EARLY MODERNISM TO

POST INDEPENDENCE
INDEX

• MOVEMENTS
• EVOLUTION OF INDIAN ART
• INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
• SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
• CREATION OF NID
• POST INDEPENDENCE INDUSTRIALISATION
Movements prevalent from Early Modernism to Post
Independence
1.Indian Rebellion of 1857

Also known as the Indian Mutiny or the First War of Independence, this was a major rebellion
against British colonial rule in India.

2.Birth of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885

The Indian National Congress, a political party which became the primary voice of the Indian
independence movement, was founded in 1885.

3.The partition of Bengal in 1905

The partition of Bengal in 1905 by the British government was an attempt to weaken the growing
nationalist movement through the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy. Many Indians opposed this.
4.The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919, where British troops killed

hundreds of unarmed Indian civilians, was a turning point in Indian
history and increased the resentment towards British rule.

5.Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920

Led by Mahatma Gandhi, this movement was a major campaign of

civil disobedience and non-violent resistance against British
colonial rule.

6.The Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930

The Salt Satyagraha in 1930 led by Mahatma Gandhi, was a

peaceful protest against the British salt monopoly and became a
symbol of resistance to British rule.
7.The Government of India Act 1935

The Government of India Act 1935 was passed, which aimed to give Indians more representation in
government but was widely criticized for falling short of true self-government.

8.World War II

The forced involvement of India in World War II put a heavy burden on the economy and increased
resentment towards British rule.

9.The Quit India Movement in 1942

The Quit India Movement in 1942, was a mass civil disobedience movement called by Mahatma
Gandhi for immediate independence of India, it was one of the most aggressive movements against
British colonial rule.

10. The Indian Independence Act of 1947

This act passed by the British parliament granted independence to India and Pakistan on 15th August
1947.
11.In 1947, British India was partitioned into the independent nations of India and Pakistan, with a
large-scale population exchange of Hindus and Muslims

12. India-China War 1962

The war fought between India and China in 1962 over the disputed border region resulted in a Chinese
victory.

13. Indian Nuclear Program in 1974

In 1974 India successfully detonated a nuclear device, becoming the 6th nuclear weapons state in the
world.

14.The Emergency in 1975

In 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India, suspending civil liberties
and democratic institutions.
Evolution of Indian art
EARLY MODERN PERIOD
1. Mughal Period –
Mughal period saw the rise of incredible painters,
paintings, and painting styles. Mughal paintings have a
unique blend of Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles.
Between the 16th and 19th century, the Mughal Empire
paved the way for painters and other fine artists to
bloom.
Mughals wanted the world to remember them and thus
took their artists to all the expeditions, hunts, missions,
marriages, religious tours, and even Durban meetings..

Mughal paintings came to an end with the reign of

Aurangzeb, who has no liking for any sort of fine arts.
2. Deccan, Jaunpur, and Malwa Schools of Painting –
16th century saw the rise of a few more styles of paintings
such as manuscript illustration, Lodi Khuladar, as well as
miniature style. Tariff-i-Hussain Shahi is the earliest
surviving paintings found as manuscript illustrations.
Similarly, the manuscript of Nujum-ul-Ulum has about 400
Indian miniature paintings depicted in it.

3. Rajput Painting –
The 18th century saw the rise of another style of painting
called Rajput Painting in the royal courts of Rajputana.
Though each Rajput kingdom had a distinct style, some
similar and consistent features can be found throughout. For
instance, the depiction of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Lord
Krishna’s life instances, humans, and extravagant landscapes.
4. Mysore Painting –
Hindu mythology is the central theme of this South Indian form of
painting – Mysore painting. Even now, people give Mysore
paintings as gifts to one another during the festive time.

5. Tanjore Painting –
The entire South Indian town of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu is said to be
the native of Tanjore painting. Tanjore paintings have been in
existence since the 9th century AD when Chola rulers dominated that
part of the country.
The themes are mainly related to Hindu mythology consisting of
bright colours and special attention to details.

