British Raj Research Paper

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Throughout the British Raj, it is evident that the British had a mission to dominate over India by exploiting the country and its people in order to benefit their empire. In terms of prosperity, it can be argued that India’s depressing economy and lack of investment was a result of the country being a colony. Whilst under British rule, both domestic manufacturing trade and production of food crops decreased vastly leading to widespread impoverishment, penury for farmers as well as several famines. Economic policies also created a major decline in the handloom sectors, as there was a reduction in demand for goods and plummeting employment. As this happened, handloom capital was moved to Britain from India leading to a large strain on revenue …show more content…

Although on the other hand there were some attempts for progression in India such as the British investment in the building of modern railways which enabling travel through the country allowing goods to be traded across India cheaper. The evolving foodstuffs and agricultural market was able to increase the accessibility of goods and eventually made the number of famines decrease. Adversely the case of educational reforms also was one-way Britain on the surface worked towards prosperity, but ultimately were exploiting the reforms for British gain. The Raleigh Commission (1902) and Indian Universities Act were ways in which the British seemingly tried to improve the conditions of universities, however many Indians condemned the acts as they believed they gave the British too much control over the education system and were going to restrict education and discipline the educated to show loyalty to the government. Additionally, the British policies of education dismissed; the traditional structure of Indian education, women’s education, and scientific or technological …show more content…

In events such as the Indian Mutiny and the Amritsar massacre, they brutally slaughtered members of the Sikh community exemplifying how the British did not work towards peace. Problems began when, as Anderson writes, “allegedly the cartridges were encased in gelatine-stiffened paper and greased with pig or cow fat”. These new cartridges infringed on both Muslims and Hindus religious views and morals, as the end of the cartridge had to be bitten off. This meant that Hindus would be biting in cow fat, which was sacred to them, and Muslims would be biting into pig fat which was considered unclean in their culture. One reaction to this policy of the East India Company was from a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry regiment who “raged in front of the regiment’s barracks on the parade ground, armed with a loaded musket, calling upon the men to rebel and shoot the first European” they see. This incident resulted in Pandey killing lieutenant Baugh and Sergeant-Major Hewson. From this point onwards tensions began to rise in India as the refusal of the Enfield rifle became more widespread and the Indian Mutiny went on to occur. The use of coercive measures in the Indian Mutiny went on to be a pattern the British used to threaten Indians as it was later seen in the Amritsar

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