CNI UNIT 2

COLONIAL RULE IN INDIA AND ITS IMPACT

 1} SHEKHAR BANOPADHYAY
{ FROM PLASSEY TO PARTION
AND AFTER; A HISTORY OF
MODERN INDIA}
AFTER BATTLE OF PLASSEY
• Pages 37-65: Early Colonial Period and its Impact
• 1. Economic Impact of British Rule
• Destruction of Local Industries: With the establishment of British control over
India after 1757 (Battle of Plassey), British policies began to drastically affect the
Indian economy. India’s thriving textile and handicraft industries were
particularly harmed. The British East India Company imposed harsh tariffs on
Indian goods while flooding the market with cheaper British-made products. This
led to the deindustrialization of India, forcing many artisans into poverty.
• Permanent Settlement (1793): Introduced by Lord Cornwallis, this system
granted zamindars (landlords) control over land revenue collection. The
zamindars often exploited peasants, leading to a rise in rural poverty and
landlessness. As a result, the agricultural economy suffered, and many farmers
fell into debt. This contributed to several famines in later years.
•Famines and Exploitation: The British agricultural policies
contributed to multiple famines, such as the Great Famine of
1876-78, in which millions perished. The emphasis on export
crops for British profit resulted in food shortages in India.

2. Social and Cultural Impact

•Caste and Social Hierarchy: While the British administration
didn't directly disrupt India's caste system, their policies
reinforced it. The creation of a new administrative and
educational system led to the formation of a new middle class,
which was largely Westernized. This new class became vocal in
demanding reforms but faced tensions with traditional social
structures
•Social Reform Movements: The rise of social reform
movements aimed at addressing the social ills of India. Raja
Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833) led the charge in reforming
social practices. His campaign led to the abolition of Sati (the
practice of widows self-immolating) in 1829. Roy's work was
instrumental in forming the Brahmo Samaj (1828), a religious
reform movement. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820–1891)
was another prominent reformer who campaigned for widow
remarriage and women’s education.

•Educational Reforms:LORD WILLIAM BENTICK WHO WAS

GOVERNER GENERAL OF INDIA IN 1828 PROPOGATED
WESTERN EDUCTATION. The British introduced Western-style
education, which created a new educated class that was largely
alienated from traditional Indian culture but eager to engage
with Western ideas. This fostered a growing sense of Indian
nationalism and intellectual resistance against colonialism.
3 POLITICAL IMPACT
Early Political Consciousness: The impact of British rule on
India’s political landscape was profound. While the Indian
National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885, its early
objectives were moderate—focused on reforms within the
British system. Figures like A.O. Hume (a British civil servant)
helped form the INC as a platform for Indian elites to demand
rights from the British government. The Revolt of 1857 had
failed to bring about immediate changes, but it set the stage
for further political mobilization.

•1857 Revolt (Sepoy Mutiny): The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was a

watershed moment. The rebellion, which started as a mutiny
by Indian soldiers in the British army, quickly spread to a larger
uprising against British rule. Although it was suppressed, it led
to the abolition of the East India Company in 1858 and the
direct assumption of power by the British Crown. The Revolt
also highlighted the deep-seated anger towards British policies
and their disregard for Indian customs, triggering a series of
reforms from the British to consolidate their rule.
Pages 66-138: British Consolidation and
Further Impact( LATE 19TH CENTURY AND
EARLY 20TH CENTURY)
1. Economic Impact
•Economic Drain and Deindustrialization: By the mid-19th
century, India’s economy was largely structured to serve British
interests. Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917), in his influential work
Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901), highlighted the
“drain of wealth” from India, where wealth was extracted by
the British and sent back to Britain, while India remained
impoverished. The British monopolized Indian trade and
shifted India’s role from a producer of goods to a supplier of
raw materials for British industry.

