Question

Explain the policy of ‘Divide and Rule' adopted by the British

Answer 1

Divide and Rule" policy is the policy under which the rulers divide people in small groups, so they cannot rebel against the state. These policies were followed by many European states in order to colonize developing or underdeveloped countries. The British used the same policy in India.

The East India Company used the "Divide and Rule" in order to segregate the Indians on the basis of economic, religious, social and political differences. They knew that India was full of resources and they wanted to limit the benefit to themselves. Hence, they divided the kings/princes of states by imposing policies that only protected the rulers, not the people. 

As a result, the kings/princes handed over the states to the British as gratitude. They signed policies by which the British gained power in their state. The British started by establishing the trading company in India but directly ruled over it from 1858-1947. 

Answer 2

Divide and Rule policy was a policy of the British in which they sowed the seeds of hatred among communities of Hindus and Muslims so that we could not be united and strong enough to fight with the British .

Why did they adopt the policy ?

They adopted the policy so that they can easily administer our country .

They can easily extract resources and exploit us .

The Muslim and Hindu unity was their strongest enemy.

Their unity brought about the First War of Independence .

Hence they resorted to this policy.

How did they implement the Divide and Rule Policy ?

They implemented the Divide and Rule Policy by the following ways :

• The British Government portrayed the Muslims as plunderers to the Hindus.
• They portrayed Hindu rulers as cruel kings to the Muslim subjects .
• They tried to justify that Bengal was partitioned for creating Muslim majority.
• They gave special aid to Muslim madarsas .
• They tried to spread communal hatred through literature.
• They spread communal hatred through the press .
• They tried to take advantage of the caste system.