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British in India

            Probably the best example of Imperialism in action was the British conquest of India or the Raj as it came to be known. It arose from the work of the British East India Company with only occasional assistance from the British Government. In 1784 however the British parliament established a system of joint control by the British government and the company. As the British grip of India increased Indian resentment grew even though the Britain had a firm policy of non-interference in Indian social and religious lives with some notable exceptions such as female infanticide, dowry burnings and slavery. This policy of non-interference did not prevent innocent or ignorant misconceptions such as the violation of both Hindu and Muslim values that ultimately led to the Indian Mutiny in 1857.
             The Indian culture and religion was one of great complexity which it had already been firmly established before the British came to India. As the British at this stage had a strong sense of social consciousness it was inevitable that there was going to be cultural conflict between the two races. Although the British did not deliberately plan to violate Indian customs and beliefs, they still had a somewhat racist mentality and the belief that they were a superior race. As soon as the British imposed their economic agenda on the Indians, the Indians felt aggrieved because thousands of years of their customs and beliefs were being violated. However, the British strongly believed that their practices were for the benefit of the Indian people. It is clear therefore that much of the conflict in India was a result of cultural and moral misunderstandings. It is difficult to form a judgment on Britain's actions in India as it a question of subjective moral and political standpoints. .
             From the outset British imperialism in India took on a different complexion to that in colonies such as Australia and Canada. Unlike the indigenous peoples of Australia and Canada, the Indians were a far more unified and had a far more sophisticated and structured social system.


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