British Raj

British Raj refers to the period of direct rule over India by the British Crown from 1858 to 1947. This era began after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the formal end of the East India Company's rule. The Raj included modern-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and played a major role in shaping the region’s politics, economy, and society.

Establishment

Following the 1857 revolt, the Government of India Act 1858 was enacted, transferring control from the East India Company to the British Crown. A Viceroy of India was appointed to govern, representing the monarch in London.

Administrative Structure

The British divided India into:

• Provinces of British India – ruled directly by British officials.
• Princely States – ruled by Indian princes under British suzerainty, with treaties ensuring loyalty.

Capital

Initially, the capital of British India was Calcutta. In 1911, it was shifted to New Delhi, symbolizing a more centralized imperial control.

Economic Impact

The Raj reshaped India’s economy by:

• Turning it into a supplier of raw materials (cotton, jute, tea).
• Developing railways, telegraphs, canals, and western-style education.
• Imposing heavy taxation and causing recurrent famines due to exploitative policies.

Social and Cultural Impact

British policies brought:

• English education and the rise of a western-educated Indian elite.
• Introduction of modern legal systems and civil services.
• Simultaneously, deepening racial discrimination and cultural alienation.

Freedom Movement

Over the years, dissatisfaction grew, giving rise to a nationwide independence movement led by leaders like:

• Mahatma Gandhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Subhas Chandra Bose
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Major events included:

• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
• Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)
• Quit India Movement (1942)

End of the Raj

The Indian Independence Act 1947 passed by the British Parliament ended the Raj, leading to the creation of:

• Dominion of India
• Dominion of Pakistan

This was accompanied by the traumatic Partition of India, causing mass migrations and violence.

Legacy

The British Raj left behind a mixed legacy:

• Institutional frameworks like the judiciary, civil services, and railways.
• The trauma of Partition and deep communal divisions.
• Continued economic and administrative systems adapted by modern India.

See Also

• Indian Rebellion of 1857
• Indian Independence Movement
• East India Company
• Partition of India
• Indian National Congress