This book covers the crucial period in Indian history from approximately 1750 to 1857 — that transitional era in which pre-colonial polities, agrarian systems and indigenous economic/social frameworks underwent profound change, and the foundations of British colonial rule in India were firmly established. Key features include:

• A systematic narration of political developments: The decline of regional powers and the rise of the East India Company’s dominance; major battles, treaties, and alliances.

• A detailed account of socio‐economic transformations: Agrarian changes, land-revenue systems, the impact of trade and early industrial imports, and the processes of economic exploitation.

• Emphasis on indigenous responses and resistance: Peasant and tribal uprisings, local leadership, and the early stirrings of opposition to colonial rule.

• A theme of transition: How old social orders, cultural institutions and political dynamics shifted under colonial pressure; how traditional structures adapted (or failed to adapt) to new conditions.

• Use of both primary sources and historiographical perspectives: The book presents data and narrative along with interpretation, enabling the student to engage critically with the period.

• Designed for the CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) syllabus: Each unit aligns with the typical core‐paper structure of the 5th semester, offering clear learning outcomes, questions, and suggestions for further reading.

  UNIT 01: INDIA IN THE MID–18th CENTURY

  1.01 Society, Economy, Polity: Debates

  This section examines mid-18th century India just before the consolidation of British rule.
  Topics include:

  • The nature of Indian society: caste, community structures and regional variations.

  • Agrarian and rural economic patterns.

  • Urban centers, trade networks, artisanship, and decline of certain industries.

  • Debates among historians about whether mid-18th century India was truly in “decline” or only undergoing transition.

  1.02 Eighteenth Century Political Condition

  • Fragmentation of Mughal authority.

  • Rise of successor states: Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad, Mysore, Punjab, Marathas.

  • Changing military and administrative structures.

  • Political instability and competition between regional powers.

  1.02.01–1.02.04 European Settlements & Rivalries

  • Arrival, settlement and expansion of the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English.

  • Competition for trade routes and commercial privileges.

  • Carnatic Wars and the struggle for supremacy.

  • How European military technology and diplomacy shaped the political landscape.

  1.03 Expansion & Consolidation of Colonial Power

  • Early forms of extraction: revenue farming, monopoly of trade, and commercial profits.

  • Mercantilism and how British economic policy drained resources from India.

  • The establishment of administrative and military control after battles like Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764).

  • British expansion into Bengal, Mysore, Maratha territories, Awadh, Punjab and Sind.

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  UNIT 02: COLONIAL STATE AND IDEOLOGY

  2.01 Arms of the Colonial State

  • Army: recruitment patterns, transformation into a disciplined colonial force.

  • Police: establishment of surveillance systems to maintain colonial order.

  • Law: introduction of British laws, courts, and codified criminal and civil procedures.

  2.02 Ideologies of the Raj

  • Understanding how the British justified their rule.

  • Orientalism: early British admiration of Indian culture.

  • Utilitarianism: colonial “civilizing mission” — promoting law, order, and modernity.

  • Evangelicalism: missionaries, education, and social reforms driven by Christian ideology.

  • Racial superiority theories and their impact on administration.

  2.03 Indigenous Responses & Modern Education

  • Indian intellectual responses to British rule.

  • Rise of modern education, English-medium institutions, and early reformers.

  • Growth of new professions and middle classes.

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  UNIT 03: RURAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

  3.01 Land Revenue Systems and Forest Policy

  • Changes in land ownership and taxation.

  • Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, Mahalwari: structure, impact and regional variations.

  • Forest policies restricting traditional rights; displacement of forest communities.

  3.02 Commercialization and Indebtedness

  • Transformation from subsistence agriculture to cash-crop production.

  • Growth of moneylenders, rural credit crises, and indebtedness.

  3.03 Rural Society: Change and Continuity

  • How colonial policies reshaped caste, labour, and village institutions.

  • Resilience of traditional customs despite economic pressure.

  3.04 Famines

  • Causes of repeated famines under colonial rule.

  • The political economy of food insecurity.

  • Government failure and death tolls in major famines.

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  UNIT 04: TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  4.01 Deindustrialization

  • Decline of Indian handicrafts, especially textiles.

  • British policies that favoured machine-made imports.

  • Impact on artisans, weavers, and urban centres.

  4.02 Trade and Fiscal Policy

  • Colonial restrictions on Indian industries.

  • Tariffs, taxation, monopoly trading companies.

  4.03 Drain of Wealth

  • How India’s resources, revenue and profits were transferred to Britain.

  • Dadabhai Naoroji’s theory and economic critique of colonialism.

  4.04 Growth of Modern Industry

  • Beginnings of modern industry: jute, coal, cotton mills.

  • Role of Indian entrepreneurs and foreign capital.

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  UNIT 05: POPULAR RESISTANCE

  5.01 Tribal and Rural Rebellions

  Santhal Uprising (1855–57):

  • Causes: land alienation, exploitation by moneylenders, police and zamindars.

  • Leadership of Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.

  • Brutal suppression by colonial forces.

  Indigo Rebellion (1860):

  • Resistance of Bengal peasants to forced indigo cultivation.

  • Role of ryots, intellectuals and press.

  5.02 Agrarian Leagues and Peasant Revolts

  • Pabna Agrarian Leagues (1873): non-violent struggle against zamindari oppression.

  • Deccan Riots (1875): revolt of indebted peasants in Bombay Presidency.

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  5.03 The Revolt of 1857: Causes, Courses and Consequences

  5.03.01 Nature of the Revolt

  • Debate: First War of Independence or Sepoy Mutiny?

  • Combination of political, military, economic and cultural grievances.

  5.03.02 Causes

  • Cartridge controversy.

  • Annexation policies (Doctrine of Lapse).

  • Displacement of rulers, peasants, soldiers.

  • Cultural and religious interference.

  5.03.03 Course of the Revolt

  • Major centres: Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Bareilly.

  • Role of Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Saheb, Kunwar Singh, Bahadur Shah II.

  5.03.04 Causes of Failure

  • Lack of unified leadership.

  • Limited geographical spread.

  • Superior British resources.

  5.03.05 Consequences

  • End of East India Company rule.

  • Beginning of direct Crown rule.

  • Reorganization of army, administration and finances.

  5.03.06 Impact

  • Political awakening among Indians.

  • Rise of nationalist thought.

  5.03.07 Significance

  • Symbol of resistance against colonialism.

  • Inspiration for later national movements.

  5.03.08 Prominent Leaders

  • Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope, Bahadur Shah II, Kunwar Singh, Begum Hazrat Mahal.