The British Rule in India

The Portuguese came to Goa and started trade and commerce in this part of India by 1510. They also set up 3 colonies in India namely – Bassein, Mangalore and Diu. But the British took over the naval supremacy from the Portuguese by 1610. The East India Company set up their outpost in Surat. This incident marked the beginning of the British hegemony in the Indian subcontinent for a span of 300 years.

The East India Company achieved Dastaks or the license to carry on free trade in territories of Bengal from Farrukh Siyar in 1717. The Battle of Plassey in 1757 marked the defeat of Siraj Ud Daullah – the Nawab of Bengal. He opposed the British against using permit for free trade in his province.

With the victory in Battle of Buxar in 1764, the East India company gained the rights to administer Bengal. A revenue system, known as the Permanent Settlement was introduced by the company in India. The British confronted with the Portuguese, the French and the Dutch settlers in India and emerged as the supreme power. The company started its trading activities from India by 1769.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 is recognized as the first significant protest against the rule of the British. This historical incident is popularly known as the First War of Independence or the Sepoy Mutiny. Soon after the Mughal rule shattered and the last nominal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar was sent to Burma in exile and his children were killed.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi played an important role in the freedom struggle of India. He spread awareness by carrying on mass movements and campaigns against the British imperialism. Throughout the country different revolutionary activities were carried out by the freedom fighters. After much struggle, loss of numerous lives and blood shed, India gained independence in 1947.