BRITISH POLICY AFTER 1858

The British administration policy created discontent among the Indians and this in turn led to the revolt of 1857, which began as a sepoy mutiny. It is also known as the first war of independence. It almost wiped away the British rule from India. The British were able to suppress the revolt firmly because they were better organized and had control over transport and communication. But this revolt made the British realizes that they had to change their attitude towards the Indians so that they could avoid a threat to their supremacy. The first step that was taken by the British was to transfer the power from the east India company to the British crown by the act of 1858. This is also known as ‘the Queen’s Proclamation’.

 

THE REVOLT

It started at Merut when the sepoys who refused to use the rifle were thrown into prison. The Indian regiments revolted by killing their officers and releasing the prisoners and rushing off to Delhi. These events spread in different parts of Delhi.

 

FEATURES OF THE MUTINY

-          It was fought with the great deal of feeling on both the sides. The Indian soldiers fought with the feeling of loyalty but at the same time they were effected by a strong feeling of caste and religion.

-          The British were out numbered and they fought only to save themselves from destruction

-          The movement was not a national one since it was not supported by some of the states of India

-          It was a result were people from different parts of India fought in order to be free from the hands of the British

-          The Gurkhas sent their armies to help the British while the Sikhs and Punjab remained loyal to the British government

-          Those who participated in the mutiny had no unity or purpose.

 

EFFECT OF THE MUTINY

-          The British government suffered a severe shock and their confidence was totally shattered.

-          They brought about a total change in the policy and administration and did away with inefficient army

-          The British realized that the Indian opinion should not be ignored

 

QUEEN’S PROCLAMATION OF 1858 ****

The Queen’s Proclamation of 1858 was the most important effect of the mutiny. The proclamation was made by Queen Victoria and has been called the Magna Carta of India. By this proclamation many changes were brought about in the administration of the company.

-          The powers of the company were abolished

-          The government was transferred directly to the crown

-          Lord Cannon became the first viceroy and governor general

-          All Indian princes who remained loyal during the mutiny were promised that no encroachment would be made upon their rights or in their territories.

-          Complete freedom of religion was guaranteed.

-          Customs, traditions and rights of the Indians were to be respected and protected.

-          The Indians could hold office by right under the British was clearly stated and any Indian who was qualified by virtue of his education, intelligence (integrity) could be admitted to this service of the British Indian Government.

 

LORD RIPON

He made an effort to retrieve these institutions and revise the system of local government. He increased the power of the district local boards. The purpose was to bring Englishmen and the Indians to work together for the common good and develop a sense of responsibility and public spirit so that more Indians could be persuaded to take part in the political affairs of their own country.

 

REFORMS OF LORD CURZON

Lord Curzon brought about changes of internal administration

-          He brought about a complete change in the bureaucracy so that work would not be delayed.

-          He established cooperative credit societies to liberate the peasants from the money lenders.

-          He set up a department of commerce and industry

-          In the field of art and architecture he constructed the Victoria Memorial Hall in Calcutta. He also founded the imperial library and the department of archaeology to preserve ancient movements.

-          The army was reformed and Lord Kitchener was appointed as the commander in chief.

 

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE BRITISH RULE

The British economic policy transformed the Indian economy into a colonial economy. The Indian economy was a self sufficient economy. When the British acquired India they totally disrupted the traditional Indian economy. The Indian wealth was take away in the form of a tribute. The Indian handicrafts suffered a set back because machine made goods were in demand. Millions of rural artisans lost their traditional livelihood and had to change their occupation. This resulted in increase in poverty in India. Once a famous exporter of cotton became the importer of British cotton textiles.

The conditions of the farmers was miserable since they were at the mercy of the zamindars. They had to borrow money and pay a high rate of interest.

The economic policy of the British led the Indians on the verge of starvation and because of the exploitation of the British, India had to face backwardness in agriculture and industry.

 

FILL IN THE BLANKS

The administration power was passed to the British crown in 1858

The Indian leaders who passed the Indian Civil Service was Satyendranath Tagore and Rabindranath Tagore

Lord Mayo declared that prince and princes who ruled the states were the agents of the British crown

The vernacular press act was repeated in 1882

Cowasjee Nabhoy started the first textile mill in Bombay

Under the act of 1858 the government was carried out by the viceroy

Indian civil service exam was held in London

Indigo industries declined with the invention of synthetic dye.

The queen’s proclamation was made in the year 1858

The first governor general after the mutiny was Lord Cannon

The system of local self government was reviewed by Lord Ripon

The partition of Bengal took place in 1905

The transfer of power of EIC to the British crown was announced by Lord Cannon

Queen Victoria took the title of Empress of India

In 1878, Vernacular Press Act was passed in order to impose strict censorship on the press.

The first cotton textile mill was set up in Bombay in 1853

Bengal was partitioned by Lord Curzon

The Gurkhas were a race of Rajput descendants.

The first anglo Burmese was ended with the treaty of Yandaboo.

 

MATCH

Divide and rule – policy to break unity

Indian National Congress – founded in 1885

Permanent settlement – north Madras

Used as dye – Indigo

Amarsingh – gurka leader

Theebav – King of Burma

Shahshiya – Afghan chief

 

GIVE ONE WORD FOR

Queen Proclamation – Magna Carta of India

Age limit for Indian Civil Service – 19 years

British policy to break unity among Indians – Divide and Rule

The place of first famine – Western UP

World famous industry – textile

 

ANSWER IN ONE SENTENCE

What was the governments resolution of 1852 introduced by Lord Ripon?

-          It extended the scope and power of the district local boards just like the country council in England

-          It aimed at substituting outside control by inside interferences.

 

Into how many parts was Bengal divided?

2 parts – East and West Bengal

 

What was the immediate effect of the sepoy mutiny?

-          The British government got a severe shock and the self confidence was shattered

-          The British realized that the Indian opinion should not be ignored.  

 

When did the British start universities?

1857

 

Who started the newspaper?

Dadabai Navroji, Tilak, Justice Ranade, Lala Lajpatrai, Bipin Chandra Bose.

 

Which industries were first stared in India?

Cotton textile and coal mining

 

Where did the tea industries develop?

Assam, Bengal and the hills of Himachal Pradesh

 

What do you mean by queens proclamation?

-          The number of Europeans and Indians in the army was increased

-          The Indians were not given high posts

-          Discrimination on the basis of caste and religion were introduced while recruiting the army.

 

What charges were brough about in the administration of India by the act of 1858?

-          It put an end to the dual system of government

-          A secretary of state was now put in charge of the government of India.