British Expansion of India

The British East India Company was a joint-stock company established in 1600, which ruled India using a commercial-military enterprise from 1757 to 1859. The Company’s first ship docked at Surat port in present-day Gujarat in 1608. The Company started its first factory in present-day Andhra Pradesh in 1613. Company rule in India began after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 when it dethroned Bengal’s Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah. Following the Battle of Buxar, the expansion of British rule in India gained momentum.

British in India (1700-1750)

India became the focal point of British trade between the later half of the 17th and mid-18th centuries. The East India Company was given a monopoly of all English trade to Asia by a royal grant at its inception in 1600. The trade of cotton textile was paramount in India for the East India Company. The Company set its main settlements in Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, where cotton textile was most readily available for export. Hence, these areas turned into major commercial towns, with Indian merchants and artisans setting up their bases to do business with the East India Company.

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​​British expansion in India (1751-1900)

The territorial expansion of the British in India came about through bloody battles and strategic policies. Starting from the Battle of Plassey to the annexation of Punjab in 1849, the British spread its rule over the entire Indian subcontinent. Some of their methods, for example, Subsidiary Alliance, Policy of Paramountcy, and the Doctrine of Lapse helped them expand and consolidate their empire in India.

Expansion under Lord Wellesley (1798–1805) 

Lord Wellesley came to India in 1798 when Britain and France were amidst a severe power struggle in Europe. Lord Wellesley realised that the time was apt to establish political control over India as the strong empires—Mysore and Marathas—were declining in power. To achieve this aim, Wellesley relied on three methods: First, Subsidiary Alliances; Second, war; Third, assuming the territories of formerly subordinated rulers.

Under the subsidiary alliance system, the ruler of a state who would ally with the British power would be compelled to station a British force in his state and pay for its maintenance. The East India Company troops would, in turn, protect the state and its ruler. Still, the ulterior motive was to eventually gain control over the territory when the ruler would be left with no resources to pay for the force.

Besides maintaining an army, the ruler will not employ any European in the kingdom without British approval and will not negotiate with another Indian ruler. In return, the British would safeguard their territory without interfering in their internal affairs.

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Expansion under Lord Hastings (1813-22)

Lord Hastings became the Governor-General from 1813 to 1823. Under the new expansionist policy for territorial expansion in India, the Policy of Paramountcy was introduced. Under this, the East India Company claimed to have complete or paramount authority and became the supreme law that justified the annexations of any Indian territory to protect its interest.

The annexation of the Maratha territory was justified under the Policy of Paramountcy. The defeat of Marathas in the Second Anglo-Maratha War caused a great deal of anguish and pain among the Maratha rulers. They regrouped and made a last attempt to gain independence and lost glory in 1817.

The Anglo-Sikh wars 

Later, the Anglo-Sikh struggle, i.e., Sikh resistance against British expansionism, resulted in two Anglo-Sikh battles. The First Anglo-Sikh War between the Sikh community and the East India Company was fought in 1845-1846.

The Treaty of Lahore was also signed between the British and the Sikhs on 9 March 1846. In addition, controls were placed on the size of the Lahore army and thirty-six field guns were confiscated.

The Second Anglo-Sikh War took place in 1848 and 1849. The Sikhs were defeated in this war, and Punjab was annexed by the East India Company, which eventually became the North-West frontier province.

Lieutenant William Anderson and Patrick Vans Agnew were sent on 19th April 1848 to take charge of Multan from the Diwan Mulraj. They were murdered there, and Sikh troops started an open rebellion.

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Expansion under Lord Dalhousie (1848–56)

Lord Dalhousie became the Governor-General of India in 1848. He continued with the expansionist policy to extend British rule over larger territories in India. He was confident that the existing native states in India would soon cease to exist, as the oppressive administration of the native states would never be able to withstand the superior British administration.

The instrument of the annexation of native Indian states by Lord Dalhousie was the Doctrine of Lapse.

As per the Doctrine of Lapse, if a ruler of an unprotected state dies without a natural heir, the adopted heir cannot take over the throne, as was the tradition at that time. The kingdom will be annexed to the British dominions. The adopted heir can take over only if the adoption had been approved earlier by the British authorities. In 1848, the states of Satara and Nagpur were annxed, while Jhansi was annxed in 1854 under the Doctrine of Lapse. The ex-rulers also lost their pension rights, as their titles were not recognised anymore.

Conclusion

The territorial expansion of British rule in India during the 18th century laid the groundwork for the East India Company to gain larger profits from the rich natural and human resources of the subcontinent over the next two centuries. The expansionist policies adopted by the various Governor Generals made sure the control of Indian territories and subjugation of native rulers were done with precision. The British rule made its mark in India’s history like none other.