India Flashcards
1
Q
What was the state of India before 1829?
A
- India was a vast region with diverse religious values
- 6 languages and 200 dialects
- The Mughal power was declining, leaving a power vacum
2
Q
How did the nature of the EIC shift?
A
- The EIC had strong relationships with local traders, distinct from the British government
- The government grew concerned about corruption within the company and passed legislation allowing the government to control the EIC
- This transformed the EIC into an extension of government control
- While still maintaining its own operations and governance, the EIC essentially acted as a subordinate entity under the authority of the crown (Regularised subsidiary)
- Regulatory act of 1784 made the EIC subordinate to the Crown
- Following a shift in British attitudes that favoured free trade, the government disbanded the EIC’s monopoly on trade in India in 1813 and 1833
- Rather than being a trading group, it assumed a political and administrative role
- The most significant role was tax collection, made possible by the large private armies employed (2/3 of the army were Indian)
3
Q
How did the EIC gain and develop a monopoly in India?
A
- In 1600, a group of London traders were granted a Royal Charter, giving them exclusive trading rights in India
- Following the establishment of the first factories (trading posts) in 1608, the merchants discovered a vast fortune could be made in spices
- Traders operated on the edge of Mughal society
- The “Glorious revolution” in 1688 led to the amalgamation of the DEIC and the BEIC, forming the EIC
- The collapse of the Mughal empire allowed the EIC to move further inland and develop trade
- The 1757 battle of Plassey established Britain as the key colonial power in India
4
Q
What was the significance of the abolition of Thagi?
A
- Organised network of criminals who engaged in highway robbery and ritualistic murder
- Thugs would befriend travellers, pretending to be fellow pilgrims
- Would strangle or garrote victims and dispose of bodies
- Motivated by the worship of Kali, the Hindu Goddess of destruction
- Thugs were feared across India, many families passed down the tradition for generations
- A British Campaign led by William Sleeman launched a large-scale crackdown on the ritual of Thagi
- The suppression of Thagi was not widely resented by Indians
- Confirmed British consensus that they were a civilising force and served as an impetus for other regions, influencing further reform
5
Q
What was the significance of the abolition of Sati and female infanticide?
A
- Indian funeral practise of self immolation exclusively for widowed women, viewed as the ultimate act of loyalty
- Practised by higher classes
- Banned due to evangelicals such as William Wilberforce, indicative of a growing moral supremacy
- Outlawed in all territories by 1829
- Resulted in the abolition of female infanticide
- In some communities, newborn girls were viewed as economic burdens
- High dowries, made raising daughters expensive
- The belief that only sons could inherit property
- Angered many Indians and reflected a clear departure from the days of the Nabobs
6
Q
What was the significance of missionary work in India?
A
- Initially banned as the EIC did not want to alienate the people they hoped to do business with
- Ban reversed in 1813
- Missionaries set up collages such as Serampore College in 1818 and were dedicated to teaching English and Bible studies in an attempt to establish Christian values
- This sparked a renaissance of traditional values known as the Bengali renaissance
- This was another instance of the British imposing Western values
- The road to conflict was being paved in the guise of Christian charity
7
Q
What role did Dalhousie play in the changing governance of India?
A
- Dalhousie was keen to bring major reform to India
- To his annoyance, various deals and complex treaties with the Nawabs hindered his efforts of reform
- Local Nawabs were conservative in nature and did not want major changes
- Dalhousie’s solution was to cut out local leders
- Introduced a doctrine of British Paramountcy, creating three conditions under which the British could impose its rule over the locals
- The lack of a suitable male heir meant that the British would become default leaders, regardless of if an adopted successor was named (Doctrine of lapse)
- The misgovernment of the state, stating that rulers that were unfit to govern or were corrupt, could be deposed
- If a local leader violated a treaty with the British or refused to acknowledge paramountcy, the British could intervene and remove them
8
Q
What was the significance of the annexation of Awadh?
A
- Awadh was under the control of Nwab Wajid Ali Shah, a powerful Nawab
- Shah was accused of the misgovernment of Awadh, meaning the region fell under the control of the British
- This was a deeply resented move, British claims that the Nawab’s rule over Awadh was inefficient were widely seen as false
- Unlike the other annexations under the Doctrine of Lapse, Awadh had a legitimate ruler and heir, making the removal of the Nawab seem unfair
- Awadh had been a loyal British ally, providing essential military and financial control
- Many Indian sepoys serving for the British were from Awadh, they felt humiliated about the annexation of their homeland
- The Nawab had been a patron of poetry and culture, his removal was seen as an attack on Awadhi identity and heritage
- Dalhousie also seized land from anyone that could not provide ownership, such as Talukdars who had retained land for generations
- The general service enlistment act declared that all future sepoys must follow standards of service, this included crossing water which contradicted their religious values
- The British underestimated the emotional and political significance of Awadh, their actions catalysed anti-colonial sentiments
9
Q
What was the trigger cause of the Indian Mutiny?
