Dictionary of History of India

Define Caste

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Define Caste
The Sociologists define a caste as follows:
A caste is a hereditary, endogamous, usually localized group, having a traditional association with an occupation and a particular position in the local hierarchy of castes. The relations between castes are governed, among other things, by the concepts of pollution and purity, and generally, maximum commensality occurs within the caste.

On spatial level, a caste is usually segmented into several sub-castes and each sub-caste is endogamous. This segmentation is probably the result of a long historical process in which groups continually fissioned off. As a result of this long process of development there has come into existence several cognate groups usually found scattered over a limited geographical region, each of which retains a sense of identity as well as its linkage with other similar groups. Hence, a perception that a caste has its limited social boundaries is limited view meant for a particular time and place only. It, under historic impact, keeps changing the social boundaries and even the spatial spread through the process of historic fission.

Source:
Srinivas M. N., Caste in Modern India and other essays, 1962, Media Promoters and Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Bombay, pp 2,3. Chapter 1, Introduction.

Sanskritization

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"The caste system is far from a rigid system in which the position of each component caste is fixed for all time. Movement has always been possible, and especially so in the middle regions of the hierarchy. A low caste was able, in a generation or two, to rise to a higher position in the hierarchy by adopting vegetarianism and teetotalism, and by Sanskritizing its ritual and pantheon. In short, it took over, as far as possible, the customs, rites, and beliefs of the Brahmins, and the adoption of the Brahminic way of life by a low caste seems to have been frequent, though theoretically forbidden. This process has been called -'Sanskritization'.”

Source:
Srinivas M. N., Caste in Modern India and other essays, 1962,Media Promoters and Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Bombay, pp 42. Chapter 2, A Note on Sanskritization and Westernization. Quoted by M. N. Srinivas from 'Religions and Society among the Coorgs of South India, Oxford, 1952, p.32.

Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha

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Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha:
The Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha was founded by Swami Sahajananda Saraswati, a leading peasant leader of India.

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The Photograph of Swami Sahajananda Sarawati can be checked at South Asian Studies of South Asia Resources, University of Virginia Library

Punjab Riyasti Praja Mandal

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Punjab Riyasti Praja Mandal
The Punjab Riyasti Praja Mandal was formed in July 1928 at Mansa under the guidance of Akali leader Karakh Singh while he was during the region of Patiala kingdom ruled at that time by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh.

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Butler Committee Report

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Butler Committee Report

Butler Committee was headed by Harcourt Butler. It was appointed by Viceroy of India, Irwin. It reviewed the question of Paramountcy. The Princes of India wanted to review the issue of Paramountcy while bargaining for their participation in Round Table Conference where the British government wanted them to be. Butler concluded, "Paramoutcy must remain paramount."
The judgement of the committee was not in favour of the Council of Princes. However, the main fear of the Princes was that if the Dominion Status was imparted to India, then there could a central government dominated by the Congress members. However, later, as the talks progressed, the idea of Federal government at centre was favoured and the issue of Dominion Status was just made silent. The features which were suggested under the Federal Structure in India were such that the Princes did not have to fear the Congress majority control at centre level.

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Photograph Source: Photograph accessed on June 16, 2009 at www.upgovernor.gov.in, ownership of the content Secretariat Rajbhavan Lucknow and maintained by NIC. (Copyright issue: The contents are at government of India site meant for information as well appropriate use. The appropriate link is given and acknowledged. Even if there is any objection, kindly place it in the comment section and email me quoting the approriate section and interpertation.)

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Photograph accessed on June 16, 2009 at www.upgovernor.gov.in, ownership of the content Secretariat Rajbhavan Lucknow and maintained by NIC

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Delhi Statement

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Delhi Statement:
Delhi Statement was issued by Gandhi on November 2, 1928.
In tghe statement it was sugested that the proposed conference which Simon Commission was expected to propose would disciss the features of Dominion Status, in the conference, the Congress delegates would have majority and there would be discussed general amnesty and concilliation.
Gandhi met Irwin, the Viceroy of India of that time on November 23, 1928. The Viceroy rejected the offer given in 'Delhi Statement'.
Later, Gandhi signed Gandhi Irwin Pact in which the above offer were not taken up.

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Hindustan Socialist Republican Army

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Hindustan Socialist Republican Army:
Hindustan Socialist Republican Army was organized in September 1928. It was formed with the members of Hindustan Republic Association whose members were arrested after Kakori Train holdup in August 1925. It brought the members from different states on one single platform. The new members included the name of Bhagat Singh, Ajoy Ghosh and Chandrashekar Azad.

Source: Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 251

Hindustan Republic Association

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Hindustan Republic Association
Hindustan Republic Association was formed in 1924. It was formed by Sachin Sanyal and Jogesh Chandra Chatterji, the Bengalis living in United Province. The association has been made more popular in general text books for Kakori Train hold up in August 1925 which was undertaken to raise funds for the activities of the association.

