North South University

Department of History and Philosophy

Course Title: Bangladesh: History and Culture

Course Code: HIS 101 
Section: 09

Semester: Fall 2020

Submitted To:
Professor Dr. Masood Imran
Department of History and Philosophy

Date: 07.01.2021

Identify the timeline of colonial period in India. Discuss

about the impacts of colonial rule in India.

Answer:
The timeline of colonial period in India (1858-1947).
 Date Event
In 1857 Indian Rebellion
In 1858, 1st British Raj was Begins.
November
In 1876 Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India
In 1886 Upper Burma
Until 1937 The resulting union, Burma (Myanmar), was
administered as an autonomous province.
In 1948 It became a separate British colony, gaining its own
independence.

What is Colonial Rule?

The policy or practice of a wealthy and powerful nation’s maintaining or extending
its control over other countries. Especially in establishing settlements or exploiting
resources.
The East India Company which was in trading contact with India for about a
century since 1650. It sought extraction of wealth though trade and commerce in
conformity with the spirit of mercantilism. Finally turned itself into rulers.

The Development of British Rule in India

The British colonial rule in India can be divided in two stages:
1. The Rule of East India Company (1634-1858), and
2. The Rule of British Raj (1858-1947)
After making thorough preparations, the British East India Company acquired its
foothold firmly in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa by its victories in the battles of
Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1765).
The East India who came to India as traders, in course of time realized that in order
to obtain the optimum profits from Indian trade, they have to secure political
power, backed by force. What had never happened in the world’s history so far
happened in India and a trading company becomes sovereign political power.

Impact of British Colonial Rule in India

The British Colonial rule in India lasted for more than 200 years. But British Raj
was begin in India for more than 100 years. At the beginning the East India
Company ruled India with little interference from the British government until the
19th century. The company had its own civil administration, maintained a trained
military and controlled the foreign policy of India with other nations.

There are some negative Impact of colonial rule in India:

 Britain held most of the political and economical power
 Profitable industries such as cotton, salt, construction, tea were control by
the British industrialists.
 Cash crops cultivation, deforestation, in some cases plantations and the
construction of nation-wide railway system caused a loss in self-sufficiency
of Indian farmers and led to a series of famines that ruin Indian economy.
 Presence of Christian missionaries and the racial attitude of the British
threaten the Indian cultural heritage and also the religious tolerance of Indian
society.

Conclusion:
Colonialism has had a long lasting impact on people lives. Countries under
colonial rule experience a distinctly separate way of developing and maturing, and
ultimately, the inheritance of subsistence will continue to affect survival and
performance.
When British Colonial rule ended in August 1947, two new countries were born
India and Pakistan. Bengal was split between them. West Bengal went to India and
East Bengal went to Pakistan. East Bengal was known as East Pakistan. The
British Colonial Rule ended for India but the Bengali nation did not become
independent because of Pakistan.