Imperialism in India

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Imperialism in India

• INDIA -
• THE BRITISH RAJ
• After 7 Years War (1764), British East India
  Company gained de facto control of India
• Had its own private army of Indian soldiers
  called sepoys
• Usually left local princes in control locally,
  although couldnt disobey the British

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• Usually left local princes in control locally,
  although couldnt disobey the British
• Company took total control of foreign affairs

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The nature of the British Raj

• Administrative system run by Indian Civil Service
  ICS
• Started filling lower ranks with Indians
• Lead to a debate
• Orientalists Indians should use native
  languages and receive an Indian Education
• Anglicists Indians should receive a Western
  education make Indians more western
• Anglicists won debate Indian elite emerged

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Women in India

• Eventually, brought European women known as
  memsahibs
• Decreased contact between British and Indians
• Increased British notions of superiority

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Cultural and Social Reforms

• As British control increased, were calls for
  social and cultural reform to bring benefits of
  Western civilization to India

• 1829 Made suttee illegal
• 1856 Made remarriage of Hindu widow legal
• Preached against child marriage and killing
  unwanted children

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Ram Mohun Roy

• Called for a modern, Western education for
  Indians
• Opposed suttee
• 1828 he formed the Brahmo Samaj (Society of
  Brahma)
• Convinced that all major religions had the same
  message
• Tried to blend aspects of British and Indian
  culture
• The Brahmo Samaj was to play an important part,
  later in the century, as a Hindu movement of
  reform.

Roy is sometimes called the Father of modern
Indian culture
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Dayananda Sarasvati

• Unlike Roy, Sarasvati was highly critical of
  Christianity and Islam
• Was critical of what he saw as the corruption of
  pure Hinduism formed Arya Samaj
• Opposed
• Idolatry
• Caste system
• Child marriage
• Ancestor worship
• Pilgrimages
• Animal sacrifices

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Indian Mutiny (or Sepoy Rebellion), 1857

• Started when rumors spread among Sepoys that
  rifle cartridges were being greased with pork and
  beef fat
• Spread with encouragement of Indian princes
• Showed discontent of attempts to westernize
  Indians (attempts to spread Christianity)
• Indians massacred appx. 200 men, women, and
  children at Cawnpore
• British responded with brutality

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British Raj

• After Indian mutiny, British Government took
  control of India
• Many became convinced that Anglicization was a
  mistake
• Became concerned with protecting India against
  other nations

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