•Railways: The British built extensive railway networks across

India starting in the 1850s. While this did modernize transport,
it primarily served British interests by enabling the easier
extraction of raw materials and troops. However, the railways
also increased connectivity between regions, which would play
a crucial role in the spread of nationalist ideas later on.
2. Social Impact
•Rise of Nationalism: The impact of British rule on Indian
society began to foster a growing sense of nationalism. British
policies, particularly the use of divide-and-rule tactics, were
seen by many as oppressive, sparking a desire for greater
political and economic independence. Leaders like Lala Lajpat
Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Subhas Chandra Bose began to
challenge British authority.
•Formation of the Indian National Congress (INC): The
INC, founded in 1885, started as a platform for moderate
reform but gradually evolved into a more radical force calling
for self-rule. Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866–1915), Dadabhai
Naoroji, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak were early leaders of the INC,
representing different ideological strands within the party. Tilak
was a radical leader who believed in direct confrontation with
British rule, famously stating "Swaraj is my birthright" (1909)
•Role of the British in Social Issues: While the British
introduced some reforms, such as the Indian Penal Code
(1860), which consolidated laws across the country, their
approach often deepened social divides. For instance, the
British census (1871) was used to categorize people into rigid
racial and caste categories, solidifying the social stratification
that had existed for centuries
3. Political and Cultural Impact
•Political Awakening: Following the Partition of Bengal (1905), British policy
stirred nationalistic feelings by attempting to divide the Bengali population along
religious lines. This action led to protests, such as the Swadeshi Movement (1905-
1908), which advocated for the boycott of British goods. The movement spread
throughout India, marking a shift towards direct action against colonial rule.
•Impact on Religion and Culture: The British promoted Christianity through
missionary activities and education, which created tensions with Hindu and
Muslim communities. However, the colonial period also saw the rise of religious
reform movements, such as the Arya Samaj (founded in 1875 by Swami
Dayananda Saraswati) and the Aligarh Movement (founded by Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan) that sought to modernize Hindu and Muslim communities respectively.
These movements emphasized education, rationalism, and social reform.

4. Rise of Nationalism and Cultural Renaissance

•Bengal Renaissance: The Bengal Renaissance, with leaders like Raja Ram Mohan
Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, was a direct response to colonialism. These
reformers fought to preserve India’s cultural heritage while promoting modern
ideas such as women's rights and scientific thought. Swami Vivekananda (1863–
1902) was also a key figure during this period, promoting the idea of Indian
spiritualism combined with Western science and philosophy.
In conclusion, British colonialism deeply impacted India’s
economy, social structures, political landscape, and cultural
fabric, laying the foundation for the Indian independence
movement and modern India. The formation of the Indian
National Congress (INC) in 1885, the 1857 Revolt, and the
contributions of key figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami
Vivekananda, and Dadabhai Naoroji were critical milestones in
the **long road to independence
|Names |Dates |
|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Robert Clive | 1757(Battle of Plassey) |
| Lord Cornwallis |1793(Permanent Settlement)
| Lord William Bentinck | 1828-1835 (Abolition of Sati - 1829, Educational
reforms) |
| Lord Dalhousie | 1848 (Doctrine of Lapse) |
| Mahatma Gandhi | 1920(Non-cooperation movement), 1930(Salt
March)|
| Jawaharlal Nehru | 1947 (First Prime Minister of India)|
| Subhas Chandra Bose | 1942(Indian National Army) |
| Rani Lakshmibai | 1857(Revolt of 1857|
| Bahadur Shah Zafar | 1857 (Exiled after Revolt of 1857 |
| A.O. Hume | 1885 (Founded Indian National Congress) |
| Indian National Congress | 1885 (Founded) |
|Revolt of 1857 | 1857 (First War of Indian Independence)|
| Indian Independence Act | 1947 (India's Independence)|
 2} B CHANDRA( ESSAYS ON
COLONIALISM) AND METCALF (A
CONCISE HISTORY OF INDIA)
MORE FOCUSED ON IMPACT
1. DRAIN OF WEALTH

