Modern India History Lecture Notes
Introduction
- Instructor: Dr. Mahipal Singh Rathod
- Focus on Modern IndiaтАЩs history.
- Useful for UPSC, State PCS, and other competitive exams.
- Series will cover comprehensive topics over approximately 1.5 months.
Lecture Overview
- Topics include:
- Later Mughals and their decline
- Marathas and their rise
- European companiesтАЩ arrival in India (British, Dutch, etc.)
Mughal Empire Overview
- Establishment: 1526 by Babur
- Peak: 1707 under Aurangzeb, controlled vast regions of India.
- Decline: Post-1707, Mughal Empire begins to crumble.
Key Periods
- Before 18th Century:
- Mughals controlled almost all India except certain areas:
- Notable control areas: Afghanistan, Southern India, Assam, and Eastern India (Bengal).
- Post 1707:
- Partition of Mughals: Several rulers claimed autonomy (Tippu Sultan, Rajputs, etc.).
- Emergence of semi-autonomous kingdoms.
Factors Leading to Decline
- Weak rulers post-Aurangzeb.
- Internal conflicts among nobles.
- Rise of regional powers (Nizam, Marathas).
Important Battles and Power Dynamics
- Battle of Zajau: Between Aurangzeb's sons leading to Bahadur Shah IтАЩs rule.
- 63 years old at time of ascension, indicative of instability.
Sikh Movement
- Guru Gobind Singh established Sikhs as a martial community before his death in 1708.
- Sikh resistance against Mughal authority, especially after Bahadur Shah's reign.
Transition of Power
- Alamgir II - Became emperor during Mughal decline, lost control over uprisings.
- Farukh Siyar: His reign enabled East India Company formal trading rights through a royal decree (farman).
- This farman is often likened to the "Magna Carta of East India Company".
- Asaf Jah established significant autonomy inDeccan region.
Decline and Final Years of the Mughal Empire
- Nadir ShahтАЩs invasion of 1739 severely weakened the Mughal Empire.
- Ahmad Shah Durrani: Multiple invasions from 1747-67.
- Third Battle of Panipat (1761) marked critical blow to Mughal power.
Final Rulers
- Last significant rulers were ineffective and controlled by nobles and regional governors.
- By 1760, Mughal Empire was reduced to a mere shell of its former self.
Next Lecture Preview
- Discussion on Awadh and Marathas.
- Advent of European powers in India (East India Company, etc.).
Conclusion: Understanding the decline of the Mughal Empire is crucial for grasping the emergence of regional powers and the arrival of Europeans, shaping Modern India's history.