Impacts of Scots on India Flashcards
Government
The East India trading company was powerful enough to take control of the Indian government. The East India company was dominated by Scottish immigrants like Hendry Dundas, so Scots were integral to the governing of India for years.
Economic development
Scots immigrants got loans from Scottish banks in order to improve Indian railways and farming. Scottish funding was vital to the improvement of transport around India and improvement of food supply. These were both important to stabilising India’s growing economy.
Communications
Governor Generals, such as the Scotsman Lord Dalhousie, paved the way to improve telegraph poles and railway lines. In a country as large as India, good communication line across it was vital to its functioning and growth as a country.
Education
Scots built schools like the Bombay Scottish School, which initially was intended to teach only immigrants children. These schools later went on to accept Indian students too, allowing the countries general education to improve.
Thuggee
Governor General James Dalhousie is credited with ending thuggee, the acts of thugs or an organised group of professional assassins. The ending of this drastically lowered crime rates in India and made it much safer to live in.
Suttee
Governor General James Dalhousie was also credited with ending Suttee, the act of sacrificing oneself through ritualistic burning. Ending this prevented many needless deaths in the name of traditions and permanently changed traditions in India.
Religion
Scottish missionaries built many churches in India, such as the Presbyterian churches in Sohra and Sermpore. They attempted to use these to convert the local people, but they also allowed Scottish immigrants to continue practising their faith.
Place names
Some place names were named after Scottish immigrants, such as Port Blair and Dalhousie. Some Scots who emigrated became influential enough to have their names given to places in the areas that they moved to.
