Colonialism In India

The British invasion formed into a historical development of British colonialism in India. Despite India under the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi played an important role in gaining Independence for India. He not only changed India but also strongly fought for India's independence, using various strategies. The British Empire ruled as long as they could to reform India both politically and socially.

India was the first major Asian civilizations to fall victim to European predatory activities. With conquering India, the British had various purposes behind it. Their main purpose was to achieve a monopolistic trading position. The second purpose was the control of India; this was a key element in the world power structure, in terms of geography, logistics and military manpower. When the East India Company continued to trade under the British, huge armies were created, largely composed of Indian Sepoys. The armies were used to defend the Company’s territories protect the Indian states.

With major control over India, the British used a combination of firepower &ump; guile to consolidate their power over the country by expanding from their base areas along the coast into the interior. Some territories were also taken over the privately run East India Company, which at the time was given authority to administer Asian territories under British occupation, while others were ruled by local maharajas. British governance brought order and stability to a society that had recently been wrecked by the wars from the different empires.

Since the British wanted to reform India, they relatively did bring some benefits to the Indians. Education, which was not very important in India until the British, established a new school system. The British also ...

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...nce campaign and Gandhi’s refusal to support the concept of weighted voting rights for India’s Muslim minority. With the constant disagreements and communal violence between the Hindus and Muslims, Jinnah felt that Muslims had no future in India. With the end of British rule in 1947, not only did India gain its independence but also along with it was born another country, Pakistan where Jinnah served as the first governor. With the gain of India’s independence, Gandhi was shot the following year in 1948 by a Hindu zealot who resented his commitment to Hindu – Muslim harmony.

Despite numerous conflicts with the British and with the Muslims, India fought for its rights by doing what they felt was right. India under the British rule had some benefits as the new school system and outlawing sati but they did manage to trouble the Indians with taxation and other laws.