India in British Raj: A Brief History of British Colonisation (Paperback)

The first chapter contains a sketch of the past history of India, showing the perpetual state of warfare and the oppression which existed up to the time of the Mughal empire, and how little good government was enjoyed by the people during the latter period which that as represented by agitators as the Golden Age. The consolidation of the British Empire is hardly noticed since that is the most familiar period of Indian history, but a glimpse is given of the anarchy and misery which followed upon the break-up of the Mughal Empire and the predatory predominance of the Marathas. A brief account is then given of the land system of the British Government, showing how much more favorable to the landowner and cultivator, it is than that of its predecessors in the title, whose system, nevertheless, it closely follows. The constitution of the Government of India isexplained, its financial system, the policy pursued towardsthe native states and on the frontier, the causes and characterof the present unrest, and the connection therewithof the Hindu Congress, the character of the reforms suggestedby Mr. Morley and Lord Minto, and now underthe consideration of the local administration and of thegeneral public, are all fully set forth. A chapter follows on social reform, and the incidentally some account is given of the domestic life of the Indians, a fascinating subject, and a mirror, in many respects, of life in the pantheistic and polytheistic times, with which those are familiar, who read the classics in school. Athe final chapter deals with the economic conditions of thecountry, and the economic policy of the Government ofIndia.The work is avowedly and frankly written fromThe British point of view and this should be borne in mindwhile reading the author's most instructive account ofthe attitude of the English official mind towards the greatand important questions with which the English Governmenthas to deal in administering the affairs of the enormousagglomeration of different races, for the peace andsafety of which it is responsible. One of the greatest problems that have ever confrontedthe British Government is that with which it is now calledupon to deal in India. The spirit of unrest, the desirefor greater personal liberty, the desire to take part inthe Government has arisen in India and will not down. The assassin has already begun his work in an attemptto protest against conditions which are resented by manyof the natives. Only recently in London item, an English-Indian official was assassinated by a native "student."How this "new spirit" has been awakened and fosteredin India, and the attitude of England toward it, are dealtwithin this volume among many other matters. This is a question of vital interest, for the teeming millions of Indian may one day be threatening the peace of the whole world.