The First 50 years of British Raj

By: Priya.M.B

Till 1886, the British East India Company was involved in expanding its territory overcoming the resistance from the French, Dutch, Portuguese and the native rulers. At the time of the 1857 revolt, the Company was controlling large portion of India, including the three presidencies, viz Bengal, Bombay and Madras, and the princely states such as Mysore, Punjab, Burma, Satara, Sambalpur, Jhansi, Nagpur, Oudh among many other smaller states. Most of the acquisitions were the result of Lord Dalhousie's 'Doctrine of Lapse'. According to this doctrine, the princely states were to fall under the Company's rule if the ruler died without a direct heir. The rulers were not allowed to adopt an heir. This was against the Hindu religion and therefore led to ill feeling among the ruling aristocrats against the Company's policies in India.

1857 Rebellion

Then, there was a successful spread of a word that the British army used rifle cartridges that were greased with pig-fat and cow-fat, which was totally against the religious sentiments of Hindus and Muslims. This greatly provoked the British Indian soldiers at Meerut (near Delhi). Hindu and Muslim soldiers refused to use the cartridges and mutinied against the British officers. Thus, the 1857 rebellion, which is also known as 'The Sepoy Mutiny' or 'The First War of Indian Independence' started on 10th May, 1857.

The rebellion soon spread to other parts of Northern India. The Britishers were taken aback as the British Indian soldiers were involved in the revolt. Some of the Indian rulers such as the Moghuls and Marathas fought against the British East India Company with the help of the rebel soldiers. However, the Company commanded the support of most of the princely states and native aristocrats. Finally, in June 1858, the British East India Company succeeded in overcoming the revolt.

British Raj

The aftermath of the revolt saw the abolishment of the British East India Company. The British Crown established the British Raj in India. Queen Victoria became the 'Empress of India'. The British Raj confiscated the properties belonging to those who participated in the revolt against the Company, exiled emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, (the Moghul ruler) to Burma after executing his family and closed down most of the religious centres. However, on the positive side, the British Raj abolished the 'Doctrine of Lapse'.

The British Raj then went on to create the office of the Secretary of State for India, a cabinet rank post in London. The Governor General (also known as the Viceroy), assisted by the executive and legislative councils was responsible for the administration of India. The Governor General reported to the Secretary of State for India. Under the Governor General were the Governors of Provinces of India, who in turn headed the division and district officials (Indian Civil Service officers). The Indian Councils Act of 1861 restored legislative powers to the three elite provinces. Native Indians were allowed to the Indian Civil Services only after 1880.

British Rule

Post 1857, India faced several famines that wiped out millions of natives. The British administration during the famines was not very effective except during the famines in 1874 and 1907. Another setback during this time was the closure of many industries by the Britishers. The British Raj always tried to import the manufactured goods from London and make maximum profits. In 1885, the Indian National Congress was established with the aim of continuing the British rule in India with the help of liberal and pro-British Indians. However, later on this organization became the main force of India's freedom struggle.

Partition of Bengal

Lord Curzon, the viceroy of India initiated the partition of Bengal in 1903 as the Bengal Presidency was too large to be administered by a Governor. The partition of Bengal into two parts - Western and Eastern Bengal - on October 16, 1905 favoured Muslims as against Hindus that resulted in religious agitation. This incident substantiates the fact that Curzon was the upholder of the infamous British tactics - the 'Divide and Rule' policy.>