India - 2.1 Flashcards
1
Q
partition of Bengal
A
- large and unruly area to manage
- in 1905 Viceroy Cruzon partitioned the province along religious lines and Muslims controlling the East and Hindus the West
- led to violent protects (Swadash campaigns)
- set a precedent for a future lack of consolidation and how the British were shown to favour Hindus
- however, British were able to resort order without too much trouble
2
Q
strengths of the British Raj
A
- technically, Indians had the power to rise up to the ICS, playing a role in governance
- by 1919 examinations for the ICS were herd in Dehli and Rangoon making it more accessible
- Muslims opposed the Hindu drive for autonomy as they would end up outvoted and this ensured the system had backing
- kept Indians in a subordinate position, limiting uprisings
3
Q
British positions in the Raj
A
- system implemented form the top-down
- viceroy was appointed in Westminster but resided in India (salary twice that of the British prime minister)
- secretary of state was answerable to parliament and decided and developed the policies implemented in India
4
Q
Indian Civil service
A
- ensured regulations were implemented in India
- renowned for its efficiency and was a model for administrators throughout the British Empire.
- Indians had to pass exams in London and higher education at a British university
- wasn’t until 1919 that examinations were held in Rangoon and Delhi
5
Q
weaknesses of the British Raj
A
-those with the most power resided in London, leaving them disconnected from the actual situation in India
several months travel time)
-English experience was out of date and inappropriate
-the ICS required education and training in London, making it practically impossible for them to get involved
-Princely states were dealt with inconsistently, making a united relationship difficult
-Viceroys often changed leading to irregular leadership
-established a clear divide between ethnicities, creating anger and a lack of trust
6
Q
Indian population and geography
A
- the population of India in 1914 was 350million (150,000 British), speaking 200 languages
- the land was equal in size to Europe and so uniting and controlling the country was difficult
- the most significant area was the Punjab. This had been the base of most rulers of India in history
7
Q
society and religion
A
India’s population in 1914 were of 4 main religious groups (Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians)
- Hindus made up 80% of the population. they followed the caste system underpin day purity and pollution. every hindu was born into a caste and lived out their life in that caste (pre-determined)
- Muslims lived mostly in the north west and north east. many had converted to Islam places great emphasis on equality
- sikhism (fusion of hinduism and islam), by 1914 majority in the Punjab were Sikhs.
8
Q
East India Company
A
- began in 1600 by Elizabeth 1
- the aim of the company was to create a monopoly over the spice trade and destroy dutch and French interests
- started setting u p its own substantial army and establishing bases in India (e.g. in Calcutta)
- initially claimed no political powers of objectives
- displayed a paternalistic attitude towards the Indian people and rapidly expanded its power and influence, somewhat aggressively (e.g. land with no heir was taken by the British, sepoys deployed outside the home region which was seen as disrespectful)
- rumours that ammunition cartridges issued by the British for the sepoys were greased with animal fat. this resulted in the Indian mutiny of 1857 where 400 were massacred. (had to bite top of ammunition to load but Hindus were vegetarian)
9
Q
divide and rule
A
- Indian princes ruled around 35% of the country, consisting of 565 princely states
- each of these states had its own laws, languages and holidays, ministers and rulers
- after the Mutiny British didn’t want to use violence so used this system whereby one aristocrat was pitched against another and loyalties purchased.
- Princely states were forced to acknowledge Britain as the paramount power.
10
Q
Indian National congress
A
- delegates at the first meeting of the Indian National Congress in 1885 were mainly high caste Hindus, all of whom spoke English.
- some British delegates
- three years later, 83/600 Muslims were (dominated by Hindus)
- met every year until the outbreak of WW1
- at this point it was a discussion forum not a political party. The early resolutions of congress were framed within a spirit of cooperation with the Raj, suggesting some form of power sharing
11
Q
Bal Tilak
A
- first popular leader of Indian independence movement
- founded Kesari newspaper which strongly criticised the Raj, esp after partition of Bengal
- joined Indian National Congress in 1890s and criticised moderate approach of Gokhale
- led more extremist branch of congress
- imprisoned in 1914
- criticised Gandhi’s non-violent approach
12
Q
the Muslim League
A
- formed in Dhaka in 1906
- voice of Muslim community (nearly a minority in every state)
- as long as the elite ruled for the people not by the people this didn’t matter too much. however, raj became more democratic
- Hindus may outvote the Muslim and therefore strongly opposed democracy
- created a dichotomy between Hindus and Muslims and heightened religious differences
13
Q
The Indian Councils Act 1909
A
- 60 Indian representatives were to be elected to serve on the Viceroy’s Executive Council
- enlarged provincial councils to create non-official majorities
- Separate electorates were provided for Muslims and Hindus
- Morley appointed two Indians to his London based group of advisors. thought of a significant step towards self-governance
- Minto did a similar thing (appointing Sinha, advocate-general of Bengal)
- showed officials were in agreement but for different reasons
14
Q
India’s response to WW1 fighting
A
- support was given from congress, the muslim league and the princely states (27 but their army at the disposal of the British)
- Bal Tilak declared his loyalty
- Ghandi urged people to show support to show their desire to share in the responsibilities of the British empire
- by November 1918, over 800,000 Indians had enlisted as combatants
- 64,500 died
15
Q
attitudes to WW1 fighting
A
- going to war was an ancestral tradition of obligation to their emperor
- few claimed to be fighting for India, most cited the King or empire
16
Q
Indian military contribution to WW1
A
- the First Indian expeditionary Force, made up of 28,500 Indian troops embarked from Karachi in 1914
- heavy losses in the Battle of Ypres
- provided half the allied fighting force at Neuve Chapelle
- in December 2015, two infinity devisions were withdrawn from France and sent to serve in the Middle East (low morale and might not be able to survive another winter)
- they were better suited to the climate and it would be easier to send reinforcements from India
17
Q
WW1 indian troops against the Turks
A
- took part in a campaign against the Ottoman Turks in Iraq
- badly led and ill-equipped as Indian production wasn’t established in making weapons or vehicles and was too expensive to divert supplies from Europe.
- eventually surrendered to the Turks in April 1916
- many were sent to prisoner of war camps and many died
- two Indian cavalry division remained here until 1918, transferred to Palestine in operations against the Turks
18
Q
WW1 economic contributions
A
- by the end of the war, Indian revenues had contributed over £146 million to the war effort (half in loans)
- military expenditure had risen dramatically too with revenue demands in India rising by 16% in the years 1916-17
