British rule in India lasted for about 200 years, ending in 1947 when the British transferred power to the Indians in a peaceful manner, leaving behind a rich legacy.

The most important legacy of British rule was the unification of India, which was brought about by British imperialism, enabling the people of India to think as one nation.

Before the arrival of the English, the South of India was usually separated from the rest of India, except for brief intervals.

Prof. Moon states that “British Imperialism in India gave her a political unity under a third party in spite of the many discordant elements in Indian society.”

The entire country came under the governance of a Central Government, with provincial governments serving as agents to carry out the orders of the Central Government.

However, the unity created by the British was not a complete one, as India was divided into British India and non-British India, with the latter ruled by Indian Princes, Chiefs, and estate-holders.

Despite the emergence of a strong nationalist movement, the people in the States remained separate, requiring efforts from leaders like Sardar Patel to integrate them into the Union of India.

The British also created invidious distinctions, which contributed to divisions within Indian society. They recruited soldiers for the Indian army mainly from the so-called martial races, aiming to recruit those loyal to British rule.

In public services, the British showed preference to certain groups, including Muslims, Anglo-Indians, Europeans, and certain castes or sub-castes among the Hindus.

Starting from 1909, separate representation was granted to Muslims, Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, Indian Christians, and Europeans, with not only separate representation but also weightage in their representation.

These policies were designed to keep these groups separate from the mainstream of national life.

As a result, the unity that the British created in India was not solid, and it ultimately led to the partition of the country in 1947.