History Write short note

By the end of the 20th-century colonialism came to an end and the process of decolonisation was completed.
(a) Maldives:

• Portuguese entered the Maldives in 1529. Since then Maldives began to pay tribute to the Portuguese in Goa.
• Sultan Muhammad Thakuruphanu A1 Azam from Malabar ended the Portuguese rule and signed a treaty with the Dutch and gave them administrative responsibility of Maldives.
• the Later Maldives was taken over by the British. They built naval bases and radio transmission centers in the Maldives. They also took Indian labourers to work in the paddy fields in the Maldives.
• the Maldives became independent on 26th July 1965, by a treaty signed at Colombo.

(b) Sri Lanka:

• The British ruled Sri Lanka (Ceylon) from 1798 to 1948. They defeated the Portuguese and Dutch.
• There were uprisings in Sri Lanka against British rule. The British plantation owners had taken many labourers from Tamil Nadu to work in coffee plantations.
• In Sri Lanka, the British dominated the production of coffee, tea, rubber, and coconut. They developed Colombo as an international port city.
• They established colleges and universities in Sri Lanka and encouraged Buddhist studies. Sri Lanka became independent in 1948.

(c) Myanmar:

• In 1599, the Portuguese annexed Myanmar, however, in 1611 Portuguese were defeated and United Myanmar was formed. Now Myanmar followed expansionist policy and attacked the British territories of Assam and Manipur in India.
• This situation caused three wars between Myanmar and the British also known as Anglo- Burmese war. The British won the third war and got the control of entire Myanmar.
• Till 1935 it was a part of province of British India. In 1935 it was separated from India and granted autonomy. After 1937 the people of Myanmar formed an organization called ‘Burma Independence Army’ under the leadership of Aung San.
• The British granted independence to Myanmar on 4th January 1948 and appointed Aung San as Vice President.

• An introduction of western education created awareness and feelings of nationalism among the African people.
• European colonies in Africa were involved in First World War. After the defeat of Germany in the war, allied nations began to compete with each other for occupying German colonies in Africa.
• On the advice of American President Woodrow Wilson, the ‘League of Nations decided with the mutual understanding that England, France, and Belgium should divide the colonies among themselves.
• The four British colonies namely Cape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State, and Transvaal were amalgamated and the state of South Africa was created in 1920.
• Egypt got its independence before the end of the Second World War. Following it Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Ghana became independent one after another.
• In the middle of the 20th century in all the 12 French colonies, such as Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali in central Africa became independent. Somalia, Cameroon, and other European colonies under the care of ‘League of Nations became independent one by one.
• Algeria became independent by conducting a plebiscite in 1962. In 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar were amalgamated and ‘The United Republic of Tanzania’ came into existence.
• At the end of the Second World War Italy and Germany had to lose their colonies in Africa.

• The African battlefield in the Second World War had spread from Morocco and Libya in the north to Ethiopia and Somali Land on the eastern border of Africa.
• The British empire in Africa was in danger because of the aggressions of Italy and the German General Erwin Rommel.
• Indian soldiers in the British army fought with great resilience. With their help, the British could compel the combined armies of Italy and Germany and they had to lose their colonies in Africa at the end of the Second World War in 1945.

• During the 15 year period of 1950-1965 people in the European colonies in Africa freed themselves from the foreign rule.
• The education system imposed by the Europeans was alien to them. Ironically, African leaders were trained in this alien educational system.
• Their education had introduced them to American Independence Struggle, French Revolution, and Nationalism.
• The African people became aware of nationalism and national pride.
• After Second World War England and France gradually began to grant more rights to the Africans in their colonies.
• This strengthened the independence movements in African nations.