1. British Imperialism in India

2. The Sepoy Mutiny
British East India Co. becomes actively involved in India’s political and military affairs
In the minds of most British people, the British culture was superior by far to Indian culture
British East India Co. hired Indian soldiers known as sepoys

3. The Sepoy Mutiny (cont.)
Immediate cause:
rumor – British were issuing their Indian troops new bullet cartridges w/ cow and pig fat
Problem:
cow sacred to Hindus; Muslims believed pork to be taboo
Response:
sepoys killed 50 European men, women, and children

4. Background Notes

5. The Sepoy Mutiny (cont.)
Events:
Revolt quickly crushed by British troops and Indian soldiers loyal to the British
Rivalries between Hindus and Muslims kept the Indians from working together
Result:
British Parliament transferred power from East India Co. to British government
Viceroy – governor who ruled as a representative of a monarch

6. Benefits of British rule
Brought order and stability
New school system: train Indian children to serve in gov’t and army
System only served elite Indians (90% of Indians illiterate)
Technology introduced in India
Railroads, telegraph, and postal service

7. Costs of British Rule Economic: Agricultural: Social:
British manufactured goods destroyed local industries
British textile industry hurt Indian textiles and put many women out of work
Increased taxes
Agricultural:
Many farmers became tenant framers
Farmers switch from subsistence crops to cash crops
Social:
British rule was degrading: Indians never considered equals
British racism led to Indian Nationalist movements

8. Indian National Movement
Preferred reform to revolution
Indian National Congress: Goals
Seek independence for all Indians, regardless of class or religion
did NOT seek immediate independence, but wanted a share in the governing process
Difficulties: Religious
Tension between Hindu and Muslim leaders led to calls for a separate Muslim League

9. Colonial Indian Culture
British domination led to a political and cultural awakening
Spread of nationalism led writers to search for literary forms to express a national identity
Culture was expressed through a love-hate relationship w/ G.B.

10. Nationalism in India
Early 1800s – Indians began demanding more modernization & greater role in gov’t
Ram Mohun Roy – “Father of Modern India”: campaigned for the end to traditional practices:
arranged child marriages
rigid caste system
widow suicide

11. Ritual of Sati
Sati (Su-thi , a.k.a. suttee) is the traditional Hindu practice of a widow throwing herself on her husband's funeral pyre.
Sati was prevalent among certain sects of the society in ancient India, who either took the vow or deemed it a great honor to die on the funeral pyres of their husbands.

12. Child Marriages
In India during the 1860s, marriage meant girls getting married below 8 or 9 years old. It wasn’t until 1880 that child marriage as a problem became a public issue in India and examples of young wives being killed and or raped by their “husbands” brought the tradition to an end.