British Colonialism in India: The Economic and Social
Impact of Colonial Rule in India
Written by, Dhruv Dev
Dubey, Entrepreneur, Blogger and Infographic Designer
3D India Staffing
Research & Consulting Co India
dddubey18@gmail.com
Colonial India was the part of the Indian subcontinent which was under
the rule of European Colonial Powers. European powers had entered India through
conquest and trade and had flourished, however, trade links with India were
reestablished at the end of 15th Century by the Portuguese sailor Vasco Da Gama.
Vasco Da Gama was the first person to arrive in India by circumnavigating
Africa. Trading rivalries among the Europeans at sea were the reason for more
European countries to come to India. The European countries who invaded India
were The Dutch Republic, England, France, and Denmark-Norway. All of
them had established trading posts in India by the early 17th century.
By the late 18th century Great Britain and France were the
major superpowers who struggled for dominance in the Indian Subcontinent,
mostly by military intervention. However, by the mid19th century, the British
had acquired total control over all parts of India.
Let us look at how some of the major European countries established
their rule in India. Portuguese: The Portuguese sailed to India for trade. They
arrived in India in 1498, however their colonial rule ranges from 1505 to 1961.
They established their first European trading center at Kollam, Kerala. They
established many outposts along India's west coast in the early
16th century. They constructed the St. Angelo Fort to guard their
possessions in Malabar.
Dutch: The Dutch East India Company established trading posts along
the Indian coast. The Dutch later became less established in India, as
they had the Indonesia in their kitty.
French: Just like the Portuguese, English, and Dutch, the French also
came up with trading ports in India. Pondicherry was their first
establishment in southeastern India. At the height of their power, the
French ruled over large areas of southern India. Subsequently, British defeated
the French in Bengal in the War of Plassey in 1757 and in the Battle of
Wandiwash, thus French lost their control in India
British India:
Some Indian Kings secretly connived with the British, seeking support
to overthrow the Nawab. In return they offered the British trade grants. The
battle of Plassey changed British perspective as they understood that
conquering smaller Indian kingdoms way to rule the whole of India. This was the
beginning of the imperial or colonial era in India. British policy in Asia
during the 19th century was chiefly about expanding and taking care of its hold
on India, which was considered as its most important colony. The East India Company caused the expansion of the British
Empire in India.
The Indian Independence movement began in the late 19 th century.
During World War I, there was a popular mass movement by Mahatma Gandhi, also
there were other revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and
Subhas Chandra Bose who opposed the British rule. Due to the independence
movement, India became a free Nation on 15th August 1947and that is when the British
rule on India ended.
British rule in Burma: 1824–1948
British Raj: 1858–1947
Company rule in India: 1757–1858
Dutch India: 1605–1825
Portuguese East India Company: 1628–1633
French India: 1668–1954
Colonial India was ruled by
major superpowers like the Portuguese, Dutch, French and Britain but Britain
happened to rule India for a longer time than all the other superpowers,
however, India gained Independence on 15 th August 1947, which ended all
domination of the country.
About Author
Dhruv Dev Dubey, is a (BE-E&C, MBA-HR, MTech-MM from BITs Pilani) by profession a Blogger, Graphics Designer, Founder & Principal Consultant at 3D India Group and have a work experience of 12+ years(Social media+ SEO) in multinationals and publishing houses across India. Previously, I have written on Fashion, Health, Finance, Education, Real Estate, Career, however I can write on any subject since I'm a voracious reader. https://www.behance.net/dhruvdevdubey; www.3dindiagroup.com
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