Modern History of Haryana: General Knowledge of Haryana is essential for the competitive examinations of the State. For the same purpose this book (Know Your State Haryana) is designed to serve as a reference book for the students who appear in Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) and other state level competitive examinations. You can also check Haryana General Knowledge Question Bank for HPSC and other exams.
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After the death of George Thomas, the East IndiaCompany moved forward to the Haryana region. The British East India Company came to India as a trading company, but it soon became a political power by taking advantage of the political instability and anarchy in India.
Under the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon on 30th September, 1803, Daulat Rao Scindia ceded Haryana to the British East India Company.
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Read more: Haryana Monthly Current Affairs 2023-2024 PDF Download in English and Hindi
Modern History of Haryana
1. Rule of British East India Company in Haryana
After acquiring Haryana, the British East India Company included it under the Bengal Presidency and divided it into two parts for administrative and political reasons in 1805.
The smaller part which was called the Assigned Territories was kept directly under the control of the Company.
The British divided the larger part and handed over to various local rulers who were powerful and faithful to the Company. Raja Hira Singh, the ruler of Ballabhgarh and Nawab of Farrukhnagar got their old territories back.
The British gave out the Pataudi Pargana (Sub-division), to Faiz Khan, Loharu and Firozpur-Jhirka to Ahmad Baksh Khan and 87 villages of Istamrari Jagir in Rewari Pargana to Rao Tej Singh.
Read more: Ancient History of Haryana
2. Administrative Changes in Haryana by the British
In 1819, the Company made administrative reforms and appointed a Commissioner under the name of Resident and provided him some political powers. The British also divided the ceded part into three sub-divisions which were:
(i) Northern Area- It consisted of Rohtak, Hisar, Panipat and Sonipat.
(ii) Central Area- It consisted of Delhi region.
(iii) Southern Area- It consisted of Rewari, Gurugram, Hodal, Palwal and Mewat.
Haryana was made a part of the North-Western province by British rule in 1833-34 AD and Agra was made as its centre.
Read more: General Studies of Haryana MCQs | Haryana GK Objective Question for HPSC Exams
3. Major Revolts against the East India Company
- Revolt of Chhachhrauli (Jagadhri)
- Revolt of Rania
- The Peasant Uprisings in Rohtak, Gurugram and Hisar
- Revolt of Jind
- Banawali Revolt
- Kaithal Revolt
- Ladwa Revolt
Read more: Haryana State Symbols | Haryana GK
4. Revolt of 1857 and Haryana
Revolt in Ambala
Revolt in Gurugram
Revolt in Rohtak
Revolt in Hisar and Sirsa
Revolt in Thanesar
Read more: Naming of Some Famous Districts of Haryana
Role of Princely States in the Revolt of 1857
- Pro-Revolutionary Princely States: Jhajjar, Ballabhgarh, Farrukhnagar, Bahadurgarh, Mewat, Rewari and Hansi, were the Pro-British Princely States.
- Pro-British Princely States: Jind, Loharu, Chhachhrauli, Pataudi, Dujana, Karnal, Sampla-Asanda, Kunjpura were the Pro-British Princely States.
Suppression of the Revolt of 1857 by British in Haryana
Administrative and Political Effects of 1857
Native Principalities of Haryana after the Revolt of 1857
Read more: Nicknames of Geographical Areas of Haryana
5. National Movement in Haryana
Rai Bahadur Murlidhar established a branch of Congress in Ambala in 1886 AD. Lala Lajpat Rai came to Rohtak in 1884 with his father, where his father, was a teacher.
The first Session of the Congress was held in Rohtak in October 1886 under the Chairmanship of Turrabaz Khan. The Principal Speaker of this gathering was Lala Lajpat Rai.
In the Second Session of Congress in Calcutta in 1886 AD, three representatives of Haryana participated, Deen Dayal Sharma from Jhajjar, Babu Balmukund Gupt from Rohtak and Lala Murlidhar.
Response of Haryana on Morley-Minto Reforms
Ambala became the main center of resistance for Morley-Minto Reforms, where bombs were thrown on the bungalow of Deputy Commissioner on 27th December, 1909 as a protest demonstration.
