East India Company

Causes of arrival of Europeans

• Commercial interests (looking for market)
• Sea route to India was discovered by Vasco de Gama. He started his
expedition with the help of an Arabian Pilot, reached Calcutta
western coast of Indo Pakistan 1498
• This route was opened a way for the Europeans to come to this
land
• Portuguese ------- Dutch ------ Danish ------ 1616 Danish EIC
• War between England and Spain which diverted the attention of
British towards Indian Sub- Continent
• In 1600 a group of traders requested Queen Elizabeth to allow to
come to the in the Sub Continent for trade. Queen allowed them
for 15 years
• EIC laid 2 voyages which were not successful whereas 3rd
expedition reached Surat in 1608 under Captain Hawkins( Jehangir
)
• Portuguese created difficulties against British EIC
• 1612 EIC won over the war over Portuguese
• Shah Jehan allowed them to have permanent factory in Surat. From
here they spread their factories to Agra, Ahmadabad, Baroach
• Due to work of Sir Thomas Roy who won over the heart of
Mughal ruler and was successful to get concessions
• Total Number of British Vessels were not more than 17
• 1687 Bombay brought under Company
Reason for change in policy from
commercial to political

• Weak administration of Mughals

• Marathan raids 1665, 1670
• Hostilities begun with the sack of Hugli (strong fortification)1680
• Aurangzeb’s viceroy of Bengal retaliated
• Settled in Calcutta (1686)
How did they expand their rule in Indian Sub
- Continent?
• Doctrine of Lapse
• Doctrine of Paramountcy
• The policy of paramountcy was introduced under Lord Warren
Hastings.
• He was the Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823.
• Under this policy, the company became the supreme law, the
paramount power and to protect its interest, the company justified
the annexations of any Indian kingdom
• British Theory of Divide and Rule
• Mistreatment towards the Mughal Emperors
• Lack of Administrative Opportunities
• British Policy of Expansion (Wars )
British Policy of Expansion (Wars )

• • 1757 Battle of plassy (nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daula and Robert Clive.

• Mir Jaffar betrayed
• Mir Jaffar deposed and Mir Qasim was given rule of Bengal 1760.
• Mir Jaffar did not fight resulted in loss of independence of Bengal.
• Result:
• 1. Nawab of Bengal was changed and Mir Jaffar was made puppet.
• 2. Extension of British territory
• 3. Prestige of company increased in the eyes of people
• 4. Effect of Anglo - French conflict
• 5. Mir Jaffar revolutionized Bengal gave money to company’s officers
• Battle of Buxar
• 1754 fought between English and mughals.
• Mir jaffar replaced by his son in law Mir Qasim by English Officer to
get more money from new Nawab.
• Clive remained governor of sub-continent till 1769.
• Muslim decline was started as Marhattas and British tried to take
over.
• Haider Ali of Mysore
• In south Haider Ali of Mysore had war with Marhattas in 1764.
• 1799 his son Tipu Sultan was defeated.
• 1803 British troops entered in Delhi
• Ranjit Singh of Punjab ascended the throne in 1792
• signed a treaty with English in 1838.
• After his death.
• His death gave rise to disorder .
• Punjab was annexed in 1849.
War of independence 1857
Pre-lesson Questions

• Why did British EIC become interested in the Sub-Continent?

• Why did they change their interest from Commercial to political?
• How did they expand their rule in the Sub Continent?
What does the source tell about British rule
in India ?
Causes Of War of Independence 1857
• RELIGIOUS
• 1. Missionary Schools
• 2. Conversion to Christianity
• 3. Pardah
• 4. Satti
• 5. Greased Cartridges
• POLITICAL
• 1. Doctrine of Lapse
• 2. British Theory of Divide and Rule
• 3. Mistreatment towards the Mughal Emperors
• 4. Lack of Administrative Opportunities
• 5. British Policy of Expansion
• ECONOMIC
• 1. Trade
• 2. Dissolution of Darbar
• 3. Local market
• 4. Appointment of locals on low cadre jobs
• 5. Taxes
• 6. Poverty
• 7. Appointment of Locals in Afghanistan
• SOCIAL
• 1. System of education
• 2. Language issues
• 3. Reforms were unacceptable for locals
• MILITARY
• 1. Greased Cartridges
• 2. Soldiers were forced to convert to Christianity if they want to
work for British
• 3. Soldiers were not willing to leave India going away from their
families
Events of WOI 1857
• War started in Meerut in 1857
• Started with the issue of Greased cartridges
• Mangal Panday was said to be the one who refused to use
cartridge and the war started
• Soldiers killed British Officer, burnt barracks, and residences –
reached Delhi and compelled Badur Shah II to lead army – grand
processions –economic condition wasn’t sound – British army was
looted , masses harassed, war continued
• Gen Bakht Khan from Rohail Khand came to help Bahadur Shah
Zafar
• British planned to make him frustrated
• His close relatives betrayed him
• A rift was created between Hindus and Muslims
• Initially freedom fighter defeated British and took over the control
of large areas but later on defeated as were betrayed by Sikhs
• In Sept British attacked Delhi entered into city, war lasted for 6
days
• Bahadur Shah Zafar took refuge in Humayun’s Tomb from where he
was caught and exiled to Rangoon(died in 1862)
Causes of failure
• Absence of leadership
• Started as war against British but later on converted into personal
• No unity
• Not confined to an area
• Advance weapons of British
• Betrayal
• Rebels lost sympathy of the civil population
 Effects
• Positive
• 1. British stopped annexation
• 2. Better understanding was developed about locals
• 3. Its effect on Hindu Muslim unity (led to creation of Pakistan)
• 4. End of rule of EIC and Sub-Continent came under direct control of British
crown
• 5. Series of developmental plans
• a) Railway was constructed
• b) Irrigation plan
• c) Industry was revolutionized
• d) Educational reforms
• e) Formation of Indian National Congress 1885 by A O Hume
• Negative
• 1. Inflicted cruelty on Muslims, hanged, properties looted, ladies
molested
• 2. Ulemas stitched alive in the skin of pigs even skins peeled off
• 3. Only Muslims were set responsible. Doors of jobs closed, No
trade , they were deprived of religious and academic education
• 4. Bahadur Shah Zafar was penalized and was gifted with the
heads of his sons.
With the Reference of the Picture and your own knowledge describe
the effect of WOI 1857 on local population