British Rule

 The Colonial Era under British Rule in India (1757–1947) began with the East India Company’s victory at the Battle of Plassey and ended with India’s independence. Below is a focused overview of British Rule during this period:

• East India Company Rule (1757–1858):
  • Establishment: Post-Plassey (1757), the Company gained control over Bengal, using revenue and military power to expand influence.
  • Expansion: Annexed territories via wars (e.g., Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha) and policies like the Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse.
  • Administration: Operated through a mix of Indian princely states under British oversight and directly ruled provinces. Local rulers retained nominal power but were subordinate.
  • Economic Policies: Imposed heavy land taxes (e.g., Permanent Settlement in Bengal, 1793), disrupted traditional industries (textiles), and exported raw materials to Britain, causing economic stagnation.
  • Social Reforms: Introduced English education (Macaulay’s Minute, 1835), abolished sati (1829), and allowed widow remarriage (1856), but often alienated Indian traditions.
  • 1857 Revolt: A widespread rebellion triggered by sepoy grievances (e.g., greased cartridges), economic distress, and cultural interference. The revolt was crushed, leading to the end of Company rule.
• British Raj (1858–1947):
  • Direct Crown Rule: After 1858, the British Crown took control, with a Viceroy as the head. India was declared the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire.
  • Administration: Centralized governance with a bureaucracy (Indian Civil Service, mostly British). Princely states (e.g., Hyderabad, Mysore) remained semi-autonomous under British paramountcy.
  • Economic Exploitation: Continued drain of wealth through taxes, trade imbalances, and resource extraction. Railways and infrastructure served British commercial and military needs.
  • Political Reforms:
    • Indian Councils Acts (1861, 1892): Limited Indian representation in governance.
    • Morley-Minto Reforms (1909): Introduced separate electorates for Muslims.
    • Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Established dyarchy in provinces.
    • Government of India Act (1935): Proposed federal structure and provincial autonomy, partially implemented.
  • Nationalist Resistance:
    • Indian National Congress (1885) and Muslim League (1906) emerged as key political voices.
    • Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi (non-violent resistance), Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose mobilized mass movements.
    • Major campaigns: Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), Dandi Salt March (1930), Quit India Movement (1942).
  • World Wars: India contributed troops and resources, straining the economy but highlighting its importance, which pressured Britain for concessions.
  • Partition and Independence (1947): Crippled by World War II and mounting unrest, Britain granted independence. The Indian Independence Act partitioned British India into India and Pakistan, leading to communal violence and mass migration.
• Legacy:
  • Positive: Unified administration, legal systems, railways, and English education laid foundations for modern India.
  • Negative: Economic exploitation, famines (e.g., Bengal famine of 1943), and cultural disruption fueled poverty and division.
  • Political: Sowed seeds for nationalism but also communal tensions due to policies like separate electorates.