A
- The introduction of the new Enfield rifle was surrounded with concern about a rumor that the cartridges were sealed with animal fat
- Hindus considered cows sacred, while Muslims viewed them as unclean
- The cartridges had to be bitten open, placing both religious groups at risk of defilement
- In Meerut, 85 sepoys who refused to use the cartridges were court marshalled
- While not the main cause, the cartridge issue directly provoked a long term resentment towards the British
10
Q
What happened at Meerut?
A
- Served as the rallying point of the rebellion, motivated by the long lasting tensions and the trigger cause of the cartridge issue
- The rumor supported theories that the Europeans were intent on evangelising Indian regardless of their desire for change
- The mutiny should be viewed in context of the annexation of Awadh and the General service enlistment act
- Mutiny broke out after the 85 sepoys were arrested for defiance
- British were outraged by this defiance, they had offered Christianity to the Indians and felt rejected
- The Meerut uprising set off a chain reaction across North India
- Despite having a strong military presence in Meerut, the British were slow to react to the rebellion
11
Q
What happened at Delhi and Kanpur?
A
- Delhi became the epicenter of the mutiny after rebels arrived from Meerut
- The capture of Delhi gave the uprising legitimacy and momentum, symbolising resistance of British rule
- The sepoys entered the Red Fort and convinced the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, to be the figurehead of the rebellion
- Although weak and politically powerless, the emperor made the revolt appear more significant than a mere local disturbance
- Rebels killed many British soldiers, causing them to retreat outside the city
- Talukdars joined fighting due to resentment over loss of land
- The British were in no position to prevent the rebellion
12
Q
What happened at Lucknow?
A
- Capital of Awadh
- British were pushed back and officially retreated
- City reclaimed under siege of rebels
- Reflected Indian resentment over the annexation of Awadh
13
Q
What was the British retaliation to the Indian Mutiny?
A
- Villages massacred
- Mutineers forced to lick blood stains off the walls of buildings
- Publicly executed and forced to perform acts of defilement
- Strapped to cannons
- Bahadur’s sons arrested and executed
14
Q
How did the Indian Mutiny result in the dissolution of the EIC?
A
- Government of India Act 1858, ended company rule in India
- Indians promised religious toleration, equal protection under laws and land respected
- Annexation of territories ceased
- 560 states became loyal to the British Raj until the end of the empire
- Steered clear of land reforms to appease Talukdars
- £50 million given to the Raj
- Tax restructured, British relied on income tax on wealthier cast members
- Some cultural impositions such as changes to Sati and female infanticide remained the same
15
Q
How did the Indian Mutiny lack cohesion and support?
A
- It is clear that there was unified anger towards the British
- Different groups were angry for different reasons, resulting in a disorganised rebellion that failed to mount an effective resistance
- Various groups had different aims, sepoy rebels were angry about the cartridge issue and the British intrusion on Indian culture
- Talukdars and Zamindars resented their loss of power and land, especially in regard to Dalhousie
- The rise of Bahadur Shah as the figurehead of the rebellion was not in fact meaningful, he was 80 and not a great leader, not providing any true leadership
- The Rhani of Jhansi attempted to combine various groups to unify the rebellion
- Despite her leadership, her influence was limited and her anti British sentiment was not universally shared
- In the battle of Agra, different factions had conflicting strategies and failed to coordinate their attacks, this allowed the British to quickly counter the attacks and defend Agra
16
Q
What was the British strengths during the Indian Mutiny?
A
- The British remained a strong, unified force with superior military strength
- Only a third of sepoys rebelled, the Punjab region stayed loyal to the British
- Despite the failures of the EIC, they had proven to be consistent rulers who worked within the law, this led to many believing that the British were a viable option over the corrupt Nawabs
- The British acknowledged the inadequacies of the EIC’s rule and promised to reform
- Lord Canning issued the Queen’s proclamation, declaring a policy of benevolent governance, promising respect for Indian cultures and improved administration
- The British quickly drew on its vast resources which it deployed in India
- Exploitation of the divided rebels allowed the British to stir up divisions between the rebels
- Superior strategies supported the recovery of Lucknow and Kanpur
17
Q
What were the weaknesses of the Indian rebels?
A
- Scarcity of modern weapons, the severe shortage of modern weapons meant that the Indians relied on outdated firearms, placing the rebels at a significant military disadvantage
- Lack of strong industrial bases to manufacture goods
- Significant financial restraints contributed to Indian struggles to acquire essential resources
- Inadequate supply lines resulted in food and ammunition shortages
- Lack of artillery placed them at a disadvantage in seiege warfare
