The Consequences of an oppressive British Imperialist system and its effect on the psyche of the Indian Population

Presented by: Renato Abate / #0530456

Presented to: Diane Labross

300-301-LA: Integration Seminar in the Social Sciences

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007
The existence of vast imperial strength and its steady maintenance has always been attributed with a tyrannical system of government accompanied by an oppressive method of control over the native population from the days of expansion of the Roman Empire in Europe or the Qing Dynasty in China. The use of excessive force and the application of various methods of segregation which limit revolt have always been viewed as a necessary means to maintain order among enormous populations that inhabit regions all over the globe. The British Empire was able to utilize such methods during its extensive domination of the Indian subcontinent and reap the financial and material benefits from the mid seventeenth century with the founding of the East India Trading Company until the establishment of Indian independence in 1947. However, the use of these methods over many generations brought about the unified will to revolt among the Indian population, provoked by the negative psychological strain which stems from an extensive period of suppression.
The discussion relates to the unvarying inability of an occupying nation to install a foreign government that attempts to preserve social stability over native inhabitants through means of force, violence and discrimination. The establishment of the British Raj in India ultimately produced dismayed sentiment among a native population and created a strong will to revolt which ultimately led to Indian secession and Britain’s collapse as an imperial world power. Therefore, the British Empire could no longer maintain its unremitting dominance over colonial India nor