The British rule over India changed the course of
history in India. The British came to India at the start of the
seventeenth century. This was the time when the British East India
Company was established in India to break the Dutch monopoly over spice
trade. With time the East India Company increased its powers and started
to administer the country. However its policies were disliked by Indians
and together they revolted against the company. This led to the downfall
of the company and the administration of India went directly under the
Queen. In the following lines, you shall find information regarding the
period when India was under British rule. Read about the British
colonialism in India.
The British annexed many princely states and formed laws and policies
of their own. Slowly but rapidly the entire Indian sub continent came
under the British rule. By mid nineteenth century, the British
introduced the railways, telegraph and postal service in India. This was
a move to establish their rule permanently in India. The first railway
line was from Howrah in Calcutta to Raniganj in Bihar. The introduction
of telegraph and postal services simplified communication all over the
country.
The British passed many acts that were met with dissatisfaction and
resentment by the Indians. As a result the Indians formed large groups
and revolted against the British. Each movement was brutally crushed the
British forces. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala
Rajpat Rai, Subhash Chandra Bose, etc. arose and openly condemned the
British. They were people's leaders who inspired the masses not to be
afraid of the forces.
Finally after 200 years of British rule, India gained independence from
them on 15th August, 1947. Many innocent lives were sacrificed for this
achievement and India was also separated from Pakistan. The partition of
India and Pakistan spread incidents of brutality and horror in both the
countries. But due to the effort of the leaders and the ever sacrificing
masses, India was able to gain freedom from the British and progress
till the present times.
