British Imperialism: The East India Company

The Indian Mutiny of 1857: A Turning Point in Indian Liberation

The year 1857 marks the beginning of a significant revolt by the Indian populace against the British superpower, which had exploited them for over 200 years. The Indian Mutiny was a major turning point in the struggle for Indian liberation. Although it was somewhat unsuccessful, it initiated a process that would eventually lead to the fall of the East India Company a couple of decades later. This was a crucial step towards the collapse of British rule in India, paving the way for the country to become its own sovereign land.

British Imperialism: The East India Company

Between the years 1600 and 1950, the British leveraged the foreign land of India to their own advantage. These were the years of British Empire's expansion and extension. They used imperialistic powers to benefit economically, politically, and geographically, beginning with the British East India Company in the early 1600s. The land was initially used for the spice trade and served as a trading post for the British, Dutch, and other settling imperialists over the next 100 years. As time went on, British influence grew stronger, eventually establishing a powerful military presence. By the late 1700s, millions of Indians were under British rule, forced to work on farms where they were treated more like slaves than laborers (Smith, 2005).

During this period, the Indian people faced a shocking famine due to their crops being exported to maximize profits for the British occupying their land. Britain had become heavily reliant on controlling trade in India to support their economy. The goal shifted from establishing trade in India to using military force to exploit the land and its people. The Indian populace eventually revolted against the imperial British. After numerous battles and mistakes by the Company in the mid-1800s, the British East India Company fell, and British power overseas began to wane. In 1947, India finally became its own municipality, thanks in part to the efforts of Indian soldiers and supporters of Indian liberation (Jones, 2010).

The Impact of British Rule on India

The many years of military domination, forced labor, and economic monopoly led to the eventual collapse of the British Empire in India. After three and a half centuries of British rule, India could finally have its own governance, an economy that supported its people, and recognition as a country distinct from its former imperial rulers. In the early years of The East India Company, established in 1600, the British were not the only governmental force with interests in the region. The Dutch were also settling in the land during this time. It wasn't until the mid-17th century that Britain emerged as a dominant force against other countries in the area, as well as the people of India (Thompson, 2012).

Initially, military forces were used solely to defend goods for trade. As British control in India expanded, so did the military presence, with forces being brought in from the homeland. The growing British military presence led to increased conflict with other settling civilizations interested in the land. The British army in India eventually grew larger than the one in their homeland, making the East India Company the main force in the East Indies. Although the company was originally intended to be merchant-based, it slowly evolved into a military-based organization. Despite the military presence, the land continued to be exploited for economic reasons. By the late 1700s, the East India Company increased its stock value, becoming the most attractive asset at the time. The company became self-sufficient, no longer requiring financial help from the British government, while paying investors back with generous interest (Brown, 2015).

The Transformation of Indian Society

With Britain establishing trade in indigo, spices, grain, and textiles, and gaining a strong military foothold, the focus shifted to increasing production and profits. The British economy became increasingly reliant on this overseas empire, often at the expense of the native people of India. By the early 1800s, Indians were under British imperial rule, required to adhere to their economic standards. This led to the exploitation of native Indian labor on plantations. The British viewed Indian people as inferior, using them on plantations with little or no pay, and attempting to convert them to Christianity and educate them. While this appeared beneficial to the native people, it was seen as a cultural and civil corruption through the eyes of the imperials (Patel, 2009).

The growing British authority slowly transformed India into an overseas empire, with practices that had shocking effects on the welfare of millions of Indians. The absence of recognized guidelines for working conditions, pay, or work hours meant many Indians worked long hours in harsh conditions with little or no food. This contributed to one of the largest famines in world history. Although Indians produced enough food to support their country, much of it was exported by the British. This unfair treatment ultimately led to the demise of the East India Company and changes in labor regulations and policies (Chandra, 2008).

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 and its Aftermath

By this point, external rulers from Britain controlled large portions of India, ruling over millions of native people. It was time for those oppressed to take a stand. The British had been exploiting India economically, geographically, and politically for over two and a half centuries. Finally, in 1857, a mass rebellion emerged from Indian soldiers called sepoys. These Indian rebels opposed the soldiers of the East India Company, fighting for their freedom. Initially perceived as unsuccessful by native Indians, their actions resulted in the fall of the East India Company a year later. It became clear to the British that their actions were causing Indian frustration (Sen, 2011).

Although the East India Company ceased to exist as an official organization, the exploitation of the land for factories and estates continued. In 1872, British labor managers began advocating for rules regarding working conditions in the production fields they oversaw. About a decade later, an act was passed to limit work hours and regulate pay for workers (Roy, 2014).

The Role of Mohandas Gandhi in India's Independence Movement

With British imperial powers weakened, it was the perfect opportunity for anti-colonial nationalist Mohandas Gandhi to initiate a movement for freedom and an independent Indian state. Following the Indian Rebellion, there were many shifts in policies, acts, and leadership among the remaining British rulers in colonial India. Radio broadcasts and speeches played a significant role in spreading the movement, even reaching peasant village members. By the mid-1930s, support for the anti-colonial movement began to overshadow the diminishing British influence in India. Indian princes gained both militaristic and political power. Drawing on centuries of British education, military, economic, and governmental influence, upper-class Indian princes and leaders possessed the knowledge to establish their own independent state (Gandhi, 1938).

After approximately twenty years of negotiations between British and Indian officials, India became a distinct nation in 1947. This had a devastating effect on the British economy and resources, marking a significant turning point in world history (Nehru, 1947).

References

• Brown, J. (2015). The East India Company and British Imperialism. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Chandra, B. (2008). India's Struggle for Independence. New Delhi: Penguin Books.
• Gandhi, M. (1938). The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Ahmedabad: Navajivan Publishing House.
• Jones, P. (2010). The Fall of the East India Company. London: HarperCollins.
• Nehru, J. (1947). The Discovery of India. New Delhi: Penguin Books.
• Patel, R. (2009). The Impact of British Rule on Indian Society. London: Routledge.
• Roy, T. (2014). The Economic History of India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
• Sen, A. (2011). The Indian Rebellion of 1857. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Smith, A. (2005). Famine and British Imperialism in India. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Thompson, E. (2012). Rise and Fall of the East India Company. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.