6. Pahari Painting –
From Jammu to Almora and Garhwal, through Himachal Pradesh,
Pahari Painting flourished from 17th century to 19th century AD.
7. Madhubani Painting –
The Mithila region of Bihar practised and aced a
painting style which they called Madhubani
painting. The major themes were Hindu
mythology along with scenes of social events
such as marriages and scenes of the royal court.

These paintings do not leave any black room on

the canvas as everything is filled with flowers,
leaves, animals, birds, and other intricate and
geometric designs.
BRITISH COLONIAL PERIOD

1. Early Modern Indian Painting –

India finally saw the face of formal art schools – Government
College of Fine Arts, Madras in 1850, Government College of
Art & Craft, Calcutta in 1854, and Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay
in 1857.

Raja Ravi Varma is considered to be the pioneer of modern

Indian paintings due to his extensive use of easel painting and oil
paints. Though he drew on Western traditions, his subjects were
mostly Indian mythological such as Hindu deities as well as
episodes from the Puranas and Epics.
• Raja Varma paintings challenged caste and class hierarchies as the
circulation of these images broke down the idea that they were
meant to rest solely within temples or in private collections. He
was the first artist to avail his works to the mass market,
irrespective of their status in the society. This greatly enhanced his
reach and influence as a painter and public figure.

• He often modelled Hindu Goddesses on South Indian women. Ravi

Varma is particularly noted for his paintings depicting episodes
from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, and Nala and
Damayanti, from the Mahabharata. His most famous work was
painting ‘A Lady Playing Swarbat’.

• Raja Varma played an important role in depicting social and

economic realities of the society. For instance his painting
depicting ‘A Family of Beggars’ represented the sorry state of
Indian economics.
2. Bengal School of Art
• During the British Raj in India during the early 20th century,
an influential style of art called Bengal School of art
flourished. The main reason for the flaming of this art was
to step against the academic arts promoted by the British art
schools and Raja Ravi Varma.
• Bengal school of art was associated with Indian
Nationalism.

New Clouds, 1937 by Nandalal Bose

POST INDEPENDENCE &
CONTEMPORARY ART
After Independence, India saw the rise of many art schools
throughout the country. These art schools were well equipped
with advanced tools and trending technology
which gave Indians a chance to showcase their talent with the
aid of the latest findings.

As for contemporary art, abstract art is the new go-to for

artists in India. However, the painting industry has so many
varied names and styles, that it is almost impossible to point to
one style Indians call their own.

Today, we are living in a country where taking inspiration

from the gone era is as important as coming up with new and
latest ideas.

Dacoit, M.F. Hussain

Socio-Economic Conditions
During the 17th and 18th century, India maintained a favourable balance of trade and had a steady
economy. Self-sufficient agriculture, flourishing trade and rich handicraft industries were hallmark of
Indian economy. During the last half of the 18th century, India was conquered by the East India Company
followed by colonization of its economy and society.
women
 Women of the nineteenth century were conditioned to
child marriage, sati, dowry with low literacy rate with no
contribution to the country’s GDP.
 However, after social collapse and terrible sufferings the
social reformers made efforts to awaken the masses of the
unjust sufferings of the women.
 Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
emphasized women’s education amongst other
fundamental rights
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a great Bengali polymath,

Sanskrit pundit, educator, social reformer, writer, philanthropist.
He was one of the greatest intellectual activist of the 19th
century and helped greatly in the upliftment of women.

