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Began with a mutiny of sepoys in the Bengal Army and spread to civil rebellions across north/central India. Resentment over pay, cultural insensitivity, land confiscation from nobility. Enfield rifles greased with animal fat became rallying point as an example of British indifference and superiority. Shift towards working with traditional rulers and more cultural sensitivity. Ended Dalhousie's doctrine of lapse (taking of land/titles for EIC when direct lines ended).
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Direct rule implemented in India after the dissolution of the EIC. All EIC property, wealth and army returned to the Crown. Under the Govt of India Act a secretary of state for India, India Council and Viceroy were created. Viceroy Canning toured India in 1861 returned some land/titles to nobility, gave out 'Star of India' medals, set up English-teaching unis in Calcutta, Bombay etc. Combination of direct and indirect rule: Kashmir, Hyderabad etc. were self-governing as had stayed loyal
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Known as "Clemency" Canning for his appeasement reforms after the Rebellion. Was Governor-General, then became Viceroy after India became the British Raj.
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After request of Victoria and insistence of Disraeli, Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in the RTA, passed 1 May 1876. This aimed to strengthen the symbolic link between India and the monarchy after assuming direct control. Viceroy Lytton organised a grand Durbar in Delhi in celebration with over 400 Indian princes, chiefs and officials.
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Driven by Viceroy Lytton: fears of Russian influence expanding into central Asia and the need to protect India, particularly after creation of Trans-Caspian railway. Huge losses of 10,000 British soldiers but eventually controlled/created the North-West frontier province. Forced the Amir to accept British rule.
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Indian National Congress was set up to discuss public affairs and campaign for more self-rule and Indian representation in government. Founded by leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee
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Was mindful of criticisms from middle class Indians, campaigning from groups like 'Servants of India Society'. Reformed unis, police forces, lowered taxes and adopted gold standard. Irrigation, Commerce Industry Dept, Agricultural Dept. Forced to resign in 1905, partly due to backlash of Partition of Bengal.
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Famine struck western and central India after 1899 summer monsoon failure. Curzon refused to allow aid to be given, insisting villagers needed to develop 'self-reliance'. Use of railways for exporting grains, instead of distributing them, worsened the crisis. Estimated 9m deaths, mortality rate of 37.9 deaths per 1000 people.
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Manoeuvres moved 300,000 troops near Afghanistan in Feb 1900, when bulk of British forces were in South Africa- less than 100K soldiers in Indian Army. Naval presence in Toulon after Russo-French military agreement 1892- threat to Middle East
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Provided military training and officer commissions to Indian nobility, but was largely symbolic.
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Curzon merged north-west Pashtun Afghan lands with the Punjab to create North-West Frontier Province. Put in place a Chief Commissioner. Aimed to protect the Indian border from feared Russian incursions.
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Direction of Sir John Aird. 18m high, 1/4 of a mile long dam was built to hold back the Nile. Took 6 years, cost £2m. Enabled half a million acres of former desert to be irrigated with water from its reservoir, enabling year-round cultivation.
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Mounted temporarily by Curzon with 3,000 troops to counter Russian ambitions. 1904 treaty barred Tibet from ceding territory or allowing foreign agents without British consent.
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July 1905. Curzon attempted to divide Bengal into west (Hindu) and east (Muslim), creating uproar among primarily Hindu elites. Implemented press censorship to try and limit opposition. Symbolic and economic grievances (leased land to peasants in east Bengal), saw it as payback for criticisms. Led to boycotts (swadeshi movement) and protests led by Banerjee (2x president of INC). Split the INC between extremists and moderates and created religious tension. Curzon had to resign in Aug 1905.
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Implemented reforms in 1909 to appease Bengalis: support from 1906 Liberal govt sec of state for India Morley. Democratic reforms e.g. Indian Councils Act 1909
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Muslim elite had supported the partition of Bengal, formed AIML to safeguard rights of Muslims. Decades of divide-and-rule had worsened religious tensions. 1913: adopted self-govt for India as its goal after reunion of Bengal. Hindu/Muslim division used to justify British control- only means of avoiding religious conflict.
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Some educated Indian representatives were allowed to sit on provincial councils, though India was explicitly denied self-government.
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Enabled 27 Indians to be elected from provincial constituencies to the Viceroy's Council. Held on a narrow franchise, reps often chosen by British but provided greater Indian participation. Further reform in 1910 meant that 135 Indians secured seats in enlarged provincial councils.
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Reunited Bengal. Moved capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi to undermine revolutionary Hindu groups. Began building New Delhi. Declared war on India's behalf in Aug 1914 without consulting representatives or the public. Mostly accepted/supported the war effort (nearly 1.3m served) but hoped for a 'new deal' after the war.
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Hardinge used visit of King-Emperor George V to India used as an opportunity to reunite Bengal. Grand celebratory durbar held covering 20 square miles. Viceroy's camp alone cost the equivalent of £2m in todays terms. George V laid foundation stone of New Delhi
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