The empress Context Flashcards
What is the story of India and the British Empire?
The East India Company exercised increasing control over India. After India’s National Rising, the country came under direct rule of the British Crown.
What are Gupta’s intentions behind the context of the British Empire?
Gupta intends to criticize Britain’s selfish and callous rule of the empire in India and in other parts of the world.
What happened at the Queen’s Proclamation?
Queen Victoria publicly declared that no Indian subject would be discriminated against by reason of their religion. She also said that they should enjoy the ‘equal protection of the law’
What was Gupta’s intention behind the Queen’s Proclamation?
That they were still discriminated against through the character of Hari. For example, him demanding equal pay and respect. And overall showing the hollowness of her promise.
What is an Ayah?
Ayahs were Indian nannies who looked after British children. It was estimated that between 100-200 arrived every year; many given formal contracts but others were abandoned and had to fend for themselves.
What was the Ayah’s home?
This was a home was established by concerned white women to offer shelter and protection.
What were Gupta’s intention behind ayah?
Rani’s treatment is representative of many stories of ayahs and other servants who were mistreated by their English employers.
What did Gupta hint at the scene of the Ayah’s home?
this scene is presented to be a place of refuge but also a place where “everyone sings a Christian hymns with great gusto” highlighting that the British charity was partially dependent on religion.
What are lascars?
it was a term applied to sailors from India who were hired to British ships. They lived in lodging described “unfit for human habitiation”.
What was the Drain Theory?
It was an idea put forward by Dadabhai Naroji. This was a process by which a significant part of India’s national wealth was being exported to England doe which India received no economic return.
