When we look at the history of British rule in India, it is often narrated as the story of battles between armies, treaties between rulers, and later, the growth of Indian nationalism through political organisations. But if we shift our gaze away from capitals and courts, and instead listen to the voices of ordinary people…
India’s Textile Industry: From World Leader to Collapse (a) The Traditional System (b) Global Fame of Indian Textiles 👉 Indian cloth dazzled the world — fine muslins of Bengal, calicoes of Coromandel, and chintzes of Gujarat were luxury items in Europe. (c) Decline of Indian Textiles 👉 Indian textiles collapsed due to unfair competition, free…
Now, we have in a way come to the conceptual conclusion of this chapter: Colonialism itself.This part is very significant because it ties together all the economic impacts we discussed earlier (ruin of artisans, impoverishment of peasants, landlordism, famines, limited industries, etc.) into a broader theoretical framework. Let’s try to understand this: Colonialism: Meaning, Nature,…
📖 The Big Picture At the dawn of the 18th century, India was not a poor country. On the contrary, it was among the richest in the world—commanding 23% of the global economy. Its textiles, handicrafts, and agricultural produce were in demand from London to Central Asia. But by 1947, when India became independent, this…
Commercial Policy The Phase Before 1757 – Mutual Gain Between 1600 and 1757, the East India Company (EIC) was simply a trading corporation, not a ruling power. 👉 For Indian rulers, this arrangement was acceptable—even beneficial—because: But there was a problem back in England. So, from the early 18th century, heavy restrictions were imposed: Despite…
Background When the British East India Company received the Diwani rights (right to collect land revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa on 12 August 1765, it marked a turning point in Indian history. Until then, the Company had largely seen itself as a trader, concerned with buying cheap Indian goods and exporting them to Europe…
When the British first arrived in India as traders, their vision was limited to commerce—buying Indian goods cheap and selling them dear in Europe. But history took a dramatic turn in 1765, when the Mughal emperor granted the East India Company the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. With this single stroke, the Company…
During the colonial period, educational institutions in India emerged from three main sources: Colonial Government-Led Institutions Oriental and Scholarly Promotion Indian Reformers’ Institutions Nationalist Institutions Quick Memorisation Table for UPSC Institution Year Founder(s) Objective Calcutta Madrassa 1781 Warren Hastings Teach Muslim laws Asiatic Society of Bengal 1784 William Jones Promote Oriental studies Sanskrit College, Varanasi…
When we study education under colonial rule, it’s easy to only remember commissions, acts, and government resolutions. But in reality, the deeper debate on education was shaped by powerful personalities — rulers, reformers, nationalists, and philosophers — each with their own vision for how education could transform society. Sayajirao Gaekwad III – The Visionary Ruler…
Government’s Role Reason for official neglect: Pioneers of Girls’ Education 1. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule & Savitribai Phule 2. Bethune School (1849) 3. Hindu Mahila Vidyalaya (1873) Key Reformist Women Leaders Begum Sultan Jahan (Bhopal) Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain Significance
