British Raj

British Raj (Hindi: ब्रिटिश राज, from rāj, "rule" in Sanskrit and Hindi) was the rule of the United Kingdom in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947. The term can also refer to the period of dominion. The region under British control, commonly referred to as "India" in contemporary usage, included areas directly administered by the United Kingdom as well as the princely states ruled by individual rulers under the paramountcy of the British Crown.

Background

The system of governance was instituted in 1858 when the rule of the East India Company was transferred to the Crown in the person of Queen Victoria (who in 1876 was proclaimed Empress of India). It lasted until 1947, when the British provinces were partitioned into two independent dominions: the Dominion of India (later the Republic of India) and the Dominion of Pakistan (later the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People's Republic of Bangladesh). The princely states were also integrated into the two new dominions.

Administration

The British Raj extended over almost all present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, except for small holdings by other European nations such as Goa and Pondicherry. The East India Company, which was incorporated on 31 December 1600, established trade relations with Indian rulers in Masulipatnam on the east coast in 1611 and Surat on the west coast in 1612.

Impact

The British Raj had a profound impact on Indian society and culture. The British introduced many positive aspects to India, such as the English language, modern science, technology, and law. However, the British Raj also led to numerous negative impacts, such as economic exploitation, political oppression, and cultural erosion.

See also

• History of India
• Partition of India
• Indian independence movement