Colonialism can be defined as "the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically". It occurs when one nation subjugates another, conquering its population and exploiting it, often while forcing its own language and cultural values upon its people. Though colonialism is generally considered to be a relic of the past, nearly 2 million people in 16 “non-self-governing territories” across the globe still live under virtual colonial rule.
Colonialism in the modern sense began with the "Age of Discovery", led by Portuguese, and then by the Spanish exploration of the Americas, the coasts of Africa, the Middle East, India and East Asia. Colonialism was legitimate because it helped people and many people were willing to tolerate it. Anti-colonial arguments are often incoherent, blaming colonial governments for all ills rather than examining what would have occurred in the absence of those governments. These are countries that have colonies: Australia (6), Denmark (2), Netherlands (2), France (16), New Zealand (3), Norway (3), the United Kingdom (15), and the United States (14).
The Pre-Colonial State of India
Before the advent of colonial rule, India was a self-sufficient and flourishing economy. Evidently, our country was popularly known as the golden eagle. India had already established itself on the world map with a decent amount of exports.
Colonialism was England's control over India
British raj was the period of direct British rule over the Indian subcontinent from 1858 until the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947. The British were able to take control of India mainly because India was not united. The British signed treaties and made military and trading alliances with many of the independent states that made up India. These local princes were effective at maintaining British rule and gained much from being loyal to the British.
Before British Imperialism in India, India was doing very well and flourishing. Britain came to India in 1858 for their profitable resources that the British Empire wanted to make theirs. Colonialism was certainly a far more traumatizing experience for colonial subjects than their colonizers. They suffered poverty, malnutrition, disease, cultural upheaval, economic exploitation, political disadvantage, and systematic programmes aimed at creating a sense of social and racial inferiority.
The raj succeeded management of the subcontinent by the British East India Company, after general distrust and dissatisfaction with company leadership resulted in a widespread mutiny of sepoy troops in 1857, causing the British to reconsider the structure of governance in India. The British government took possession of the company’s assets and imposed direct rule. The raj was intended to increase Indian participation in governance, but the powerlessness of Indians to determine their own future without the consent of the British led to an increasingly adamant national independence movement.
The trade with India had been highly valued by Europeans since ancient times, the long route between them was subject to many potential obstacles from middlemen, making trade unsafe, unreliable, and expensive. This was especially true after the collapse of the Mongol empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. As Europeans, led by the Portuguese, began to explore maritime navigation routes to bypass middlemen, the distance of the venture required merchants to set up fortified posts.
The British entrusted this task to the East India Company, which initially established itself in India by obtaining permission from local authorities to own land, fortify its holdings, and conduct trade duty-free in mutually beneficial relationships. The company’s territorial paramountcy began after it became involved in hostilities, sidelining rival European companies and eventually overthrowing the nawab of Bengal and installing a puppet in 1757.
The raj succeeded management of the subcontinent by the British East India Company, after general distrust and dissatisfaction with company leadership resulted in a widespread mutiny of sepoy troops in 1857, causing the British to reconsider the structure of governance in India. The British government took possession of the company’s assets and imposed direct rule. The raj was intended to increase Indian participation in governance, but the powerlessness of Indians to determine their own future without the consent of the British led to an increasingly adamant national independence movement.
The trade with India had been highly valued by Europeans since ancient times, the long route between them was subject to many potential obstacles from middlemen, making trade unsafe, unreliable, and expensive. This was especially true after the collapse of the Mongol empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. As Europeans, led by the Portuguese, began to explore maritime navigation routes to bypass middlemen, the distance of the venture required merchants to set up fortified posts.
The British entrusted this task to the East India Company, which initially established itself in India by obtaining permission from local authorities to own land, fortify its holdings, and conduct trade duty-free in mutually beneficial relationships. The company’s territorial paramountcy began after it became involved in hostilities, sidelining rival European companies and eventually overthrowing the nawab of Bengal and installing a puppet in 1757.
The company’s control over Bengal was effectively consolidated in the 1770s when Warren Hastings brought the nawab’s administrative offices to Calcutta (now Kolkata) under his oversight. About the same time, the British Parliament began regulating the East India Company through successive India Acts, bringing Bengal under the indirect control of the British government. Over the next eight decades, a series of wars, treaties, and annexations extended the dominion of the company across the subcontinent, subjugating most of India to the determination of British governors and merchants.
How Did It All End?
1947: Partition of India
During World War 2, the British had mobilized India's resources for their imperial war effort. They crushed the attempt of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress to force them to 'quit India' in 1942. For this reason, Britain was desperate to keep India (and its army) united.
British rule, however, was mostly devastating for Indians: its mercantile system of trade ruined indigenous economies and its cash-crop policies wreaked havoc on India's environment and left its population vulnerable to famines, which killed millions in the late 19th century.
Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma became governor-general and oversaw the transition of British India to independence. Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878-1972) became the only Indian and last governor-general after independence.
The Impact of British on India
British Imperialism had a large impact on India during the nineteenth century because the British modernized and industrialized India, many economic declines were caused in India due to the lack of financial benefits from the British rule, and Indians gained a sense of nationalism after the British took control over .
Positives and Negative Effects of British Rule on Indians?
Positive: Improved transport, Farming methods, order justice, and education.
Negative: Exploitation, destruction of local industry, deforestation, and famine.
Conclusion
India, as a nation state, did not exist before the colonization. India only exists as a product of decolonization. The existence of many small territories, many with long-established rivalries, enabled the colonials to employ a divide and rule strategy, playing one (or many) kingdoms off against another, bankrupting many and creating a dependency on Company/Imperial protection amongst most of the rest.
How Did It All End?
1947: Partition of India
During World War 2, the British had mobilized India's resources for their imperial war effort. They crushed the attempt of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress to force them to 'quit India' in 1942. For this reason, Britain was desperate to keep India (and its army) united.
British rule, however, was mostly devastating for Indians: its mercantile system of trade ruined indigenous economies and its cash-crop policies wreaked havoc on India's environment and left its population vulnerable to famines, which killed millions in the late 19th century.
Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma became governor-general and oversaw the transition of British India to independence. Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878-1972) became the only Indian and last governor-general after independence.
The Impact of British on India
British Imperialism had a large impact on India during the nineteenth century because the British modernized and industrialized India, many economic declines were caused in India due to the lack of financial benefits from the British rule, and Indians gained a sense of nationalism after the British took control over .
Positives and Negative Effects of British Rule on Indians?
Positive: Improved transport, Farming methods, order justice, and education.
Negative: Exploitation, destruction of local industry, deforestation, and famine.
Conclusion
India, as a nation state, did not exist before the colonization. India only exists as a product of decolonization. The existence of many small territories, many with long-established rivalries, enabled the colonials to employ a divide and rule strategy, playing one (or many) kingdoms off against another, bankrupting many and creating a dependency on Company/Imperial protection amongst most of the rest.
The British Empire in India - at least until 1858 - is better understood as a State-endorsed protection racket than an Empire or Colony in the usual sense. India is also much better placed geographically for trade with Europe (which up to the 20th century was all that mattered) than China and was rich in many of the same materials that were desirable to the European trade. Tea is a fabulous example. The British introduced tea production into India because it had the right environment but was much closer and much easier to trade with than China, where tea production originated.
Written by - Jesvin Joseph
Edited by - Prachi Raheja
Written by - Jesvin Joseph
Edited by - Prachi Raheja
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