CONCEPT: Chandra’s central argument is the concept of the “Drain of Wealth”, a term popularized by Dadabhai Naoroji in
1871. It refers to the systematic extraction of India’s resources by the British, which impoverished the country.
•Impact: Chandra argues that India’s wealth was transferred to Britain through various mechanisms, including:
•Trade imbalances: India exported raw materials and imported finished goods from Britain.
•Land revenue: British policies like the Permanent Settlement of 1793 (introduced by Lord Cornwallis)
burdened
Indian peasants with heavy taxes, contributing to the transfer of resources to Britain.
•Military expenses: India had to fund British military activities, both within India and in British imperial conflicts,
further draining resources.
•Key Figures: Dadabhai Naoroji (first to use the term “Drain of Wealth”), Lord Cornwallis
•(implemented the Permanent Settlement), and other Indian nationalists who criticized these policies.
2. Economic Underdevelopment
•Argument: Chandra argues that British rule led to economic underdevelopment in India rather than
modernization. Britain’s policies, including the destruction of local industries and the reorganization of the
agrarian sector, resulted in a stagnant, dependent economy.
•Impact on Indian Industries:
• Textiles: British policies systematically destroyed India’s thriving textile industry by flooding the market
with cheap British goods, pushing Indian artisans out of work.
• Handicrafts: Similarly, traditional Indian handicrafts were undermined by the importation of British
goods, and local industries were not given the opportunity to modernize.
•Agricultural Exploitation:
• The British introduced exploitative land revenue systems that extracted the maximum revenue from
the agricultural sector, leaving little room for investment in productivity or modernization.
• The Permanent Settlement (1793) and the Ryotwari System (1820s) exacerbated the situation by
focusing on maximizing revenue from land while neglecting the welfare of farmers.
• Famines: Chandra highlights that British policies contributed to frequent famines, with the Great
Bengal Famine (1770) and the Indian Famine of 1876-78 as prime examples of the consequences of
British economic mismanagement.
3. Colonial Economic Policies
•Land Revenue Policies: Chandra focuses on the long-term
economic damage caused by policies like the Permanent
Settlement (1793), which led to the exploitation of both
peasants and landlords.
• Under this system, landlords (zamindars) were required
to pay fixed taxes to the British government, often
without regard to the agricultural productivity of the
land.
• This led to a lack of investment in agriculture, as
landlords had no incentive to improve the land,
resulting in poverty and social unrest among peasants.
•Destruction of Indigenous Industries: Chandra criticizes the
British for systematically dismantling India’s indigenous
industries, such as textiles and handicrafts, by promoting
policies that favored British manufacturing.
• Indian weavers and textile workers were driven out of
business by the import of cheap British textiles, causing
a collapse of local industries and increasing
unemployment.
4. Social and Cultural Impact
•Colonial Social Engineering: Chandra examines how British
colonialism was not only an economic enterprise but also a
social one, leading to significant changes in the structure of
Indian society.
• Caste System: The British made use of the caste system
to divide Indian society and maintain their control.
They used the census to categorize and politicize caste,
strengthening its role in Indian society.
• Social Reforms: While acknowledging certain reforms
like the abolition of Sati (1829) by Lord William
Bentinck, Chandra points out that these reforms were
often designed to maintain British control and were
not driven by a genuine desire to improve Indian
society.
5 British Policies and
FamineImpact of British Rule
on Famines: Chandra draws attention to the
devastating effect of British policies during times of crisis.
The Great Bengal Famine (1770), Indian Famine of 1876-
78, and others resulted in millions of deaths, which
Chandra attributes to British economic policies that
prioritized revenue collection over the welfare of the
Indian population.
• Famine Relief: Chandra criticizes British responses to these
famines, highlighting how the British often ignored or
mishandled relief efforts, leading to unnecessary suffering
and death.
6 Nationalism and Resistance
•Indian Nationalist Movement: Chandra traces the growth of
Indian nationalism as a response to the economic and social
consequences of British rule. He discusses the formation of the
Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885, which became the
primary vehicle for the Indian struggle for independence.
•Economic Foundations of Nationalism: Chandra emphasizes
that the economic exploitation of India under British rule laid
the foundation for the rise of Indian nationalism. It was the
realization that India’s economic condition was worsening due
to British policies that spurred intellectuals and leaders like
Dadabhai Naoroji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai to
demand self-rule.
•Early Leaders and Reformers: The works of Raja Ram Mohan
Roy (1772–1833) and later reformers like Swami Vivekananda
(1863–1902) were crucial in laying the groundwork for a
cultural and intellectual revival that would feed into the larger
nationalist movement.
7. British Rule and Indian Class Structure
•Creation of a New Elite: Chandra also notes the creation of a new British-educated elite
that benefited from colonial rule. This elite class was often alienated from the Indian
masses and formed the backbone of the Indian Civil Services (ICS).
•Class Divisions: Colonial policies deepened the divisions within Indian society. The
British played a critical role in strengthening the class structure by emphasizing racial and
caste divisions, which weakened the potential for unified resistance to colonial rule.

Conclusion:
•Chandra’s Critique: In his essays, Chandra offers a Marxist
perspective on British colonialism, focusing on its economic
and social consequences. He critiques the capitalist nature of
British exploitation and argues that colonialism was
detrimental not only to India’s economy but also to its social
and cultural fabric.
•Historical Significance: Chandra’s work is essential for
understanding the long-term economic damage caused by
British rule, and his analysis of the Drain of Wealth provides a
powerful critique of colonial policies, which were designed to
enrich Britain at the expense of India.
Key Dates and Names in Chandra’s Essays on Colonialism:
1770: Great Bengal Famine.
1793: Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Cornwallis.
1829: Abolition of Sati by Lord William Bentinck.
1857: First War of Indian Independence (also called the Sepoy
Mutiny).
1885: Formation of the Indian National Congress (INC)
.1890s: Rise of Indian Nationalism, with leaders like Dadabhai
Naoroji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai.
1871: Dadabhai Naoroji’s first use of the term Drain of Wealth.
Comparison and Conclusion
Economic Exploitation: Both Chandra and Metcalf & Metcalf focus on the economic exploitation of India under
British rule, particularly through the Drain of Wealth, but Chandra's work is more focused on the material and structural
consequences of colonial policies on India's economy, whereas Metcalf and Metcalf provide a broader view that
includes both economic and political dimensions.
Social and Cultural Impact: Chandra emphasizes the destructive effects of colonial policies on Indian society,
including the manipulation of caste and religion. Metcalf and Metcalf, while acknowledging these aspects, also discuss
the social reforms introduced by the British, including educational and legal reforms that had long-lasting effects on
Indian society.
Political Resistance: Both works highlight the growth of Indian resistance movements to British rule, but Chandra
focuses more on the economic motivations behind this resistance, while Metcalf and Metcalf provide a broader political
and social context, including the role of reformers and the Indian National Congress in shaping modern Indian politics.

