BRITISH RULED INDIA FOR 200 YEARS

 Firstly, British did not rule India for 200 years (or more).

It has been widely propagated that the British ruled India for 200 years. However, if we read history as it should be read, we will know that British actually ruled India for 90 years - from 1858 to 1947.

The British rule (Empire) took control of India in 1858. Prior to this, only a part of India (Bengal) was ruled by the EAST INDIA COMPANY (EIC) after their victory over the Nawab of Bengal - Siraj Ud Daulah i n 1757. But, it wasn’t a direct rule all through. EIC had its puppet on throne but not for long. EIC eventually took control and ruled directly. The BRitish crown had nothing to do with the rule - directly or indirectly.

Earlier, it was the East India Company, a trading company from England had trade links with India, and gradually it started exerting its influence across the various rulers in the Indian subcontinent through technology (the greatest influence was in finance and war machinery / armaments). Mostly, the weaker kingdoms and royalties sought assistance from EIC

British Conquest of India

Now, to the question posed - WHY did the British rule India?

Image and article: British Colonization of India

Why? Because, it was presented an opportunity on a platter, by the numerous rulers ruling small, medium sized and miniscule areas (like the so-called last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar) did. RUlers had little or no interest in uniting and fighting against an obvious enemy which was to become more influential and powerful with time. Their hugely inflated egos, appalling rule (in most cases), their lack of foresight / vision, their petty vested interests and desire to rule (through any means) led to the British (EIC, and later the Crown) stamping their authority and imposing its influence to rule.

We also have to remember that the Indian Subcontinent had hundreds of rulers, and thus it was divided. The unity came, but only partly, in 1857 when the princely states decided to fight against EIC only when their own rules were threatened, especially due to the controversial policy of Doctrine of Lapse. This policy was used as early as, and wherever possible, since 1834 by EIC.

image: painting of SIgning of the Doctrine of Lapse arrangement with rulers of the princely states

Then came the response - the Revolt of 1857, which failed miserably because, once again the princely states were divided. Many powerful rulers sided with the EIC for their petty interests. This led to the crushing of the revolt, and total control of EIC over Indian subcontinent.

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IN 1858, the British Crown took over and ruled India till 1947.

So, the fact is India was ruled by the British for 90 years, and Bengal for 190 years.