Captivating History - The British Raj: A Captivating Guide to the British in India, Starting from the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to the Indian Independence Act of 1947

The British presence in India lasted for nearly 350 years, but only the last 90 were under the direct rule of the British government. To some, ninety years might seem a short period to write a history book about. However, the time of the British Raj was very influential. It brought change to Indian politics, education, society, infrastructure, industry, and other aspects of Indian life. But while the British Empire brought modernization to its colonies, that modernization came with a price.

The British Raj did not cover just where India is today. In fact, it spanned across the territories of four separate states that exist today: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Burma. It is estimated that around a quarter of a million British were buried in these territories since the East India Company set its first foothold. The oldest European graves can be found in port cities such as Madras or Bombay, where the first merchants settled trading offices.

The British spread across the whole subcontinent, starting as simple merchants who wanted a piece of the riches brought by trade monopolies in the East Indies. Driving off their competitors, the Portuguese and French, the British became conquerors, submitting all of India to their will. And when the political climate changed back in Britain, India was simply transferred to the Crown, as if it was a property that could be given away.

What the British government did, albeit unknowingly, is unite all the people of the subcontinent under one nation. Before the British Raj, the demographics of India were very diverse, with people grouped in smaller nations divided by different beliefs and cultures. But with the coming of the British, the need for unity grew and finally culminated in the late 19 th century with the founding of the political party known as the Indian National Congress. Finally, the struggle for the independence of the subcontinent could begin.

One person rose as a star of the independence movement, and he became the symbol of the fight against oppression all over the world: Mahatma Gandhi. He inspired people such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. His philosophy of nonviolent resistance continues to be used even today whenever the common people of the world feel the need to voice their dissatisfaction with their governments. Mahatma Gandhi wasnt alone in his fight against the British. Various individuals, both Indians and foreigners, showed up to support the independence movement and drive off the British. Each had their own reasons, but they all had the same goal, even if it meant dividing India along the religious borders of Hinduism and Islam.