Final answer:
Indians were discontent with British rule due to economic, political, and cultural dominance by Britain, leading to the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and the rise of nationalist movements, including the formation of the Indian National Congress to fight for reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indians were discontent with British control in 1850 due to various reasons, including economic exploitation, political domination, and cultural interference. The British East India Company had gained extensive control over India, leading to unfair taxation, restrictions on industrialization, and diminishing local power. The Indian Mutiny of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Rebellion, was a critical uprising against the British, influenced by the desire to restore Indian elite's influence, resentment toward the indirect rule shift to direct governance, and to counter missionary activities.
Post-mutiny, the British abolished the company and established the British Raj, directly ruling India until 1947. Indian elites, particularly those with Western education, pushed for nationalist movements by the late 1800s. The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885 to pursue political reforms. The INC sought to address grievances such as unfair taxation and barriers to industrialization.
The role of Indian troops in World War I fueled further hopes for independence. However, disappointment set in when Britain showed reluctance to grant more rights post-war, sparking an increase in nationalist movements advocating for Indian independence from colonial rule.