1. Aim: Trace Early Nationalist Movements in India

2. The Sepoy Mutiny
1850: The British controlled most of the Indian subcontinent
Many pockets of discontent
Indian people also resented the constant racism that the British expressed toward them
Feelings of resentment & nationalism
1857, gossip spread among the Sepoys that cartridges of their rifles were greased with beef & pork fat
To use cartridge, soldiers had to bite off ends
Both Hindus & Muslims were outraged
Hindus see cow as sacred & Muslims don’t eat pork
85 of 90 Sepoys refused cartridges
Soldiers jailed by British
May 10, 1857: Sepoys rebelled
Captured city of Delhi & uprising spread 2

3. Turning Point in India’s History
The mutiny marked a turning point in Indian history
1858: the British government took direct command of India
Term Raj refers to British rule after India came under the British crown during reign of Queen Victoria
The Sepoy Mutiny fueled the racist attitudes of the British
Mutiny increased distrust between the British & the Indians 3

4. Nationalism Surfaces in India
Early 1800’s: some Indians began demanding more modernization and a greater role in governing themselves
Nationalist feelings started to surface in India
Indians hated a system that made them second class citizens in their own country
Barred from top posts in Indian Civil Service
Those who got middle-level jobs were paid less than Europeans
Growing nationalism led to the founding of two nationalist groups
The Indian National Congress (1885)
Muslim League (1906)
By 1906, they were calling for self-governing 4