Cricket is a British sport which dates back centuries. During the late eighteenth-mid twentieth century British colonization of India introduced this beloved sport. The playing of cricket in India has come to represent British Control over the indian culture, politics, and people from Britain’s first involvement in the region, up to the late twentieth century. Further the use of cricket as a friendly competition between the different populations within India.
In the early years of British rule in india, cricket appeared to be just a byproduct of colonization. However, as time continued, it developed a more important meaning. “First the hunter, the missionary, and the merchant, next the soldier and the politician, and fifteenth the cricketer-
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that is the history of British colonization.. . Cricket unites the ruler with the ruled. It also provides a moral training . . . far more valuable to the character of the ordinary native than the mere learning by the art of a play by Shakespeare” (Document 3). The different stages of British colonization culminated in the sharing and dominance of the cricket in India. Cricket came to epitomize how interwoven british customs and ideals were within Indian culture.. “Cricket, in my opinion, it’s not an elite sport like polo, it’s not one of several sports as you have in England. Here there’s one sport in India and Pakistan. That’s the reason why cricket has a place in bringing people together” (Document 10). Since Indians found cricket to be so important to their culture, it became very easy for the British officials ruling the region, to take advantage of it. Through cricket the British could very carefully manipulate the Indians and display their dominance over them through this sport. “. . . five hundred young men of all ages and of all castes pursue this healthful sport on the Parade ground. . . which is the only ground suitable for cricket. Therefore, we cannot understand that the comforts and convenience of the half-a-dozen English gentlemen. . . should be preferred to the necessary healthful recreation of over five hundred native youths. The polo ponies completely ruin the turf and render the ground unsuited to cricket. . . will your Excellency allow your Petitioners to play along with the English on the ground at present reserved for the exclusive use of the English cricketers and which is much too large for their requirements?” (Document 1). This excerpt from a petition to the Governor of Bombay demonstrates how, through the restriction and abuse of land, as well as through segregation and discrimination against the Indians, the British officer was able to gain and maintain control over its subjects. This is further demonstrated in Document 2. The Indian love for Cricket went beyond admiration for the British, in fact it continued to the point of emulation. “This brilliant young Indian cricketer, Prince Ranjitsinhji, intends to return to England . . .[and] join the Sussex team—who are doubtless very glad to know this—as before. At the end of the season he will again visit India at the head of a team of English players—not too strong, but just strong enough; then in 1900 he will come back to Old England as captain of a team representative of Indian cricket” (Document 2). The Indians felt so strongly about their relationship with Britain that the celebrated the opportunity to prove their worthiness to the British Empire. While cricket served as a bridge between the british and the Indians, it also acted as a connection between the different sects of Indian society. Within India there were many different types of culture. Each culture was primarily separated from one another by religion or social standing. There were four main groups. The Europeans, Muslims, Parsis and Hindus. While there were not many things that connects these different groups, cricket was a bridge between the different cultures. “The Quadrangular Tournament [a cricket competition between teams of the four main social groups of India] in the 1920s did not harm, but rather engendered healthy rivalry and gave added keenness to cricket” (Document 7). These tournament provided a friendly environment which, as unassuming as they were, fostered the competition of these different cultures. “The cricket field has many lessons to teach in other walks of life. The brotherly feeling that prevailed throughout the play was no less remarkable and I hope that our Hindu brethren as sportsmen would be no less pleased but also rejoice at the Muslims winning the championship” (Document 5). The majority of Indians saw these competitions as a forming of bonds between the all of India, as a form of brotherhood. Not just rival vs rival, but rather brother vs brother. However, those who were in opposition to these competitions, thought they represented the differences between the groups, and some believed that the differences would be furthered if these competitions continued.
Those who wanted unity within india saw them not as bridges, but rather, as dividers between the different sections of society. “My sympathies are wholly with those who would like to see the Quadrangular Tournament matches stopped. I can understand matches between Colleges and Institutions, but I have never understood the reason for having. . . religiously based teams. I should have thought that such unsportsmanlike divisions would be considered taboo in sporting language and sporting manners” (document 8). What Mohandas Gandhi is saying, is that he thinks that competition based on religion, causes rivalry which can evolve into something worse. These rivalries could form into alliances, these competitions into battle. Gandhi believed that if these competitions were allowed to continue they would form rip in the unity and prosperity he was hoping to create. What was competition and aggression between social classes now turned into aggression between religion. “The champion bowler of the Hindus is a leather worker. . . The upper-caste Hindus of an Indian cricket club found that although he was low-caste, his inclusion in the Hindu team would improve matters considerably with his pluck and spirit” (Document 4). The teams were willing to do whatever they could to beat the others. Each different religion took the steps necessary to beat the others, and that mirrors the competition between religions all throughout
India.
