British Rule in India (01:27)
Begins the discussion on British rule (1757-1947).
1757-1857: Period of Company Rule under the East India Company (EIC).
1857-1947: Period of British Crown Rule after the 1857 Revolt.
Formation of the East India Company (02:06)
EIC was formed in 1599 in England.
1600: Received Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I, allowing it to trade in India.
First official branch in India opened in 1600.
Arrival of Captain William Hawkins in India (02:48)
1608: William Hawkins arrives in India representing EIC.
At the time, Emperor Jahangir was ruling India.
Hawkins visited Jahangir’s court in Ajmer, seeking trade permissions.
Jahangir’s Interest in Art & Test for Hawkins (03:28 - 04:43)
Hawkins gifted a watch and a painting to Jahangir.
Jahangir was not interested in the watch but found the painting fascinating.
Jahangir tested Hawkins by replicating the painting and challenging him to identify the original.
Hawkins correctly identified his painting, but Jahangir claimed his own version was better.
Jahangir was known for his exceptional artistic skills and ability to detect even minor differences in paintings.
Company Rule in India (1757-1857)
1757: Battle of Plassey – British defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, marking the beginning of Company Rule.
1764: Battle of Buxar – British defeated Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula, and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II.
1773: Regulating Act was introduced to control the East India Company’s administration.
1793: Permanent Settlement System introduced by Lord Cornwallis for land revenue collection.
1818: The British defeated Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, expanding their control.
Revolt of 1857 (End of Company Rule)
Major reasons:
Political dissatisfaction due to Doctrine of Lapse (Lord Dalhousie).
Economic distress and exploitation of Indian resources.
Social and religious interference (e.g., banning Sati, introduction of the Enfield rifle cartridges greased with cow/pig fat).
Key leaders:
Mangal Pandey (Barrackpore).
Rani Lakshmibai (Jhansi).
Nana Saheb (Kanpur).
Bahadur Shah Zafar (Delhi).
The revolt failed but led to the end of Company Rule.
British Crown Rule (1858-1947)
1858: Government of India Act – British Crown took direct control of India.
1877: Queen Victoria was declared Empress of India.
1905: Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, leading to Swadeshi Movement.
1919: Rowlatt Act passed, causing nationwide protests.
1919: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre – British troops fired on peaceful protestors in Amritsar.
1935: Government of India Act laid the foundation for India’s federal structure.
1942: Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, demanding British withdrawal.
India’s Independence (1947)
1946: Cabinet Mission proposed India's federal government structure.
August 15, 1947: India gained independence; Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister.
Partition of India and Pakistan led to large-scale migration and communal violence.