Political Developments: From Company to Crown Rule
- Government of India Act (1858)
- Ended East India Company rule; power transferred directly to the British Crown.
- Viceroy and Secretary of State
- Created the Viceroy of India (based in Calcutta) and Secretary of State for India (based in London) to centralize control.
- Indian Civil Service (ICS)
- Continued as the administrative backbone; most posts still reserved for British officials despite reform promises.
- Limited Representation
- Early councils included a few Indian elites, but they had no legislative power.
- Rise of Political Awareness
- Western-educated Indians began demanding greater participation, leading to the creation of the Indian National Congress (1885).
Definition
Viceroy
- Crown-appointed ruler of India after 1858.
Definition
Indian National Congress (INC)
- Political organization founded in 1885 to promote Indian representation.
Case study
The Government of India Act (1858)
Key Provisions
- Abolished the British East India Company after the 1857 revolt.
- Established direct British Crown rule through a Viceroy (replacing the Governor-General).
- Created a Council of India in London to advise the Secretary of State.
- Promised to respect Indian religions and customs (Queen’s Proclamation).
- Unified administration but centralized power in British hands.
Impact
- Improved communication between Britain and India through telegraphs and railways.
- Removed Company corruption but not racial hierarchy.
- Strengthened imperial bureaucracy and military presence.
- Reinforced India’s status as the “Jewel in the Crown.”
- Set foundation for future political demands for representation.
Growth of Political Consciousness and Reform
- Indian National Congress (1885)
- Formed by A.O. Hume and Indian leaders to promote peaceful dialogue with the British.
- Partition of Bengal (1905):
- Implemented by Lord Curzon to divide Bengal into Hindu-majority (West) and Muslim-majority (East) provinces.
- Swadeshi Movement:
- Indian response promoting boycotts of British goods and revival of Indian industries.
- Indian Councils Act (1909):
- Known as the Morley–Minto Reforms, it expanded councils and allowed limited Indian representation.
- Rise of Extremists:
- Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai demanded swaraj (self-rule), breaking from moderates.
Definition
Swadeshi Movement
- Campaign promoting Indian goods and self-reliance.
Definition
Partition of Bengal (1905)
- British administrative division that angered Indian nationalists.
Case study
The Partition of Bengal (1905) and the Swadeshi Movement
Causes and Curzon’s Policy
- Lord Curzon claimed Bengal was “too large to govern.”
- Real motive: divide and weaken the growing nationalist movement.
- Partition split Bengal into Eastern Bengal (Muslim-majority) and Western Bengal (Hindu-majority).
- Seen as an attempt to divide Hindus and Muslims politically.
- Sparked widespread protests and boycotts.
Consequences
- Birth of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements (1905–1908).
- Growth of Indian industries, schools, and newspapers promoting nationalism.
- Congress split between Moderates (peaceful reform) and Extremists (direct action).
- British reversed the partition in 1911, but the damage to trust was lasting.
- Strengthened the call for self-government (swaraj).
Economic, Social, and Cultural Impact of the British Raj (1858–1914)
- Economic Impact
- India became a raw material supplier (cotton, jute, tea) and a market for British goods. Local industries collapsed.
- Railways and Infrastructure
- Improved connectivity but primarily served British trade and military control.
- Urban Growth
- Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras became major colonial cities; new educated middle classesemerged.
- Education and Language
- English-language education expanded, producing reformers and nationalists.
- Social Change
- Western ideals of democracy and equality spread among elites, but rural poverty and inequality persisted.
Definition
Deindustrialization
- Decline of India’s traditional industries under colonial economic policies.
Definition
Raj
- British imperial rule in India (1858–1947).
The Outbreak of the First World War (1914)
- India’s Contribution
- Provided over one million soldiers, funding, and resources to the British war effort.
- Economic Strain
- War demand caused inflation and food shortages.
- Nationalist Expectations
- Many Indians hoped for political concessions in return for loyalty.
- Social Impact
- New industrial growth in textiles, steel, and munitions; urban workers became more politically active.
- Turning Point
- War experience strengthened both Indian nationalism and Muslim separatism.
Definition
Separate Electorate
- Electoral system allowing Muslims to vote separately from Hindus.
Common Mistake
- Mixing up Acts: 1858 = Crown Rule, 1909 = Reforms, 1905 = Partition.
- Ignoring communal divisions: The Morley–Minto Reforms institutionalized religious separation.
- Forgetting economic motives: Reforms served British stability, not Indian equality.
Exam technique
- Chronological Flow: Structure answers around 1858 → 1905 → 1909 → 1914.
- Integrate Case Studies: Use Partition of Bengal and Morley–Minto Reforms for evidence.
- Link Politics to Economy: Show how economic hardship fueled political activism.
Self review
- Examine the main political developments in British India between 1858 and 1914.
- Assess the impact of the Partition of Bengal on Indian nationalism.
- To what extent did the Morley–Minto Reforms satisfy Indian political aspirations?
