The British came to India in the 1600s with the main ambition of trade. East India Company originally known as the East Indies, was set up in Calcutta. It was known as the Governor & Company of Merchants of London trading. The purpose of trade was lost and it soon became an annexation. State after State was overthrown and whole of India was conquered. The struggle nearly took 350 years to remove the British rule completely and become an Independent Nation. Becoming an Independent Nation didn't happen overnight. There were a number of events that occurred in the process of procuring it.
Year 1757, the tension between Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-daulah and the British officer Robert Clive resulted in the Battle of Plassey. This battle resulted in the British taking command and rulling for the next 200 years.
Known as the first War of Independence, Northern and Central parts of India broadly rebelled against the British rule but failed severely. This revolt resulted in total awareness among everyone wishing for a free nation.
Year 1905, 'Divide and Rule' was the strategy applied by Lord Curzon. As it was getting difficult to rule because of its vastness, the State of Bengal was divided intoEast and West Bengal. East Bengal is now known as Bangaladesh.
Year 1919, the Rowlatt Act was the retaliation by the British to the Satyagraha movement in Chamaparan, Bihar. According to the Rowlatt Act, British acquired the total control over press, the power to make an arrest even in case of suspicion on treason or agitation by activists.
13th April 1919, around 15000 people (including elders and children) were gathered for a meeting to silently protest against the rule of Brigadier General Reginald E.H Dyer in Jallianwala Bagh. On hearing the news of the meeting, General Dyer reached the premises blocking the only exits with his armed men. Without any warning to the crowd, he instructed his men to start shooting at the crowd and to continue shooting till the ammunition finished. This triggered a nation-wide rage and resulted in the 'Quit India Movement'.
On 15th August 1947 the British leaders finally decided to relieve India from their clasps. India became an independent nation after all these famous events of resistances and civil disobedience movement initiated by the Indian National Congress and carried out nation wide.
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