India, before gaining independence in 1947, was ruled by multiple rulers from around the world for over 800 years. The Pathan, Mughals, Portuguese, French, Dutch, and finally, the British all had their turn ruling what was not a single country, but an integration of over 500 princely states. Different rulers captured and ruled different parts of the country at different points in time. Out of all these rulers, the British had the most significant impact, both financially and mentally. Even after 75 years of independence, India still grapples with the remnants of the colonial mindset. When comparing the British with other European powers such as the French and Portuguese, it becomes clear that the latter only had a limited impact in India, conquering smaller portions like Pondicherry and Goa.
This raises the question of what the British did differently that allowed them to colonise such a diverse country like India, rule it for an extended period, and create maximum impact. Recently, while reading the book The Theft of India by Roy Maxham, I gained some interesting perspectives on this topic, giving some answers. Before that, let us understand what made India an attractive destination for the rules from the West.
India’s abundant vegetation and fertile land for agriculture make it a blessed land. The main five rivers of India, including Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Indus, and Godavari, had fertile riverbanks where a wide range of spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves were grown. These spices had a unique aroma and taste that made them highly attractive to people from the West, who were motivated to journey towards India and establish their rule.
In the past, sea travel was the primary mode of transport used to reach India. However, the journey was highly risky due to unpredictable weather conditions and the presence of sea pirates who would rob the travellers of their valuable items. Despite these risks, the journey was still worthwhile as the traders could earn 10X ROI by selling the spices in their own country. This lure of profit was one of the main driving forces that motivated foreign traders to undertake the risky journey to India.
Now, let us look into 5 ways in which the British were different from others:
1. Organizational Structure:
Unlike the Portuguese and other European powers who sought to establish their power through conquest, the British established the East India Company in 1600. This was an organization with stakeholders, a well-defined organizational structure, and established procedures and processes. The East India Company managed its finances in a very cautious manner, with clear reporting about how funds were used. They sponsored sea voyages taken by various sailors, factoring in all the risks and mitigating them by creating multiple voyages so that the failure of one didn’t bring down the whole system.
The success of one voyage could more than make up for the losses of others. This approach to investment is similar to modern-day startup investments by venture capital firms. The East India Company’s stakeholder-based model was unique and allowed for a more sustainable approach to establishing power and influence in India.
2. Establishing Port Cities:
The second way in which the British were different from others is that they established their business in multiple port cities across the coast such as Chennai, Kolkata, Machilipatnam, Karachi, Surat, and others. This was a much more systematic approach compared to the French and Portuguese who focused on specific areas like Pondicherry and Goa. Additionally, the East India Company’s initial goal was to establish a business base in coastal cities rather than conquering or winning over local rulers, unlike the French and Portuguese. This gave the British a broader base to leverage later for colonization and capturing the entire landscape.
3. Local Understanding:
Third, The East India Company’s business representatives had a different approach compared to the French and Portuguese. After establishing their trade in one of the port cities, they travelled extensively into the mainland, which allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the people, their culture, and the problems between adjacent princely states. This knowledge helped the British to adopt a divide and conquer approach later. In contrast, the French and Portuguese were content with the land they had conquered and did not venture deeper into the mainland. One reason for this could be the fact that the East India Company was a business organization, while the others were mainly ruled by kings.
4. Business than Warfare:
The fourth way in which the British differed from other colonists was their initial focus on business rather than warfare. The East India Company saw India as a lucrative opportunity for trade and profit, and it was only after seeing the returns on their investments that they began to harbour ambitions of establishing a colony. The wealth that some of the Company’s members accumulated through their business ventures in India allowed them to wield considerable power, even rivalling that of some government officials. The pivotal Battle of Plassey in 1757 marked the beginning of almost two centuries of British rule in India. In contrast, the Portuguese and French were mainly interested in acquiring small pieces of land and did not have a long-term strategy like the East India Company.
5. Global Colonial Model:
Finally, the British had grander aspirations of global domination, and through multiple iterations and refinement, they developed what became known as the colonial model. By establishing multiple colonies across the world, they could leverage each one for specific benefits. For instance, they could take advantage of the abundant manpower in India and transport them to other colonies such as Africa or the Caribbean, where they were often forced into labour to benefit the British economy. This approach was markedly different from that of other rulers in India who did not have such an expansive and coordinated strategy.
Conclusion
The British’s methods and tactics during their colonisation of India were distinctive, enabling them to effectively impose their authority and make a significant impact. With ambitions of global dominance, they employed a well-coordinated strategy across their various colonies. Even 75 years after India gained its independence, the cultural and psychological effects of colonisation remain difficult to fully comprehend and overcome. It has proven challenging to move beyond the legacy left by the British in India, but it is our hope that as Indians, we can eventually achieve the recognition and success we truly deserve.
