- What was the impact on government and society?
- After 1858, relations between Indians and British were soured, especially as British portrayed Indians as ‘savages’ in need of civilisation.
- Viceroy Canning between 1859-61 made exhaustive tour of India to win back those feeling disposed. Some land and titles were returned to natives, Star of India medals introduced and positions in Imperial Assembly or Statutory Civil Service were shared amongst Indian nobility.
- Indian Raj was meant to be administered under ‘fairness’ however ultimately favoured white man. Legal systems were too complex and expensive to help poor, especially in regards to land. Some wealthy Indians supported the Raj but it didn’t benefit peasants.
- Jobs in Civil Service were never beyond ranks of colonial bureaucracy and only offered to wealthy Indians.
- What was the impact on education?
- Supposed ‘equality of opportunity’ favoured wealthy Indians in education institution. Illiteracy prevailed among peasants.
- Universities established in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta in 1857. Elite schools like Rajkumar College, Mayo College and Bombay’s Cathedral School set up to produce ‘Westernised Oriental Gentlemen’ (where the term ‘wogs’ comes from).
- After 30 years following 1857, around 60,000 Indians entered universities, mainly studying Arts with 2000 studying Law.
- 1/3 of Calcutta students graduating by 1882 entered government service. Slightly more went into legal profession. Graduates of 3 universities accounted for around 1100 appointments to government service.
- Social reformer Mary Carpenter visited India 4 times between 1886-1875. Helped establish a corps of British teachers for India and girls’ schools in Bombay and Ahmedabad and college to train female Indian teachers.
- What was the impact on the economy?
- Railways, though built for strategic reasons to affirm British rule and control across India through transporting personnel and soldiers, benefitted India economically. The British mainly employed Anglo-Indians and Christian Indians who were regarded as loyal to the Raj to run railways, which increased jobs.
- Some European-style factories built however since bulk of manufactured goods came from Britain, there was no heavy industry. India was unable to develop industries of its own as it once did.
- Tea plantations increased from 1 in 1851 → 295 in 1871.
- Domestic production of raw cotton exported to Britain increased in 1880s and 1890s.
- Subsistence farming prevailed.
- Jobs were provided in the civil service, police, army and as clerks.
- British offered markets for Indian agricultural products, however only for products that were high yielding, like rye, barley and coarse rice. India became dependent on imports and food imports and consumption per head declined.
- What was the impact on attitudes of the British?
- British believed rule was liberating for Indians.
Whig reformist T.B. Macauley believed educating Indians to ensure they became ‘English in taste, in opinions, in morals’ justified British domination.