Goodbye Mother India: When The British Left India, 1947 Photo
A 1947 photograph captures the moment the British bid farewell to Mother India. Some British soldiers are seen departing Indian shores aboard a warship — perhaps for the final time. The scene, likely photographed off the Bombay (now Mumbai) coast, appears to faintly show the outlines of the iconic Taj Hotel and the Secretariat building.
It marked the end of an era that had begun centuries earlier. When the East India Company arrived seeking trade, it eventually settled down to govern the country. The British first arrived at the port of Surat, where they established a trading post in 1608. Over time, additional trading posts were set up along both the west and east coasts of India.
Robert Clive emerged as the first British administrator of Bengal after defeating the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Seven years later, the British consolidated their power further by winning the Battle of Buxar in 1764. Robert Clive’s actions played a pivotal role in transforming the East India Company from a mere trading enterprise into a territorial power. In 1772, Calcutta was declared the capital of British India, with Warren Hastings appointed as the first Governor-General.
Over time, the British steadily consolidated their control across the Indian subcontinent. A turning point came with the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ultimately led to the dissolution of the East India Company’s rule. India was then placed under the direct control of the British Crown. From 1858 to 1947, the British ruled India directly. However, British presence in India stretched far longer, beginning in 1608 when they first arrived as traders. Altogether, they remained for over three centuries. The final withdrawal of British troops took place between 1947 and 1948. A poignant reminder of the end of the British Raj is captured in this small photograph, curiously titled “Goodbye Mother India.”
Did you know – after 1857, the post of “Governor-General” was replaced by the title “Viceroy.”
Past posts – Glimpses of India Unique Art Collection Book, By S G Thakur Singh.
