India under British empire

British in India

After the victory of the British on the wars the East India Company found itself transformed
from an association of traders to rulers exercising political sovereignty over a largely unknown
land and people. At this time, India was ruled by the East India Company and not by the British
government. Parliamentary acts of 1773, 1781, and 1784 established some degree of supervision
over the company’s affairs in civil, military, and revenue matters, in particular by the Creation of
a Board of Control in London and by Parliament scrutinizing the company’s administration prior
to the renewal of its charter every twenty years. (Farmer, Comparative History). Beginning with
Regulating Act of 1773 in which it restrained the company traders` uninhibited commercial
activities and endeavoured to bring about some order in the territories under the control of the
British East India Company. Restraining the company license to periods of twenty years, subject
to appraisal upon renewal, the 1773 act gave the British government managerial rights over the
Bengal, Bombay, and Madras presidencies. Bengal was given supremacy over the rest of the
provinces because of its massive commercial vivacity. Moreover, Bengal was the seat of the
British power in India (at Calcutta, now known as Kolkata), whose governor was raised to the
new position of governor general. Warren Hastings was the first to hold office as the governor
general (1773-85). (http://www.indianetzone.com/7/british_empire.htm)

Sepoy Rebellion started when the British introduced a new kind of rifle to the Indian army that in
order to load them, the sepoys had to bite off the tops of the grease cartridges. These cartridges
were smeared with a mixture of beef and pork. Since cow is holy in Indians, they were enraged
at what appeared to be British insensitivity to their beliefs. The sepoy made a rebellion on 1857.
Bitterness and resentment lingered for many years on both sides. Its immediate results were
changes in British government policies toward India, and the end of the East India Company’s
power.

Direct Rule

The direct colonial rule of British over India started when British Governor-General Lord
Dalhousie implemented the Doctrine of Lapse, in which a native state became part of British
India if there was no male heir at the death of the ruler, was. This policy enables the death of a
ruler without an heir in the 1856 as an instrument for becoming part of the British Empire, and
thus coming under direct colonial rule

But the direct colonial rule was more shown when the Parliament passed the Government of
India Act after the Sepoy rebellion finally comes to an end. This law abolished the East India
Company and transferred rule over its territories to the British government. The representative of
the queen in India was the viceroy and was directly responsible to the secretary of state in India.
Indirect rule

The indirect rule of the British empire towards India can be shown to those areas of India which
were under the administration of Indian kings rather than the British crown; these were known as
the “native states” or the “princely states.” The defense and foreign policies of these native
states were completely controlled by the British during the colonial period, but they enjoyed
considerable autonomy in matters of internal administration. British Empire made use of
intermediaries in which they allow local leaders which are the Indian kings to rule the states.
They want India to retain a sort of autonomy so that they will not rebel or go against the empire.

Nationalist Movement

In 1850 many British style universities were established in India. Indian students studied modern
science and Western civilization, the also read the works of English philosophers who write
about nationalism and independence. With their awareness of these Western ideas, British
officials feared that educated Indians would eventually become the leaders of an independence
movement in India.

In 1885, educated middle class nationals had founded the Indian National Conference (INC).
Their aim was to call public attention to their views. The Congress asked that Indians should be
given better and more responsible government positions. They also asked for lower military
spending.

In 1905, Curzon, the Viceroy and Governor-General (1899–1905), ordered the partition of the
province of Bengal for improvements in administrative efficiency in that huge and populous
region, where the Bengali Hindu intelligentsia exerted considerable influence on local and
national politics. The partition outraged Bengalis. Not only had the government failed to consult
Indian public opinion, but the action appeared to reflect the British resolve to divide and rule.

The Division of Bengal lead to the widespread agitation ensued in the streets and in the press,
and the Congress advocated boycotting British products. Indians also extended the boycott to
British-run schools . Congress leaders worked to create an educational system that emphasized
India’s own history and cultural achievements. A cycle of violence and repression also ensued in
some parts of the country like setting of bombs and attacking British officials.

MAUGRI, amuni na ang ging himo ko pakiedit nalang kag iparaphrase kay ging copy-paste ko
lang bi na ang iban….salamat gid..:)