 Ishwar Chandra cited Hindu scriptures to show that widow

remarriage was well within the folds of Hinduism. Through
his efforts, the Widow Remarriage Act was enacted
throughout British India in 1856.
 It was in 1859, the early modern India, that Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar moved the focus of the Bengal government from
the priority-based education of the higher classes to the
masses.
Post Independence situation of women
Post independence we get to see women as equals and more. The fundamental rights of women are
still in some places of the country considered to be a privilege. However, India has grown with its
women and with help of its women. Indian employed women contribute to about 18 percent to the
GDP while constituting about 48 percent of the workforce.
Eradication of casteism
 The barriers of caste had continued to strengthen over
centuries and the atrocities towards them grew more cruel,
until voices of reforms emerged from the colonial India.
 Jyotirao Phule and Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar catalysed the
political reformation of the lower castes.
 Post independence the relevance of caste system in Indian
societies has greatly reduced but not diminished. Although
it is seen that some percentage of resources are reserved
with constitutional provisions for the lower castes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Widows%27_Remarriage_Act,_1856

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/major-issues-and-debates-concerning-indian-women-
of-the-19th-century/

https://thelogicalindian.com/story-feed/awareness/caste-system-and-untouchability-in
-india/
 PUPUL JAYAKER
Creation of NID

• the bloom in industrialisation brought a need for

designers and to drive the industry and to devise
solutions.

• A young nation was conceived with the massive task of

nation building with modern technology and ideas.

• The Modern Movement, the philosophy of Machine

Aesthetics, and revolutionary experimentation in the
arts, architecture and design were all taking place at the
same time.

• In 1955 Pupul Jayaker, met the renowned American

designer Charles Eames at MoMA in New York, whilst
the talks of establishing a design institute.

GAUTAM AND GIRA SARABHAI

• Simultaneously, architect Le Corbusier was, creating several buildings in
Ahmedabad during the 1950s, introducing modern design. One of these,
the Sanskar Kendra museum in Ahmedabad, became the inspiration for
NID.

• In 1957, Charles and Ray Eames were requested in India to develop The
India Report.

• Thus in September of 1961 NID was established under the supervision of

the visionary sibling duo- Gautam and Gira Sarabhai.

• Deeply influenced by the pedagogy at the Bauhaus (German art school

operational from 1919 to 1933) and subsequently, Ulm in Germany
prior to and post WW2, Indian design education married the western
pedagogical structures with the Indian social ethos .

Nid.edu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Desig
Post Independence Industrialisation

During many decades after independence, India was largely an

agrarian economy. so for the first seven five-year plans India
actively focussed on industrial development through industrial
policy formation, just after independence India’s industrial
sector only contributed about 11.8% to the national GDP. It was
also technologically backward, there were only two established
industries – cotton and jute.

1) (1951-1956) ' Development of agriculture'

2) (1956-1961) ‘Development of the public sector.
3) (1961-1966) agriculture and improvement in the production
of wheat
4) (1969-1974) objective of correcting the earlier trend of
increased concentration of wealth and economic power.
5) (1974-1978) laid stress on employment, poverty
alleviation (garibi hatao), and justice.
 The first industrial policy after independence was announced on 6th
April 1948 by Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee then Industry Minister.
 The need for industrialisation raised because Crop yields in India were
quite low, and the recent famine of Bengal in 1943 lead to malaria,
starvation .
 The epidemic of 1957, outbreak of influenza caused the deaths of
about 1- 2 million people in India thus disrupting the existing
economy.
 Three-fourths of the Indian people were engaged in agriculture
working with primitive tools and techniques, as either poverty-striken
landless laborers, highly insecure tenants-at-will, or small-plot holders
eking out subsistence living from their meagre plots.
 The literacy rate stood at 14 percent, average life expectancy was 32
years. There was an urgent need for a workforce thus leading to the SHYAMA PRASAD MUKHERJEE
rapid growth in industrialisation and commercialisation of India.
Some factors which contributed in the growth of
industrialisation:
 The existence of cottage/textile/leather
industries/smelting created a firm foundation for
industrial take-off.
 Development of efficient transport and
communication infrastructure has eased the
movement of goods/services.
 Availability of semi-skilled and unskilled labourers
from the huge population supplied the personnel
required in the industries.