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| British divide and rule policy In 1857 Indians revolted against the British. Indians call it the first battle of independence while from the British angle it was a sepoy mutiny. It was triggered by the introduction of cartridges containing beef and pork among the Indian soldiers working for the British. The former was prohibited in the Hindu religion and latter in Islam. The uprising was more or less restricted to the Hindi speaking regions of North and Central India. Punjabis (Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims), Sindhis, Gujaratis, Gorkhas, South Indians etc remained more or less neutral. One reason for Punjab's silence was the same Hindi speaking belt had earlier helped the British against the Sikh kingdom in Punjab and led to its fall. Punjab was among the few regions in India which was able to restrain the British. During the uprising Indians made rapid gains initially and much barbarity was shown against the English. But the English were able to suppress with a heavy hand. Both Hindus and Muslims took part in the uprising but Muslims were in the forefront. Hence after 1857 the British divide and rule policy was pro Hindu and anti Muslim. As a result Hindus made rapid gains economically, politically, educationally and socially. Muslims on the other hand slowly lost all the power and wealth they had accumulated during their rule in India. Muslims, though in minority, had been the rulers for many centuries before the British. British rule was a boon for Hindus as they ended the centuries old Muslim domination of India, united the country which was earlier hopelessly fragmented with the countless kings always at war with one another. And after 1857 Hindus were getting preferential treatment from the British at the expense of Muslims. But with the turn of the century the British changed its policy and started favoring Muslims and encouraging separatism. This again changed a few years before Independence with the arrival of Lord Mountbatten, who was more close to Nehru and Gandhi then Jinnah. The British after suffering heavy loses in the second world war knew that their colonial days were numbered. Most of the British colonies including India got independence after the second world war. The British had suggested some plans to keep India united but it was too late by then. Both Congress and Muslim League turned down the proposals. British left in a hurry in August 1947 leaving behind a divided country and a brutal civil war. With Punjab and Bengal witnessing worst rioting and huge exchange of civilian population. |
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