UNIVERSITE D’ANTANANARIVO ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE DEPARTEMENT DE FORMATION INITIALE LITTERAIRE C.E. R. EN LANGUE ET LETTRES ANGLAISES ASPECTS OF BRITISH IMPERIALISM IN INDIA AS SEEN THROUGH PAUL SCOTT’S THE RAJ QUARTET WITH SELECTED TEXTS FOR PEDAGOGICAL USE Presented by: RANESA Miarisoa Rakotonjanahary Dissertation Advisor: Mrs Ascence RAZAIARIVELO 09 March 2007 À l’innoubliable papa, À la courageuse maman, Aux trois autres Ranesa mes deux frères et ma sœur. ACKOWLEDGEMENTS I am most grateful to all those who took part in the realization of this work namely Mr MANORO Régis and Mrs RAZAIARIVELO Ascence, my dissertation advisors whose invaluable help, advice and understanding contributed much in the achievement of this dissertation in time. I am also grateful to Mrs RABESAOTRA Sahondra who has willingly accepted to preside over the members of jury and who has greatly helped me by her suggestions for the completion of this piece of research. I would like to express my thankfullness to Mr RAZAFINDRATSIMA Eugène who made useful criticisms and comments which were important for the final version of this work. To anyone who has, knowingly or otherwise, helped to shape the ideas that have gone into this dissertation, please find here the expression of my best gratitude. i TABLE OF CONTENTS General Introduction...............................................................................................................1 PART ONE: THE BRITISH EXPANSION IN THE INDIAN PENINSULA...3 Introduction to Part One..................................................................................................... 4 1.1. COMMERCIAL EXPANSION.......................................................................... 4 1.1.1. The Decline of the Moghul Empire..........................................................4 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.1.1.1. The Moghul Dynasty........................................................................5 1.1.1.2. Political Instability............................................................................7 1.1.2. The Elimination of European Rivals by the East India Company........ 7 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.1.2.1. The Portuguese Settlement............................................................... 7 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.1.2.2. The Dutch Verenigde Oost Indische Companie...............................8 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.1.2.3. La Compagnie Française Permanente des Indes............................. 9 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.1.2.4. The British East India Company...................................................... 9 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.1.2.5. The British Supremacy..................................................................... 9 1.1.3. The Monopoly of Trade in India and China........................................... 11 1.1.3.1. The Royal Charter of 1600............................................................. 11 1.1.3.2. Trade with India............................................................................. 12 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.1.3.3. Trade with China............................................................................ 13 1.2. THE PAX BRITANNICA................................................................................. 14 1.2.1. Conquest and Annexation..........................................................................14 1.2.1.1. The Battle of Plassey....................................................................... 14 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.2.1.2. The Gurkha War 1814-1816............................................................15 1.2.1.3. The Mahratta Wars.......................................................................... 15 1.2.1.4. The Mysore Wars............................................................................ 16 1.2.1.5. The Burmese Wars.......................................................................... 16 1.2.1.6. The First Afghan War 1838-1842................................................... 17 1.2.1.7. The Sikh Wars1845-1846 and 1848-1849 ......................................17 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.2.1.8. Annexation of Sind and Oudh......................................................... 19 1.2.2. British Colonial Administration.................................................................19 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.2.2.1. Direct Rule...........................................................................19 1.2.2.2. Indirect Rule .................................................................................................................................................. 20 ii 1.2.3. The Indian Civil Service............................................................................. 22 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.2.3.1. The Origin of the Service................................................................ 22 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.2.3.2. Access to the I.C.S...........................................................................23 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.2.3.3. The Colonial Government............................................................... 24 1.3. LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL CHANGES...................................................33 1.3.1. The Rise of Indian Nationalism...................................................................33 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.3.1.1. The Mutiny of the Sepoys 1857....................................................... 33 .................................................................................................................................................. 1.3.1.2. The Durbars...................................................................................... 35 1.3.1.3. The Indian National Congress.......................................................... 37 1.3.2. The Legislative Councils.............................................................................. 38 1.3.2.1. The Partition of Bengal................................................................ 38 1.3.2.2. The Morley-Minto Reforms 1909..................................................... 39 1.3.2.3. The Montford Reforms 1919.............................................................41 1.3.3. The Struggle for Independence................................................................... 42 1.3.3.1. Gandhi 1869-1948............................................................................. 42 1.3.3.2. The Rowlatt Bills 1919......................................................................43 1.3.3.3. The Government of India Act 1935...................................................44 1.3.3.4. The Quit India Campaign.................................................................. 46 1.3.3.5. The Partition of India and Pakistan................................................... 47 Conclusion to Part One......................................................................................... 49 PART TWO: SOCIO-CULTURAL MANIFESTATIONS OF IMPERIALISM IN THE RAJ QUARTET................................................51 Introduction to part two.................................................................................................... 51 2.1. THE HISTORICAL EVENTS TREATED BY EACH NOVEL..................................53 2.1.1. Strikes and Riots ............................................................................................53 2.1.2. The Second World War.................................................................................. 54 2.1.3. Religious Strife...............................................................................................55 2.1.4. The British Departure..................................................................................... 56 2.2. COLONIAL SETTINGS OF THE RAJ QUARTET....................................................57 2.2.1. The District of Mayapore..............................................................................