British Colonization of India, Essay Example

Introduction

Britain colonized India at the time when it was expanding its vast empire. It was the acquisition of India the sub-continent that was instrumental in the forming of the East India Company. This would be the vehicle to create a major trading relationship with India. Britain recognized the vast wealth in India in terms of natural resources. Apart from the negative aspects that go with any program of colonization, nevertheless, India benefitted from the experience. The British military helped to improve the infrastructure of India building roads and bridges across the land. Britain also helped in the creation of a sense of unity; previously the country was divided through a caste system. The British injected more equality into the system and accepted all religions allowing it to prosper. (Andersen, M.L. 2008)

The Road to Democracy

Britain helped India on the road to democratic reform. The British Raj was inherited as a concept by India and this helped them in the formation of their own Government represented in modern India today. Much of this was attributed to the development of the English Language and educational systems that Britain left behind when India gained independence in 1947. The East India Company was instrumental in building a rail network throughout the country and this helped in both the logistics of communication and trade. (Mishra, S.L.2000)

Effects of Colonization on the People

Britain regarded India as ‘the jewel in the crown’; it was the driving force behind the British Empire providing raw materials to Britain. Britain regarded itself as benevolent benefactors to India in terms of modernising the nation. The Indian people were however used as labour to build much of the infrastructure and were often deprived of benefitting from the results. The main emphasis focused on the improvement of trade between India and Britain backed up by a colonial army. The Indians were still treated and regarded as second class citizens to the largely ex patriot middle class that occupied the country. The Indian people were banned from participation in the Government of the country. (Levy, J.T. 2011)

The Influence on Women

Annie Besant was active in the women’s rights movement and reported on the conditions of Education of Indian girls in British colonial India. This particularly focused on the Caste system in India and the area in Madras where she worked. The British occupying forces were kept distinct from the Indian native children and were educated in English colonial schools. This perpetuated the class distinction system and prevented fusion with the locals. Besant advocated reform for India to the extent that it should become a self-governing nation with allegiance to the Crown and have a degree of self-determination and this should extend to improvements of women’s rights, standards of Education and guarantee religious tolerance. Besant felt that the Indian administration had been too unduly influenced by the British administration and that it was skewed more in favour of men whilst ignoring the rights of the women. (Besant, A. 1913)

References

Besant, A. (1913). Wake up, India: A place for social reform. Madras: Theosophical Publishing House.

Levy, J. T. (2011). Colonialism and Its Legacies. Plymouth UK: Lexington Books.

Margaret L. Andersen, H. F. (2008). Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. In H. F. Margaret L. Andersen, Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society (p. 253). Belmont CA: Thompson Wadsworth.

Mishra, S. (2000). Democracy in India. New Delhi: Sanbun Publishers.