The journalist of the state, Balmukund Gupt had completely opposed the Morley-Minto Reforms through his articles titled Shivshambhu ka Chittha.
Home Rule Movement
The credit for propagating the Home Rule Movement in Haryana goes to Pt Nekiram Sharma. Pt Nekiram Sharma was particularly impressed by the policies of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
The British Government prohibited Tilak’s arrival in Haryana. Nekiram Sharma is known as Kesari of Haryana.
Read more: First Facts Related to Haryana | First in Haryana
Rowlatt Act and Satyagraha
On 11th February, 1919, a huge rally was organised in Ambala, under the Chairmanship ofSardar Jhanda Singh against the Rowlatt Act.
On 28th February, 1919, protests against this Act were also held in Hisar. On 30th March, 1919, there was a partial strike in Rohtak, Karnal, Ambala and Panipat.
A big conference was held in Rohtak against the Rowlatt Act on 6th April, 1919.
Non-Cooperation Movement
The first meeting related to Non-Cooperation Movement was held in October, 1920 in Panipat, Haryana, under the leadership of Lala Lajpat Rai.
Ambala Divisional Political Conference was organised on 22nd October, 1920 at Bhiwani under the Chairmanship of Lala Muralidhar.
Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Muhammad Ali, Shaukat Ali and Maulana Azad participated in this conference.
Swaraj Party
Swaraj Party was more popular in Haryana. Its leaders were Lala Dulichand in Ambala, Lala Ganpat Rai in Karnal, Nekiram Sharma and Babu Shyamalal Satyagrahi in Hisar, Pt Rupnarayan in Gurugram and Shriram Sharma in Rohtak.
Shriram Sharma launched a newspaper called Haryana Tilak on 18th March, 1923 to promote the party. Shubh Chopra published a newspaper named Swaraj from Gurugram.
Read more: Famous Personalities of Haryana and their Pen-Name
Protest against Simon Commission
The Simon Commission faced a severe protest in the districts of Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Ambala in Haryana. Lala Lajpat Rai got injured and died during this protest in Lahore city of Punjab, on 14th November, 1927, due to which there was more outrage in Punjab-Haryana.
Civil Disobedience Movement
Gandhiji started his historic Dandi March with 78 elected Satyagrahis on 12th March, 1930. Lala Surajbhan of Ambala was amongst these Satyagrahis.
The people of Haryana broke the Salt Law by making salt in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Ambala, Panipat and Bhiwani. Khadag Bahadur, who was a representative of Gandhiji, visited various areas of the province and propagated the Satyagraha among the people.
Individual Satyagraha
Mahatma Gandhi started the Individual Satyagraha Movement on 17th October, 1940 against the policies of the British rule. Many people were arrested during this Satyagraha in Rohtak, Ambala, Hisar, Karnal and Gurugram. The maximum number of individuals was arrested in Rohtak, Ambala and Hisar districts, respectively.
Quit India Movement
With the announcement of this movement on 8th August, 1942, there were demonstrations at railway stations, post offices, telegraph offices and police stations in Haryana. After the arrest of the big leaders, the people themselves organised the movement.
Mangeram Vats, Sheeshpal Singh, Vaidya Lekhram Singh, Radhakrishna, Laxman Singh and Ramkumar Vichhat were among the prominent agitators of Haryana Province who participated in Quit India Movement.
Read more: Largest Highest and Biggest of Haryana
6. Haryana in the First and Second World War
The First World War: Haryana was one of the main recruitment areasduring the First World War. The rich people andmahajans of Haryana gave immense financialsupport to the Imperial Relief Fund, set up forthe youths to join the recruitment drive.
The Second World War: On 3rd, September, 1939, England declaredwar against Germany and with this theSecond World War started. LordLinlithgow, the then Viceroy of India, alsoincluded India in this war.
By declaring the government’s move as invalid, the Congress sought an assurance from the British Government that a democratic government would be established in Post-War India.
7. Important Freedom Fighters from Haryana
8. Arya Samaj in Haryana and Movements
Read more: Medieval History of Haryana