Source:
Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 251

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Pathar Dabi 1926

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Pathar Dabi 1926
Pathar Dabi is a novel written by Sarat Chandra Chatterji (Devdasa and Parinita). It was published in 1926. It is built around the idea of voilent revolution by urban middle class. It reflects the 20's of twentieth century colonial period India when revolutionary activities had re emerged in form of Hindustan Republic Association.

Source: Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 251

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Kirti Kisan Party 1926

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Kirti Kisan Party 1926
Kirti Kisan Party was organized in Punjab in 1926. It was headed by Sonhan Singh Josh. It included many Ghadr members of 1914 and members of Babbar Akali Movement of Punjab. It had Kriti as its main journal which was in existence before the formation of the group.

Source: Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 250

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Peasants and Workers Party 1925-26

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Peasants and Workers Party 1925-26
Peasants and Workers Party was organized in Calcutta in 1925-26. It was earlier called Labour-Swaraj Party. It was formed by Muzaffar Ahamd, Nazrul Islam -a famous Poet, Qutubuddin Ahmad, and Hemandtakumar Sarkar.

Source: Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 250.

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Indian Communist Conference-December 1925

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Indian Communist Conference December 1925:
Indian Communist Conference was held in December 1925. According the official view of the Communist Party of India as accepted in 1958, the Conference of 1925 marks the foundation of Communist Party of India.

The Conference was held in Kanpur. It was called after receiving a set back to numerous conspiracy cases like Peshawar Conspiracy Cases, Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy cases against the communism oriented Indians. It was organized by Satyabhakta. Hasrat Mohani, a known poet in pre-independence and and post-independence India was the chariman of the Rception Committee. Singaravely was its President.

Source: Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 249

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Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case 1924

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Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case 1924
Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case tried the emerging leaders supporting communist ideology. Under this trial, Muzaffar Ahmad, S. A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani and Nalini Gupta were jailed in May 1924.
During second decade of the twentieth century, the Imperialist British government ruling over India was highly terrified with the idea of spread of communism in India. Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case and Peshwar Conspiracy Case which were five trials were mainly result of that fear factor.

Source: Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 249,
Dictionary of History of India

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Peshwar Conspiracy Case (1922-1927)

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Peshwar Conspiracy Case (1922-1927)
Peshwar Conspiracy Case was a trial against the muhajirs who had tried to sneak in India from Russia in order to start communist movement in India. There were five cases which continued from 1922 to 1927.

Source: Sumit Sarkar, Modern India 1885-1947, 1990, Mcmillan, Madras. pp 249

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Girni Kamgar Mahamandal 1923

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Girni Kamgar Mahamandal 1923

Girni Kamgar Mahamandal was founded in 1923 by A. A. Alve and G. R. Kasle in Calcutta. It was one of the first organization formed on the ideology of communism in Bengal. A. A. Alve and G. R. Kasle were earlier revolutionaries who had turned to communism later.

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May Day ( First Time in India)

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May Day was celebrated in India for the first time in 1923 on the Madras beach. It was celebrated in a rally organized by Singaravelu.

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Jamshedpur Labour Association 1920

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Jamshedpur Labour Association 1920:
Jamshedpur Labour Association was started by S. N. Haldar in 1920. It was started with the workers of TATA Steel Industry, Jamshedpur. It was finally recognized by TATA Steel Industry in 1925. C. F. Andrews became its President in 1925. It had invited Gandhi to Jamshedpur wherein the management of the Tata Steel Industry also extended him its hospitality.

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Jharia Conference 1921

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Jharia Conference 1921 was a major conference of Labour Movement in India in which there was large scale participation by the Mill workers.

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Pherozeshah Mehta

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Pherozeshah Mehta

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Sir Cowasji Jehangir

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Sir Cowasji Jehangir

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Assam Kesari

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Assam Kesari
Assam Kesari is the title given to the poet Ambikagiri Roychaudhari

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Padanur Black Hole (Mass Murder)

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Padanur Black Hole (Mass Muder)

During the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920-21, the Moplahs in Malabar region also responded to the call of Gandhi for non-cooperation. The contemporary British government in India tried to suppress the rising with repression. It lead to numerous death. It was then, that 66 asphyxiated bodies of Moplah prisoners were found shut in a railway wagon. Some historians have termed it as Padanur Black Hole equating it to Black Hole Tregady of Fort Williams at Calcutta in 1757 reported by Dr. Holwell wherein 144 British people died when they were put in 18 feet by 14 feet room. In that incidence, it was reported that nearly 38 of them survived.

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Maalapalli 1922

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Maalapalli

Maalapalli is novel written by Unnava Lakshminaryana in 1922. It is based on the story related to Non-Cooperation Movement in Andhara belt wherein conflict between Gandhian methods and extremist method in form of a social banditry nearing the concept of communist revolution based on international solidarity of toilers.

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Singaravelu Chettiar

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Singaravelu Chettiar:
Singaravelu Chettiar was an established senior lawyer in Madras. He discontinued his flourishing practice in response to the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-1921. However, later he turned to Marxism and he is considered to be the first Communist of the country.

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Thiru Vi Ka

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Thiru Vi Ka

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