India Pre Independence - 1966

Please refer my previous two posts before continuing.

 These social elites were the sons of Maharajas, Divans, Brahmins, and Jamindars (Landlords), who unlike their ancestors were not taught in Gurukuls but the European Schools. Thus the whole elite and non-elite divide of became much more prominent leading to widespread division of society based on caste and creed. So English became the primary language of Indians who thought that knowing English will cool.

Then the Indian struggle of Independence happened which was very much results of British sharing their knowledge with the society, as the British thought that they are going to rule India for a longer period. So they introduced telegraph, Railways, telephones and others, thus making India communicate with other part of the country not in months but days and hours. This revolution was largely responsible for the establishment of various parties across India by elites of liberal thoughts and Indian National Congress (INC) was formed. This was the turning point for India which British did not anticipated hoping that it was just another group of the individuals who were having just another tea party. As the INC grows so the various sections of society joined it to get rid of British Rule. Division of the country based on caste and creed was still there but people like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi tried to remove the division by bringing them to the mainstay.

In 1947 it was decided that the country will be divided into two parts India and Pakistan. This was a result of failure on the INC of not being able to integrate the Muslims in the party, who formed the All India Muslim League which was another party with the elites at the helm of politics. So on 14^th August 1947 Pakistan declared itself as independent and India chose 15^th August 1947 as date of Independence. This was turning point for the country which was still not prepared for the freedom and responsibility as the country was still being ruled by elites, economy being controlled by the major industrial houses in Bombay, in few words highly fragmented society. No major Industry in the country hardly any readily available resource which can serve the country in a large way. India was largely dependent on Imports of goods, food grains as long years of being ruled by British made it almost bankrupt.

After Independence Indian policy was being a neutral country during Cold War, but leaning on Russia (then USSR) for support. Indian Govt maintained a 5 year plan scheme in which policies of development were decided at the beginning of 5 yr and to be implemented in 5 yrs. First plan was mainly to develop Indian Agri sector which was highly impacted by the partition. Second 5 yr plan concentrated on the development of Heavy Industries which can employ large no of people. Third plan focussed on the development of Agri sector which was still struggling to stand on its feet. During this period on China attacked India which exposed its border. This period also exposed India to high inflation as the country was controlled by the merchants who were hoarding food grains and selling at higher price. Due to this price instability, lower class and middle class where highly impacted. The money was available only the elites as the opened banks and accepted money from public and invested in their own companies. People were not able to open bank accounts as the banks were in metro and mostly in urban areas. Education was still not much of a priority