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THE BRITISH RAJ
From the height of the Victorian era to the end of World War II, the British
Raj spanned 89 years of the Indian subcontinent’s rich history
Written by Jack Griffiths
The Indian Mutiny of 1857 had a profound
effect on life on the subcontinent. No
longer did the corrupt and inept East
IndiaCompanyrulethecolony,instead
an administration directed straight from
theBritishCrownwasintroduced.Thiswasthe
BritishRaj.Thisnewwayofrunningtheterritory
endedthelong-standingMughalDynasty,which
had ruled the country for 300 years, and pushed
through British ideas of social and cultural
progression in India as the British overlords
tightened their grip.
Despite the change of rule, the new Raj
continued to be a hotbed of unrest as the British
capitalisedonantagonismbetweenMuslims, Sikhs
and Hindus, enacting a divide-and-rule policy.
BritainalwayssawIndiaasanessentialcog in the
empireand,astimeprogressed,itusedthe nation
for whatever it could. India contributed massively
to both world wars, deploying resources as well as
manpower in the name of the empire. In response,
a determined independence movement originated.
Under the leadership of iconic figures like Mahatma
Gandhi, the drive for Indian sovereignty gathered
pace. It was finally sanctioned on 15 August 1947,
as Britain’s empire fragmented further after the end
of the war.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
OnNewYear’sDay1903,agrand
procession is watched by Lord Curzon,
the viceroy of India, at the Delhi
Durbar.Indianprincesrodeelephants
adorned with jewels showcasing the
gloryoftheBritishmonarchy.
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