When The British Left India, Old Photo 1947
An old 1947 photo when the British left India. A poignant scene of British soldiers leaving the shores of India on a ship for the final time. The photo was probably taken of the coast of Bombay. Since the faint outlines of the Taj Hotel and Secretariat seem to be visible on closer inspection. The East India Company came calling for commerce but in time settled down to govern the vast country.
They arrived first at the port of Surat and established a trading post in 1608. In succession, more trading posts In succession, more trading posts were opened on the west and east coasts. Robert Clive was the first British administrator of Bengal. He defeated the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-Ud-Daulah, in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Seven years later the British won the Battle of Buxar.
Robert Clive’s actions helped transform the company from a trading concern into a territorial power. Calcutta then became the capital of British India in 1772. With Warren Hastings as its first Governor-General. Increasingly, the British began to cement their control over the whole of India. In a major shift, the Indian Rebellion of 1857 brought to an end the rule of the East India Company for good.
Which placed India under the direct control of Great Britain. Thus the British Crown ruled India directly from 1857 to 1947 in a period of 89 years. From 1608 to 1947 the British in effect stayed back for over 300 years. The last contingent of the troops marched out of India from 1947 to 1948 for the final time. One of the farewells of the British Raj is seen in this small-sized photo. Although a little oddly titled as “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., Air-India Durbar Of The Rajah Of Travancore – Old Postcard., Nizam Of Hyderabad Asaf Jah VI, 1889 Print., Vintage Photo Cochin State Forest Tramway 1919.