A. The English came to what is now North America, then called, British North America for different reasons. Some came for the money and other freedoms, particularly those having to do with religion, and the expansion of territory. As well as, the wish for supremacy and power over other European countries. It was a matter of pride and prestige they obtained by taking over the territories.
Cricket in some ways was a unifying force for the various classes in India as well as the relationship between Great Britain and India. As seen in Document 2, an Indian cricketer was invited to “...join the Sussex team,” that was a team from European country. This shows some equality between n...
Throughout the 19th century, European Imperialism had a major effect on Africa. As countries expanded in terms of wealth, resources, and innovation, more territory and workers were needed. The first solution to solve these problems was to begin colonizing in Africa. The driving force for imperialism in Europe and Africa was mainly economical. This economical approach was established through many ways including cultural and nationalistic ideas.
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The British considered Indian civilization to be inferior and implemented their western ways, overriding ancient Indian customs. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that British imperialism in India resulted in both positive as well as negative reforms in political, economic and social aspects of its new colony. To begin with, one can observe that the British colonizers did indeed improve Indian civilization by developing means of communication and transport. They built a great number of bridges, over 40,000 miles of railway and paving an astounding 70,000 miles of road (Doc. 4. The adage of the adage.
A new era was dawning on the American colonies and its mother country Britain, an era of revolution. The American colonists were subjected to many cruel acts of the British Parliament in order to benefit England itself. These British policies were forcing the Americans to rebellious feelings as their rights were constantly being violated by the British Crown. The colonies wanted to have an independent government and economy so they could create their own laws and stipulations. The British imperial policies affected the colonies economic, political, and geographic situation which intensified colonists’ resistance to British rule and intensified commitment to their republican values.
Imperialism in India British imperialism in India had many positive and negative effects on both the mother country, Britain and the colony, India. Many people would argue which effects were more prominent in these countries, and some would agree that they were equal. But in both cases, there were actually both. In India, the British colonization had more positive effects than negative. For instance, when the British colonized India they built 40,000 miles of railroad and 70,000 miles of paved roadway.
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"All the leadership had spent their early years in England. They were influenced by British thought, British ideas, that is why our leaders were always telling the British "How can you do these things? They're against your own basic values.". We had no hatred, in fact it was the other way round - it was their values that made us revolt." -Aruna Asaf Ali, a leader of the Indian National Congress. (Masani, quoted in Wood, 32, 1989)
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Cricket’s relations to politics in South Asia from 1880 to 2005 was a way to create unification between the groups residing among the place – it was the event of freeing tensions between them during the time on the field as well as the typical social systems. With its popularity with the South Asian peoples, it was a way to also show their power. However, within the minor unification of the peoples playing the sport, it did spark some religious tensions.
The caste system in India is elaborately structured to have an Indian touch to it, clearly distinguishing it from social structures worldwide. Caste is a word often used to describe a cluster of people who have a specific rank in the society. Each caste system is elaborately crafted to suit the needs of the society and they vary from group to group; each has its own rules and customs. Different chaste systems are planned in a hierarchical manner to become part of any of the four basic colors; varnas (a Sanskrit word for color). These include; the varna of Brahmans, identified with the learned class and priests; varna of Kshatriyas, which is encompasses warriors, rulers and property owners, the varna of Vaishyas, which attracts traders ; and lastly the varna of Shudras, who are servile laborers (Bayly, 1999).
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Everybody knows that soccer is the most played game in the world but very few people know that the second most played game after soccer is cricket. Cricket had it origin in 700 A.D. Baseball was derived from cricket. The word cricket came from French word ‘criquit’. Most of people who don’t know about cricket think cricket is very complicated game but it is not true. Cricket is a very simple game if one knows these simple rules.
The British invasion formed into a historical development of British colonialism in India. Despite India under the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi played an important role in gaining Independence. He not only changed India but also strongly fought for India's independence, using various strategies. The British Empire ruled as long as they could to reform India both politically and socially.