Changes

During the First World War (1914-18) millions of Indians had served with honor and distinction in the British armed forces. During the Second World War (1939-45)  there was far less volunteering. Although Britain used India as a base for its war in Burma, it was a minor front. Gandhi and Nehru led a programme of passive resistance, meaning refusal to help the British war effort. In response the British withdrew commercial shipping, diverting it to the war effort.  Major famines swept India during the war, killing millions. Neither the British government nor the Congress shadow government moved to alleviate the famine.  

During the First World War (1914-18) millions of Indians had served with honor and distinction in the British armed forces. During the Second World War (1939-45)  there was far less volunteering. Although Britain used India as a base for its war in Burma, it was a minor front. Gandhi and Nehru led a programme of passive resistance, meaning refusal to help the British war effort. In response the British withdrew commercial shipping, diverting it to the war effort.  Major famines swept India during the war, killing millions. Neither the British government nor the Congress shadow government moved to alleviate the famine.  

With Indians increasingly united in their quest for independence, a war-weary Britain led by Labour Prime Minister [[Clement Attlee]] began in earnest to plan for the end of its suzerainty in India. On August 15, 1947, India became a dominion within the Commonwealth, with [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] as Prime Minister. Strategic colonial considerations, as well as political tensions between Hindus and Muslims, led the British to partition British India into two separate states: India, with a Hindu majority; and [[Pakistan]], which consisted of two "wings," East and West Pakistan--currently Bangladesh and Pakistan--with Muslim majorities. Absent the British army, there was risk of major violent confrontations between Moslems and Hindus. When the British left in 1947 massive communal violence erupted that killed millions of people, created tens of millions of refugees and left permanent hatreds and fears.

With Indians increasingly united in their quest for independence, a war-weary Britain led by Labour Prime Minister [[Clement Attlee]] began in earnest to plan for the end of its suzerainty in India. Nehru's believed India's communal problems were the artificial result result of the British policy of divide and rule. Nehru's condescension toward Mohammed Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League, and belief that the Congress Party represented Muslim as well as Hindu nationalist interests in India resulted in his doing everything possible to avoid partition.  

 

Strategic colonial considerations, as well as political tensions between Hindus and Muslims, led the British to partition British India into two separate states: India, with a Hindu majority; and [[Pakistan]], which consisted of two "wings," East and West Pakistan--currently Bangladesh and Pakistan--with Muslim majorities.  

 

On August 15, 1947, India became independnet, with [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] as Prime Minister.  Absent the British army, there was risk of major violent confrontations between Moslems and Hindus. When the British left in 1947 massive communal violence erupted that killed millions of people, created tens of millions of refugees and left permanent hatreds and fears.

for recent history see [[India]]

for recent history see [[India]]

==Historiography==

==Historiography==

The discovery and elucidation of India's past owes much to European scholars. William Jones's (1746-94) identification of "Sandrocottus" of Greek history with Chandragupta Mauriya (ruled 321-297 B.C.) established a fixed point in ancient Indian chronology. James Prinsep's (1793-1878) deciphering of Asoka's (ruled 268-231 B.C.) inscriptions and the identification of the "Piyyadasi" mentioned in Asoka's edicts as Asoka himself was another major contribution.  

The discovery and elucidation of India's past owes much to European scholars. William Jones's (1746-94) identification of "Sandrocottus" of Greek history with Chandragupta Mauriya (ruled 321-297 B.C.) established a fixed point in ancient Indian chronology. James Prinsep's (1793-1878) deciphering of Asoka's (ruled 268-231 B.C.) inscriptions and the identification of the "Piyyadasi" mentioned in Asoka's edicts as Asoka himself was another major contribution.