protests and Jallianwala Bagh

Repression and the Amritsar massacre intensified opposition to colonial rule.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗

1919

Non-cooperation movement

A broad movement challenged colonial institutions through non-cooperation.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗

1920–1922

Purna Swaraj

Congress adopted complete independence as its goal; 26 January 1930 was observed as Independence Day.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗

1929–1930

Salt March

The march to Dandi challenged the colonial salt monopoly.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗

12 Mar–6 Apr 1930

Quit India movement

A mass call to end British rule was followed by repression and widespread resistance.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗

1942

Independence and partition

India became independent amid partition, displacement and communal violence.

NCERT · Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement ↗
  • Independence and the human consequences of partition must be understood together.

15 Aug 1947

Partition and displacement

The division of British India created India and Pakistan amid large-scale displacement, violence and the challenge of rehabilitation.

NCERT · Challenges of Nation Building ↗
  • Read political decisions alongside the experiences of displaced communities.

1947

Sources and scope ▼

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