- Ancient Indian History – One aspect of ancient Indian history that struck me as important in this reading is how deeply rooted farming and trade has been in Indian history from the beginning. The Harrappans and Mauryas were especially known for their crops and the trade that developed with the communities surrounding then. The “quest for food” is discussed at the onset of the Harrappan era (12) and continues to be the theme in Medieval India (29). My understanding is that this industry is still quite important in India, and I can anticipate learning about how farming and trade still play a role in modern India. However, I’m also aware of how urbanized India has become since ancient times, even beginning in ancient times, and it will be interesting to see how the new industry affects the deep-rooted history of farm trade.
- Mughal-era India – The Mughal-era seems to be much more encompassed by militia and religion. Even since Akbar’s time, there was concern mostly for the empire a ruler built and conquering other kingdoms. Akbar also enforced the importance of religion. He organized debates on Islamic theology and had Jain, Hindu, Zoroastrian and Jesuit teachers join in (50). This type of ruling continued as Akbar’s successors continued to enforce the importance of religion. Nanak is one strong example of this, being that he developed his own theology and spread Sikhism even after his death (56). This aspect of Mughal-era India holds relevance today simply because of how devout much of the population in India is, regardless of which religion they follow. Being that rulers in India from as far back as these times stressed their dedication to religion, it’s likely that this sentiment has carried on throughout Indian history.
- British-era India – The whole of British rule in India largely affected many aspects of life for the Indian population. One major theme for the Indians was the influx of religious concern. Rather than rulers being the religiously prolific, the people throughout India were starting to have a larger affect on the development of religion. This also gave Indians more of an idea of their identity, separating them from the British rule and giving them a sense of nationalism. In the reading, it is said that, “this consolidated communal identities, the idea that no matter where they live, the followers of a religion form a distinct community” (93). Again, India is known for its religions, and the history shows why it’s still so important to this day. With an understanding of India’s political background, how dominant England was for so long, as well as the sense of belonging religion gave the Indian population, it will be more clear why religion is so important to India still today.
- Struggle for National Independence – Nationalism grew as India slowly began fighting for independence. Religion was no longer the main concern, and politics entered the mix. Religious leaders became political leaders as well, and the two were more entwined than in the Mughal-era. Gandhi is a great example of this, and the reading focused largely on his effects. He advocated for the unity of all Indians (106), bringing in ideas of nonviolence and self-reliance. Gandhi also encouraged nationalism through these ideas, urging Indians to break away from the control the British took over many systems in India, including government and education. His efforts didn’t go as far as he had worked for, but they still held some power over British rule. I’m unsure of Gandhi’s relevance today in India, but I am curious to see how the population currently regards him and if any of his ideas are still followed.
- Nehru-Gandhi Dynastic Period – The reading on this period gave light to the many complications within the modern Indian government. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty had its corruptions, with the continuing power of Indira and her sons despite their decreasing popularity or lack of political knowledge. They were known for relying on each other and friends for advice, which often led to difficulties. There were several revolts that occurred in this era, as well as a decent amount of tumult between India and Pakistan, Hindus and Sihks, etc. This tumult is an extremely important part of India’s history, and I’m sure that knowing this will prove crucial while studying there. Due to the current status between Pakistan and India, which I still have more to learn about, I think this era is a crucial part of the history we should store in our brains.