National Movement in India

NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN INDIA SUBJECT CODE : 18BPA66S PREPARED BY : Dr.R.Anitha Guest lecturer DEPARTMENT : PG and Research Department Of Public Administration CONTACT NO : 9003500812 E Mail ID : [email protected] Material prepared according to textbook and reference books given in the syllabus. SYLLABUS British rule in India Establishment of British rule in India: Factors behind British success against Indian powers:- ● The British had firmly established their position by the middle of the nineteenth century and a large part of India came under their direct rule. ● The areas that remained independent were indirectly under British influence. There are various reasons for the success of the British rule against Indian rulers and some of them are listed as follows: Vacuum of power:- ● There was a vacuum of power in India after the Mughal Empire got fractured falling under its own weight. ● Its various governors and rebel commanders established their superiority at different places and started fighting against each other. This gave the British the opportunity to establish their trading posts in India. Flag followed the trade:- ● These trading posts were used to store the goods and for that British built many warehouses, which gave them an excuse to build forts and to build up armies to "protect" them. ● The East India Company made treaties with most of the kings to keep them satisfied so that they would not try and fight against the British. Lack of unity among Indian states:- ● Even though there were powerful Indian states like Punjab, Mysore and the Marathas that ruled Indian subcontinent during the mid-19th century, many of them were fighting with each other for different reasons. ● They failed to perceive the danger arising from the East India Company and could not unite against a common foreign enemy. British were strong at sea:- ● The British came through the sea; they established their naval power in the Indian Ocean before coming to the Indian mainland. ● Since none of the Indian states had a strong navy to challenge the British supremacy, they had an easy run to establish themselves in the coastal regions of India. Divide and Rule:- Page 1 of 4 ● The British took advantage of the situation as the Indian rulers failed to create a stable social, political and economic order. The British took advantage of the deep division of Indian, social, political and economic structure. ● They adopted the policy of ‘Divide and Rule,’ policy and played one state against the other. Slowly many Indian states had fallen prey to the British designs and were forced to fight with each other. ● The British also took advantage of the people, training them to be soldiers and employing them for the British army; the new army was better trained and more disciplined then the Indian armies. ● The British made use of their Indian troops sided with an Indian kingdoms in defeating its rivals. The British in fact, caused a total of 111 wars among the Indian states. Technological and Military superiority:- ● The Indian armies were badly-trained and poorly-paid was no match for the disciplined and well-trained British forces. The Indians were technologically backward as well. ● In comparison the British had technological military and transportation superiority over Indians. The British had developed new techniques of warfare that was unknown to Indians. It was with the help of the Indian soldiers, the British were able to capture most of India. ● The British army’s were a united lot and moved much faster under a unified command. The British would retaliate if their trading fort was attacked by some overconfident governor or prince. ● These are some of the reasons of the success of the British against the Indian rulers that led to the establishment of the British rule in india. Impact of British Rule in India:- ● With the advent of British rule in India, there had come several changes in the socio-economic-political spheres if the Indian society. ● It is important to know the impact of British Rule in India for the IAS examas pirants and it will help them in both Prelims (History) and Mains (GS-I, Essay.) Impact of British Rule in India:- Economic Impact: Page 2 of 4 ● India became an economic colony of industrial England. Indian handloom weaving industry was hit by the industrialization in England and eventually collapsed. ● Indian handicrafts lost both domestic and foreign market. ● Commercialization of agriculture hard hit the labourers where numbers of landless labourers increased. Social and Cultural Impact:- ● Amid social issues like Sati, Child Marriages, Infanticides; ideas like Liberty, Equality, Freedom, and Human Rights were brought by the British. ● To improve the condition of the women in society, various legal measures were introduced. ● British showed keenness in introducing the English language in Indian society.The vernacular languages were ignored. ● The British Parliament issued the Charter Act of 1813by which a sum of Rupees