North South University

Name: Ali Musa

ID: 1811404643
History 101
Sec: 09
1. Identify the timeline of colonial period in India. Discuss about the impacts of colonial

rule in India.

: From the begaining of the British ruling in India and the defeat of the Nabab Siraj-ud-dawla the

East-Indian Company controlled in India. Until the foundation of British colonial rule in the late

eighteenth century 1858 and that went on until 1947. English colonial rule provoked British

authorities, teachers and researchers to obtain information on the old style dialects of India, of

the structure of Indian culture and of qualities and habits of her kin.

The economy was fundamentally founded on agriculture, the tools and executes didn't enroll any

noteworthy change through time, and arts and crafts generally associated with poorly developed

production grew. Socially the framework consisted of comparatively self-sufficient village

communities in groups of contiguous villages. Caste was the typical Indian institution to

accommodate various socio-economic strata and nascent classes, binding them together in

groups and ensuring such constituents an occupational protection as well.

The British rule introduced the railways, the press, and the western system of education, clubs

and associations all of which shook the prevalent socio-economic order. But the processes of

exploitation unleashed by them destroyed the possibilities of development of industries and a

modern economic system in India. The British rule rather systematically destroyed the native

industries of India for the benefit of the industries in Britain and their market in India. Even

though it sought to tie down the people it ruled to colonial backwardness, it released new

historical forces within the Indian fold by throwing the traditional economic system and socio-

cultural order out of gear. It gave birth to the desire of material advancement and better amenities

and living conditions of individuals. Also it gave birth to a spirit of inquiry in the minds of

Indian intellectuals who came in contact with western education. Both the social reformists and

the conservatives took a fresh and critical look at their own society and culture as a reaction to

western interpretation of the same.

Right from the beginning of their relationship with India, the British, who had come as traders

and had become rulers and administrators, had influenced the economic and political systems of

the country. Initially, the East India Company did not think that it was its duty to impart

education to Indians. It allowed the old system of education to continue. Pathsalas, which

imparted a special type of education geared towards meeting the requirements of a rural society,

were open to all. Sanskrit education was imparted in tols. Muslims attended Madrasas. Higher

education was confined primarily to upper castes. This system of education was eventually

changed by the British. Around the beginning of the 19th century, the British rulers became

aware of the need for introducing Western education in India.

The greatest impact of British policies was the drain of wealth from India. The Indian economy,

no doubt, was primarily a rural economy, but Indian artisans produced goods in bulk to meet the

demands of Indian and European buyers. Several towns had flourished as centres of trade. There

had been a great demand for muslin from Bengal and silk from Bengal and Benaras.
British merchants bought these Indian products in large quantities. But, at the beginning of the

18th century, Britain and other European countries passed laws prohibiting the entry of cotton

and silk textiles from India although there was a demand for it. After the advent of the Industrial

Revolution, India was forced to produce cotton, indigo and other products which British

industries required.

Indian markets were flooded with cheap, machine-made textiles manufactured in England.

Indian hand-made textiles could not compete with the cheap machine-made textiles. India was

transformed into a supplier of raw materials and a market for British manufactured goods.

While British goods were exempted from duties while entering Indian markets, Indian goods

entering England were burdened with heavy customs duties. Thus, the self-sufficient economy of

India collapsed under the impact of British colonial policies. With the decline of the cotton

industry, the towns that had flourished as centres of trade or industry also declined.