Ebook: The Politics of the British Annexation of India, 1757-1857

In one century (1757-1857), the English East India Company annexed over 60 per cent of the Indian sub-continent, containing over 75 per cent of its people. These annexations (some one million square miles) were heatedly debated at the time by Indian and British participants, and subsequently by historians. An analytic Introduction by the Editor, and thirteen Selections of letters and historical accounts (written variously at the time of the annexations, during the British Raj, or following Independence) lay out a range of perspectives on both the process and consequences of this expansive imperialism. The Introduction presents an historical overview of the patterns of annexation. It considers the various changing British ideologies and conflicting policies toward the Indian states, particularly concerning annexation. This survey also delineates the dimensions of the annexations: the rate of annexation in different periods, and the succession of geographical regions in which it occurred. It analyses the situations and actions of Indians as well as Britons, showing how the Indian states, and classes and individuals within Indian society, had decisive parts in shaping British expansion. The Selections are by British and Indian participants and scholars. The annexations of Bengal (with Bihar and Orissa), Tamil Nadu (the Carnatic), Kerala (Malabar), Uttar Pradesh (including Agra and Awadh/Oudh), Sind, and Jhansi are each the subject of one or more Selections. Robert Clive, the Duke of Wellington, and the Rani of Jhansi each present their dissonant voices. Later historians assert clashing political, economic, and moral explanations for the annexations, and the reasons the British could accomplish them. For the British and other European empires, annexation of Asian, American, or African territory followed or varied from the patterns represented in this volume. While overt unilateral annexation of territory from another state has become politically unpalatable to most nations in the world today, such annexations continue (c.f. the international community's response to Iraq's attempted 'annexation' of Kuwait). Thus this volume presents students and scholars of Indian or British history, European colonial expansion, or international relations with rich source material.