India Colonialism and Resistance

Role-Play

This role-play is meant to help students understand the complexities of history by entering into the perspectives of real people who experienced British colonialism of India as well as the 20th century resistance movements led by Mohandas Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

MEET MAHATMA GANDHI

The most famous figure of modern India, the spiritual leader of the independence movement, the "Great Soul"

Read Gandhi's bio

MEET JAWAHARLAL JEHRU

The first Prime Minister of modern India and perhaps the person who did more than any other to achieve India's independence and to make it into the country it is today.

Read Nehur's bio

MEET MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH

The enigmatic father of modern Pakistan, the leader of the Muslim League, and one of the most controversial figures surrounding India and Pakistan's independence

Read Ali Jinnah's bio

THE ROLE-PLAY

This role-play spans a crucial time period in modern South Asian history: from the creation of the Raj in 1857 to independence and the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.

VISITOR INFO

TEACHERS GUIDE

VISITOR'S GUIDE

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin exploring the exhibits, look at the Visitor Info and make sure you've downloaded the Visitor's Guide to help record key information. Here are some big questions you should consider throughout your visit:

How and why did colonialism in India change over time?
What caused Indian independence?
Why was the Indian independence movement important?
How and why did opposition to colonialism in India change over time?
Why is colonialism in India such a politically charged topic?
What are the legacies of colonialism for India?
How did British colonialism impact India--in what ways, and on whom?