19th and 20th Century: The Growth of the British Empire

This section explores Indian Trade in the 19th and 20th Century, including the role of The East India Company and the Growth of the British Empire. In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted the East India Company a royal charter, giving it a monopoly on English trade with East Asia. This significant move marked the beginning of a powerful commercial venture that would profoundly influence the development of the British Empire. The company was initially made up of 218 merchants, who established trading posts across India and other parts of Asia. In return for valuable goods, such as spices, jewels, and fine cloth, they traded European commodities, including silver and textiles. The wealth generated from these activities made India one of Britain’s most important trading partners during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Competition and Military Power

The East India Company faced intense competition from other European powers, particularly the Dutch, Portuguese, and French, all of whom sought to control the lucrative trade routes in the Indian Ocean. To protect its interests and maintain its dominance, the Company employed a large private army, which was used both to safeguard its trading posts and to engage in military campaigns against local Indian rulers and rival European traders. This led to a significant military presence in India, where the Company acted almost like a colonial government, exerting control over vast territories.

The British military presence in India was also a response to the internal dynamics of the region. Throughout the 18th century, Indian princes often engaged in conflicts with one another over territorial control, and the East India Company exploited these divisions to expand its own power. In some cases, the Company aligned itself with certain princes, offering them military support in exchange for economic and political favours.

The Decline of the East India Company and the Rise of Direct British Rule

By 1858, the power of the East India Company was severely weakened, particularly after the Great Rebellion of 1857 (also known as the Indian Mutiny). The rebellion was a large-scale uprising by Indian soldiers, or sepoys, who had been serving in the British East India Company's army. The mutiny was sparked by a variety of factors, including resentment over British policies, economic hardship, and cultural tensions. The rebellion marked a significant turning point in British rule in India, leading to the dissolution of the East India Company.

In response to the rebellion, the British government took direct control of India, formally ending the East India Company’s rule. This event marked the beginning of the British Raj, a period of direct British colonial rule that lasted from 1858 until India’s independence in 1947. The Raj was characterised by the expansion of British influence across the Indian subcontinent, with a focus on infrastructure development, trade, and the establishment of British administrative systems.

The British ‘Rajas’: Men of Wealth and Influence

In the 18th and 19th centuries, many young Britons sailed to India in the hope of making their fortune. Some succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Thomas ‘Diamond’ Pitt, for example, was a British merchant who made a vast fortune from trading in India. He used his wealth to purchase a large estate back in England, and his son later became a prominent figure in British society. Similarly, Robert Clive, who played a key role in establishing British rule in India, made his fortune through military and administrative service. His success in India contributed to the British Empire’s growing power in Asia.

Thousands of Britons, including many women, travelled to India to either seek wealth or take up administrative roles under British rule. The British presence in India also saw the establishment of a significant expatriate community, with British families living in major cities such as Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Bombay (now Mumbai). Many women travelled to India to join their husbands, who were often officers in the British Army or employees of the East India Company.

The Migration of Indian Labourers: Connecting India with Africa

While Britain benefited enormously from its colonial presence in India, it also began to use the resources of India in other parts of its empire, particularly in Africa. As British colonies expanded in Africa, including South Africa, the demand for cheap labour to work in the mines and on various infrastructure projects grew. Many Indian workers, known as indentured labourers, were recruited to meet this demand.

In South Africa, British colonialists employed indentured Indian workers to labour in the gold and diamond mines. These workers signed contracts to work for a set number of years in return for their passage to Africa, where they were often subjected to harsh working conditions. The labour provided by these indentured workers helped fuel the growth of the South African economy, particularly in the mining industry.

One of the most notable examples of Indian labour being used outside India was the construction of the Uganda Railway in British East Africa (now Kenya). The British colonial authorities imported thousands of Indian labourers to work on the railway line, which was intended to connect the coastal city of Mombasa to the interior of East Africa. The work was grueling and dangerous, with many labourers dying from diseases such as malaria and from accidents during construction. However, the Indian workers who survived the project eventually settled in the region, contributing to the development of the East African economy.

Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, around 50,000 Indians migrated to British East Africa as part of this system of indentured labour. Over time, many of these workers and their descendants became integral to the local economies, particularly in trade and agriculture. Indian communities were established in cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kampala, and their cultural and economic influence remained strong in the region throughout the colonial period and beyond.

The Opening of the Suez Canal and Improved Connectivity

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 had a major impact on the movement of goods and people between Britain’s colonial territories in India and Africa. The Suez Canal reduced the travel time between Britain and India from several months to just six weeks, enabling quicker and more efficient trade between these vital colonies. This improved connectivity allowed Britain to more closely link its territories in Africa with those in India, facilitating the flow of goods, resources, and labour across the empire.

As a result, the British Empire's presence in both India and Africa became even more tightly intertwined. The migration of Indian labourers to Africa and the growing number of British administrators and businessmen working in both regions reflected the interconnected nature of Britain’s colonial system. The exploitation of both Indian and African labour helped sustain Britain’s wealth and influence across its vast empire.

Conclusion

The 19th and 20th centuries were pivotal periods in the history of Indian trade and British colonial expansion. The East India Company played a crucial role in establishing Britain’s presence in India and securing access to valuable goods. Over time, as British power grew, the British Raj took over, and India became an integral part of the British Empire. At the same time, the migration of Indian labourers to Africa, the development of infrastructure such as the Uganda Railway, and the opening of the Suez Canal all helped strengthen the connections between India and Africa, making Britain’s empire even more vast and interconnected. However, these colonial ventures were built on the exploitation of both Indian and African peoples, and their legacies are still felt in the modern world.