History Summarized: Colonial India

Indian History has always been a story of Peoples coming and going, but the subcontinent's modern history takes that up to 11, with the arrival of Central Asian Mughals and boatloads of Europeans. See how India transforms from Medieval to Modern in this final act of our History of India.

SOURCES & Further Reading: "The Discovery of India" by Jawaharlal Nehru, “A History of India” by Michael H. Fisher (a lecture series by The Great Courses).

Our content is intended for teenage audiences and up.

Special thanks to Anthony Alighieri for coaching me through my (hopefully serviceable) pronunciations!

[mm-gzhq]

The slavery in India is often forgotten, and people don't even realise that transported Indian slavery was ongoing past 1838 and it was under the term "indentured labour" but it was still the conditions of slavery, starvation and whippings.

[thevoidlookspretty]

Britain: We fight for democracy!
India: SINCE WHEN?

[MazaAzi]

Britain: the "everything changed when the fire nation attacked" of earth

[ksheirajharishankar]

"The Sun never set upon the British empire, for even God could not trust the British in the dark."

[Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

Fun Fact, the Trade Federation tried to do the exact same thing to Naboo that the East India Company did to India. It was a powerful cooperation that tried to control and manipulate the foreign -land- planet through dubious legal means so it could reap the financial benefits.

The Trade Federation even used the the division between the humans and gungans to its advantage, just like how the East India Company played the Indian against each other. Lucky for Naboo, they had Jedi Knight like me around to keep them safe. India, I'm sorry to say, was not so fortunate.

[kjjk]

East India Company:
"The starvation will continue untill profit improves."
Spanish Flu:
"You guys really need to revolt, the elites do NOT care about you! Allow me to *demonstrate."*

[danielduvernay]

I love how Blue is doing the History of India just to force Red into doing the Mahabharata.

[frodoswaggins]

“Ok. If Britain doesn’t get the hell out of India, I’m going to starve myself in public.”
“Wow, that worked?”

[dayalasingh]

My great grandfather was a freedom fighter against the British, he wrote literature against them and was imprisoned 3 times for completely peaceful protests. Apparently the cell was 1 metre by 1 metre. Also his name was Avatar which is the coolest thing ever.

[Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

Babur's son died after falling down a steep slight of stairs? I shouldn't be surprised, his _fall_ was clearly caused by the immense power of the High Ground and that is not a power to be underestimated!

[cheezemonkeyeater]

Colonial India can be summarized with one sentence I heard in a podcast: "You'd think at some point the 'Honorable' East India Trading Company would realize that the people needed to be left some food in order not to starve to death, but no, they never realized this."

Oh, you aren't just talking about the colonialism of the British Empire. Seriously, though, the EITC is the clearest example of why you don't let corporations seize power.

[k.g.donathan]

Blue: "The Maratha empire."
Dyslexic Brain: "Martha."
Me: "I don't think-"
Dyslexic Brain: "Martha."

[srainya]

“it might come as a shock to you, but India is *LARGE*”

really? hadn’t heard.

[ishika]

learning about colonial history has always felt very personal to me because my great grandfather was a freedom fighter - he had part of his cheek taken off by bullet in a scuffle and was imprisoned for about 7 years. I didn't know him very well, but whenever i read more about history i feel like i get to know him.

[rajansinghnandrha]

Britain when they see their history:
"Are we the bad guys?"
Also Britain: "Na, we killed and oppressed a load of ppl but its fine we built a couple trains"

[imyoubutbalder]

As an Irishman, I offer solidarity with India for their distinct hatred of the English. Look, we even have the same colors on our flags! 🇮🇪🇮🇳

[orionsbonk]

“World War II: Deutschland Boogaloo” KILLED me. i’m commenting from beyond the veil

[theoldman]

Britain: India is no longer profitable what to do? I guess we will give them freedom. *leaves as fast as possible*
India: has a semester to create a government.

[LilerArt]

All I can say is as an Indian-American it's awesome to hear about the history I was only taught in my own home and not at school. Pronunciations were honestly the best I've heard from a non-indian so good job Blue! Also, as a "fun fact" side note, the partition and creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh was not as long ago as one might think. To put it into perspective, my own grandmother was 8 or 9 when it occurred. She, and her family were forced to flee and amidst all the chaos she ended up losing track of them, only to run into an uncle in a refugee camp on the other side months later who reconnected her with her family.

[tusharbehera]

I always find it odd when British people see Churchill with stary eyes and view him as this great leader. When in reality his hands are soaked with the bloods and oppression of indians. I guess war makes any kind of leader a great one no wonder leaders are still practicing that tactics.