What does the phrase 'divide and rule' mean? Give examples of how this was used by the British in India?
The phrase 'divide and rule' refers to a political strategy where a ruling power maintains control by creating divisions among the governed population, preventing them from uniting against the ruler.
The British used this strategy in multiple ways in India. First, they cultivated political relationships with local rulers, offering military support to some against their rivals, thus inserting themselves into Indian political conflicts and emerging as power brokers.
Second, they played on rivalries between regional rulers or succession disputes within ruling houses to benefit from these conflicts.
Third, they identified and often encouraged tensions between religious communities.
The Battle of Plassey (1757) exemplifies this approach: Robert Clive conspired with Mir Jafar, the Nawab of Bengal's military commander, promising to install him as the new Nawab in exchange for his betrayal, ensuring British victory despite their smaller numbers.
The Doctrine of Lapse and subsidiary alliances were other stratagems that exploited internal divisions to annex territories and control princely states without direct military conquest.
Explanation
The chapter explains the 'divide and rule' strategy in 'ENTER THE BRITISH': 'The strategy of 'divide and rule' — While maintaining an appearance of traders, the Company's agents cultivated political relationships with local rulers, offering military support to some against their rivals, thus inserting themselves into Indian political conflicts and emerging as power brokers rather than foreign invaders. They would also play on rivalries between regional rulers or succession disputes within ruling houses, so as to benefit from these conflicts — the 'divide and rule' policy. The British were equally skilled at exploiting existing divisions within Indian society: they identified and often encouraged tensions between religious communities, for instance.' The Battle of Plassey example is detailed with the Mir Jafar conspiracy.
Solution Steps
Definition: 'Divide and rule' is a political strategy where a ruling power creates divisions among the governed to prevent unified opposition
British cultivated political relationships with local rulers, offering military support to emerge as power brokers
British exploited rivalries between regional rulers and succession disputes within ruling houses
British identified and encouraged tensions between religious communities
Battle of Plassey (1757) example: Robert Clive conspired with Mir Jafar to betray the Nawab of Bengal
Doctrine of Lapse and subsidiary alliances exploited internal divisions for territorial annexation