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British in India

            Probably the best example of Imperialism in action was the British conquest of India or the Raj as it came to be known. It arose from the work of the British East India Company with only occasional assistance from the British Government. In 1784 however the British parliament established a system of joint control by the British government and the company. As the British grip of India increased Indian resentment grew even though the Britain had a firm policy of non-interference in Indian social and religious lives with some notable exceptions such as female infanticide, dowry burnings and slavery. This policy of non-interference did not prevent innocent or ignorant misconceptions such as the violation of both Hindu and Muslim values that ultimately led to the Indian Mutiny in 1857.
             The Indian culture and religion was one of great complexity which it had already been firmly established before the British came to India. As the British at this stage had a strong sense of social consciousness it was inevitable that there was going to be cultural conflict between the two races. Although the British did not deliberately plan to violate Indian customs and beliefs, they still had a somewhat racist mentality and the belief that they were a superior race. As soon as the British imposed their economic agenda on the Indians, the Indians felt aggrieved because thousands of years of their customs and beliefs were being violated. However, the British strongly believed that their practices were for the benefit of the Indian people. It is clear therefore that much of the conflict in India was a result of cultural and moral misunderstandings. It is difficult to form a judgment on Britain's actions in India as it a question of subjective moral and political standpoints. .
             From the outset British imperialism in India took on a different complexion to that in colonies such as Australia and Canada. Unlike the indigenous peoples of Australia and Canada, the Indians were a far more unified and had a far more sophisticated and structured social system.


Essays Related to British in India

1. The British East India Company

The British East India Company is a fine example of these exceptions. ... The British East India Company imperialized India politically and economically, setting the stage for British India, and allowing the company to be the most powerful economic force that had ever been created. ... Britain at that time owned India, but by contract the company governed it. ... Hastings pursued the British rule of India by doing many things. ... It also set the stage for Britain's control of India, or British India, and caused the Britain to rule India for 75 years after the company was dissolved....

  • Word Count: 2492
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

Furthermore, Great Britain also secured its presence in India in the 17th century through the activities of the East India Company. ... In India, the British attempted to westernize them but Indians rejected this action and thus, they rebelled. ... Then the British government took control of India, leading to the period known as the British Raj, where an appointed governor-general administered India and Queen Victoria was crowned Empress of India. ... Throughout the 19th century, Britain used the armies of India to extend its dominance in Southeast Asia. Konbaung's dynasty expanded the b...

  • Word Count: 1137
  • Approx Pages: 5
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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. India and the Rebellion of 1857

In 1857, many native soldiers (also known as sepoys), from the Indian army, rebelled against the British East India Company. ... Also, the ratio of British to India became 2:1 and Indians were prohibited from manning the artillery and from entering certain scientific branches of the army. ... The events of 1857 in India also tell us about the different attitudes between the British and the Indians. Both sides were very determined into making sure they succeed, as the British wanted to take and change India while the Indians wanted to protect their country and make sure this never happened. ......

  • Word Count: 1186
  • Approx Pages: 5

4. British In India

A whole subcontinent was picked up without half trying Images of the British raj in India are everywhere of late. ... For the raj, which did not begin until 1858 when the British government officially took over India from a private trading company, was in fact only the final act in a long, crooked and partly accidental drama. ... The British therefore turned back to India's west coast, dropping anchor near Surat in 1608, and Sir William Hawkins proceeded to the imperial Mogul court in Agra to seek permission to set up a trading post. ... The Moguls, a band of intruders of Mongolian, Turk...

  • Word Count: 5127
  • Approx Pages: 21
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. A Comparison Of Selected British Charter Companies In India And North America

British East India Ship By this time, major English communities had developed in Madras, Calcutta and Bombay. The vast amounts of silk and spices coming from India created a powerful merchant class in Britain, as well as in other countries in Europe. ... More than ten million dollars were given back to the British inhabitants of Calcutta, the East India Company and Robert Clive. ... These wars led to British rule throughout India. Another way that Britain gained control over other regions of India at this time was through the policy Lord Dalhousie created known as the Doctrine of Lapse....

  • Word Count: 1908
  • Approx Pages: 8
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6. british imperialism/india

British imperialism in India Since the colonization of India by the British, India has prospered in many ways. ... The British established a very effective government in India. ... British imperialism was also responsible for the modernization of India. ... Without the help of British imperialism India would have never come in touch with modern day life. The British rule helped bring peace and a more organized, educated lifestyle to India. ...

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7. India In 1947

At midnight the next day India won its freedom from colonial rule, ending nearly 350 years of British presence in India. ... The British left India divided in two. ... The first was 'to obtain a unitary Government for British India and the Indian States.' ... Indian nationalism had grown largely since British policies of education and the advances made by the British in India in the fields of transportation and communication. ... The British had followed a divide-and-rule policy in India. ...

  • Word Count: 3204
  • Approx Pages: 13

8. Reasons for British Imperialism and the ramifications

Two primary examples of British imperialism come from opposite ends of the globe: India and America. In 1786, Lord Cornwallis became British governor of India. ... In 1813, the monopoly of the English East India Company was broken and all British citizens were allowed to trade with India. ... On August 2, 1858, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act. This act transferred authority for India from the East India Company to Queen Victoria. ...

  • Word Count: 987
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9. India And Kenya

Exam Question #2: Affect of technological changes on traditional social organization in India and Kenya Prior to the colonization of India and Kenya, theses societies had traditional patterns of social relations. It was technological changes brought by the British that had a profound impact of the social organizations of both societies. ... The social structure of the Punjabi Village in India was traditionally a caste society. ... The first arrival of the British in 1849 did not profoundly affect the social organization because the new laws established by the British did not provide fo...

  • Word Count: 865
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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