One lakh was sanctioned for promoting western sciences in India. Positive and Negative Impacts of British Rule in India:- ● Broadly, the impact of British rule can be divided into negative and positive aspects. Impact of British Rule - Positive Aspects:- ● New Job Opportunities: The British introduce new job opportunities that were especially beneficial to the members of the lower caste. With these opportunities, there was a better chance of upward social mobility for them. ● Development of Infrastructure: The British authorities built many important infrastructures such as hospital schools and the most important of all, railways. Of course, this was done not to enhance the lives of the local Indians but rather the facilitate their exploitation. Regardless these infrastructures laid the foundation of India becoming a major economic powerhouse. ● Introduction of new technology and ideas: The introduction of new technology like steamships,telegraphs and trainscompletely changed the economic landscape of the Indian subcontinent. Culturally, the British put an end to social Page 3 of 4 evils such as Sati (with the passing of the Bengal Sati Regulation Act onDecember 4, 1829) and weakened the caste system to an extent. ● Even other western nations like France were deterred from being too involved with India. Though a boon, it turned out to be a bane in the long run as it made India too heavily dependent on the British. ● You can find out more about the Legislations in British India, by visiting the linked article. Impact of British Rule - Negative Aspects:- ● This led to the local cloth, metal and carpentry industries to fall into disarray. ● It made India a virtual hostage of Britains economic machinations which meant breaking away from it would destroy India’s economy. ● British mismanagement led to famines: The British rule placed more emphasis on the cultivation of cash crops rather than growing crops that would feed India’s huge population. ● The Divide and Rule Policy: The British realised that they could never rule a vast territory like India without breaking up strong kingdoms into small easily conquerable segments. ● The British Empire also made ● it a policy topay religious leaders to speak out against each other, slowlypoisoning relations between different faiths. ● The hostile relationship between India and Pakistan can be attributed as a direct result of this policy. ● Economic improvements were only enacted in order to better plunder the Indian economy. ● Even societal changes would have come out on their own without the need for British intervention.In the end, the negative effects of British Imperialism far outweigh the benefits. Page 4 of 4 Unit: 1 QUEEN'S PROCLAMATION -1858 01 Nov 1858 ❖Following the 1857 Rebellion, the East India Company's rule in India came to an end. ❖Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 1 November 1858 declared that thereafter India would be governed by and in the name of the British Monarch through a Secretary of State. ❖The Queen’s Proclamation of 1858 assured the Indian Princes that their territories will not be annexed by the British Governments and they shall be given the right to adoption. ❖The British Government ordered its servants in India not to interfere in the religious affairs of the Indians. ❖In framing and administering law in India, due regard was to be shown to the customs, ancient rites and usages of the Indians. ❖Pardon and amnesty were offered to all those Indians who were still in arms against the British Government and who were not guilty of murder of British subjects. ❖The proclamation contained the following declaration about the Indians: “In their prosperity will be our strength, in their contentment our security and in their gratitude our best reward”. OBJECTIVE The purpose of QueenVictoria's Proclamation, issued in 1858, was to announce that England was assuming control of its Indian colonies, removing them from the administration of the British East India Company. IMPORTANCE ★ The proclamation put an end to the era of further expansion of the British Empire in India. ★ It also promised non- interference in the religious affairs of the people, grant of equal protection of law and respect for ancient rights and customs of the people. ★This proclamation declared the future policy of the British Rule in India IMPACT ❏ The Crown was empowered to appoint a Governor-General and the Governors of the Presidencies. ❏ An Indian Civil Service was to be created under the control of the Secretary of State. ❏ Here to all the property and other assets of the East India Company were transferred to the Crown. ❏It opened India to the British merchants and capitalist class for Indian’s further economic exploitation. ❏Equal rights and opportunities were guaranteed to the Indians along with other British subjects. Government of India Act 1858 • *This significant Act was enacted in the wake of the Revolt of 1857–also known as the First War of Independence or the.

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