The British Raj

The East India Company were by the mid-18th century effectively in control of most of India; but its administrators generally showed little concern for the welfare of the Indian people, nor were they interested in India’s culture or scholarship. As merchants their primary concern was profit; so they were happy to just trade with the various Indian rulers, and leave them largely still in control of the areas they ruled.

Unfortunately the East India Company proved to be both inefficient and corrupt, and in the 1850s the Crown took the control of India entirely away from them; beginning the British Raj that was to rule India until 1947. The Company had run India through three regional Presidencies, each of which had its own standing army. The Raj reorganised these armies into a single British Indian Army, whose personnel would play an important role in managing India’s military and civil affairs.

British ‘know-how’ and ‘best practice’ were seen as the answer to India’s undoubted economic and social problems; and the new administrators sought to push ahead with sweeping changes, imposing western values and ideas whatever the impact on India’s traditional culture and rural economy. India’s infrastructure was also modernised with new roads, railways, and canals; and the engineers of the British Indian Army would be heavily involved in their construction.

Unlike the East India Company the Raj would encourage closer relationships between the British and Indian communities, so native Indians did begin to have a greater voice in their country’s affairs. They still had little real power; but a new English educated Indian middle class began to develop, and they were to play a key role in India’s campaign for independence.

If you’d like to know more about us or how to join our Military Lodge simply click the contact us link and message us your details. We will be very happy to answer any enquiries you may have.