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British divide and rule tactics from "summary" of India's Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra,Mridula Mukherjee,Aditya Mukherjee,K N Panikkar,Sucheta Mahajan
The British employed a deliberate strategy of fostering divisions within Indian society to maintain their control over the country. This policy was not a random or sporadic one, but a carefully thought-out plan that played on existing fault lines in Indian society. By exploiting religious, regional, and caste differences, the British were able to weaken any potential united resistance against their rule. One of the key ways in which the British implemented this divide and rule tactic was through their administrative policies. They often favored one group over another, granting privileges and positions to certain sections of society while excluding others. By creating a sense of competition and rivalry among different groups, the British were able to ensure that no single group could challenge their authority effectively. Religious divisions were particularly exploited by the British. They played on the historical tensions between Hindus and Muslims, exacerbating these differences for their own benefit. By creating separate electorates for different religious communities, the British further deepened these divisions and prevented the emergence of a unified nationalist movement. The British also manipulated caste identities to their advantage. They used the census and administrative systems to categorize and classify different caste groups, creating a hierarchy that reinforced existing social inequalities. By pitting different caste groups against each other, the British were able to maintain their control and prevent any unified opposition to colonial rule. Regional differences were another tool in the British arsenal of divide and rule tactics. By playing off the interests of different regions against each other, the British were able to prevent the emergence of a pan-Indian nationalist movement. They exploited regional rivalries and conflicts to sow discord and prevent any unified resistance to their rule.- The British divide and rule tactics were a sophisticated and insidious strategy aimed at maintaining their control over India. By exploiting religious, regional, and caste divisions, the British were able to weaken any potential challenges to their authority and prolong their colonial rule. This policy of divide and rule had lasting effects on Indian society, creating deep-seated divisions that continue to impact the country to this day.
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