In conclusion, while both works provide valuable insights into the impact of colonialism, Chandra's essays are more
critical of the economic consequences of British rule, while Metcalf and Metcalf offer a more comprehensive, balanced
view, focusing on both the benefits and drawbacks of British colonialism and its long-term effect on Indian society and
politics.
SUMIT SARKAR (MODERN INDIA)
Sumit Sarkar’s analysis emphasizes how colonial rule reshaped Indian society and politics, while
highlighting the rise of Indian nationalism, social reforms, and the mass struggle for independence
under Gandhi's leadership.
BASICALLY TRACED HOW NATIONALISM EMERGED?
1 COLONIAL IMPACT ON INDIAN SOCIETY
• COLONIAL MODERNITY AND NEW SOCIAL GROUPS
• NEW SOCIAL GROUPS
2 ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION
3 RISE OF INDIAN NATIONALISM
• INDIAN INTELLECTS
• INC
4 SOCIAL REFORM MOVEMENT
678 MENTIONED-
5. Divide-and-Rule Strategy by the British:
•Partition of Bengal (1905): Sarkar emphasizes the British divide-and-rule policy, particularly
the partition of Bengal in 1905, which was an attempt to weaken the unity between Hindus
and Muslims by creating religious divisions.
•Religious Politics: The partition led to the growth of Hindu nationalism, with leaders like
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar advocating for Hindu unity. Similarly, the Muslim League, founded
in 1906, began articulating Muslim concerns, which would later contribute to the creation of
Pakistan M JINNAH , SIR SYED AHMED KHAN

6. Gandhi’s Role in Mass Mobilization:

•Gandhi and Non-Violent Resistance: Mahatma Gandhi revolutionized the Indian freedom
struggle by introducing the principles of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) and Ahimsa (non-
harming). He led mass movements like the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) and Salt
March (1930), which united millions of Indians in the fight against British colonialism.
•Civil Disobedience: Sarkar elaborates on how Gandhi's leadership created a mass movement
and led to a wide-scale civil disobedience, contributing to the mobilization of the Indian
population against colonial rule.
Key Date: 1920-1922 - Non-Cooperation Movement. Key Date: 1930 - Salt March.
Key Figure: Mahatma Gandhi.
7. Role of World War I in Indian Politics:Impact of World War I: The First World War (1914-1918)
significantly impacted India’s political climate. India contributed significantly to the British war effort,
but the British failed to grant substantial political concessions in return. This led to growing
disillusionment and demands for more autonomy.Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms: In 1919, the British
government introduced the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, which promised limited self-government,
but this was seen as insufficient by Indian nationalists.Key Date: 1919 - Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
.

Conclusion:Transformation of India: Sarkar concludes that British colonialism led to a transformation

in Indian society, politics, and economy. The nationalist movement, which began with intellectual
debates and small-scale political activities, eventually became a mass-based struggle that led to
India’s independence in 1947.Colonial Legacy: While colonialism left India economically exploited and
politically fragmented, the rise of Indian nationalism was instrumental in the country’s eventual path
to self-rule.Key Date: 1947 - Indian Independence.
 3}A.P. Sen’s The Idea of Social Reform and Its Critique Among Hindus of
Nineteenth Century India (2007)
In this essay, A.P. Sen critically examines the idea of social reform among
Hindus in nineteenth-century India, considering the intellectual debates,
ideological currents, and social movements that shaped the modern
Hindu reform landscape. His work explores the tensions between
traditional practices and the new social ideas emerging during the
colonial period.

Key Themes and Points:

1.Colonial Encounter and Social Reform:
1. The British colonial presence in India created a complex intellectual environment that led to debates
about the nature of social reform.
2. The impact of Western ideas like Enlightenment, liberalism, and rationalism influenced Indian thinkers
and reformers to question traditional Hindu practices such as Sati, child marriage, and caste
discrimination.
2.Role of Reformers:
1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833), one of the first prominent reformers, is credited with initiating the
Brahmo Samaj (1828) and pushing for the abolition of Sati and the promotion of women’s rights.
2. Other reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda, and Mahatma Gandhi continued
this reform tradition, though with differing approaches.
3. Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar emphasized education, rationality, and social
justice, while Swami Vivekananda sought to reconcile modernity with Hindu spirituality.