Post-Colonialism, Essay Example

The East India Company (EIC), initially chartered as the Governor and Merchants ’ Company of London trading, was a joint- stock company in Britain formed to trade with the West Indies, although it later traded principally with the subcontinent of India, the province of north west and Baluchistan.

The document provides a comprehensive analysis of reactions of the post colonialism cultural legacies, to the human repercussions of colonizing a country and ascertaining settlers for the commercial exploitation of the indigenous people and their territory. Consequently, it explores otherness as a critical aspect of post colonialism.

Virtually, the EIC experienced ethnic tensions’ revitalization, as well as the resurgence. Additionally, the company experienced myriad identity conflicts coupled with cultural belonging. Notably, colonial powers ventured in foreign states and ruined key ingredients of indigenous custom and civilization; additionally, they constantly substituted them with civilization. Consequently, after independence several countries experienced conflicts and rapidly encountered the challenge of coming up with a novel national identity, as well as self-confidence (Jervis, 1999).
As generations had survived under the authority of colonial rulers, they had significantly adopted their Western practice and civilization. The challenge was to discover an individual approach of proceeding to establish own civilization. It is significant noting that, for countries to get rid of the Western culture they had to invest a lot both economically and politically, however, it was difficult to create a completely new culture (Anderson, 1983).

Significantly, the EIC reflects an apparent representation of colonialism legacies. Considerably, otherness as a post colonialism aspect has manifested itself in the EIC. For Instance, The East India Company has had a prolonged influence on the Indian Subcontinent. Even though, it was dissolved after the 1857 rebellion, it catalyzed the development of the Empire of British. Significantly, after 1857, the armies were to be part of British India and it stimulated the introduction of English as the authorized communication media in India. Moreover, The EIC was the foremost company to document the usage of Chinese orange-flavored tea, which later stimulated tea development. The Company introduced a scheme of merit-based nominations that availed a replica for the British civil service and that of Indian. It is worthwhile emphasizing that, the above scenario has revealed the prevalence of post colonialism in India. It demonstrates that India has permeated itself with a significantly enhanced scale of self-reflexivity over its own practices (Fanon, 1963).

Additionally, EIC employed Myriad junior clerks, referred to as writers, to document accounting particulars, executive decisions, and company’s activities, such as minutes, order copies and contracts, and reports filling. Notably, several renowned British scholar and myriad literary men received writer ships from the company. For instance, there was the Indian Henry T. Colebrook and the English Charles Lamb. Significantly, the above practice demonstrates the dominance of otherness aspect of post colonialism.

However, there is a unique association between India and the UK, and evidently still not exclusive of tensions between the two that implies to the colonialism era, which from a retro perspective viewpoint is not the case.
India has realized the standards of an autonomous state with its distinct political system, and it has not yet found its own identity. The slow rate of the decolonization process implies that only a focus course linking the recognition of British legacies and the formation of a fresh distinctive Indian self-confidence will be the novel decision for India. Concisely, post colonialism remains the obstacle in operation and management of the EIC. Significantly, otherness as an aspect of post colonialism has manifested itself in the entire company (Beauvoir, 1952).

In conclusion, geography is outstandingly an effective manufacturer of otherness. For example, particular spatial patterns are extremely efficient, though isolated, in building and upholding alterity. However, geography, similar to physical anthropology and history, has projected and maintains to present tales that shape the foundation of discursive constructions of myriad otherness expressions. Nevertheless, these tales, instead of being perceived for their true nature, have realized an inevitability veneer by basing themselves in a perceptible scientific rationality. For instance, one of the key widespread arguments over Turkey’s current assertion of being included into the EU is merely because the country hardly belongs to the European continent (Duncan, 1993).

Legitimized by physical Geography, the above tautological account seems insignificantly irrefutable, except one recognizes that continents are geological fictions shaped and employed by colonial philosophy. Consequently, since otherness is consubstantial to dealings of power and oppression processes, geographers apprehensive by such aspects have to take individual accountability in classifying and analyzing the spatial patterns engulfed in otherness. Considerably, a significant and automatic viewpoint essentially implies recognizing and deconstructing that diverse significantly learned and the renowned scientific geographical demonstrations that provide as discursive foundation for domination.

Bibliography

Anderson, B. (1983). Imagined communities: reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. New York: Verso.

Beauvoir, S. (1952). The second sex. New York: Alfred knopf.

Duncan, J. (1993). Sites of representation. Place, time and the discourse of the Other. In Duncan, J. & Ley, D. (eds). Place/culture/representation. Pp. 39-56. London: Routledge.

Fanon, F. (1963). Black Skin, White Masks. Harmondsworth: Penguin

Jervis, J. (1999). Transgressing the Modern. Explorations in the Western Experience of Otherness. London: Blackwell.