India has been independent for the past fifty years, but this freedom was long and difficult in coming. There were many conflicts and the British ruled in India for almost two hundred years. There is still some residual "Britishness" in India, especially in things like education and culture.
             When world trading began mercantilisitic Britain saw its big chance. They started this company called the English East India Company which controlled almost all trade in India. The East India Co. was like an independent country, even though it had strong political ties to the British government, and used its power to control most of India.
             During the middle of the eighteenth century, the French tried to take over part of India. With the help of the British government, the East India Co. fought off the French and then allowed them a few trading posts in the country. From these fights the Britain was able to gain even more land in India. British governmental policy was enforced in the trading company and the Hindus weren't strong enough to fight off the incoming Brits.
             Then the British took over India. Along the way there were many conflicts with the Indian people. Great Britain had a doctrine that said that the Company had the right to annex any territory that was not governed by a "born-in ruler", and according to this policy the British were annexing almost every territory!
             India was benefiting from the British though. They introduced things like railroads, roads, telegraphs, and postal services. The Indian people did not see things like this however, they looked at the British modernization with fear and distrust.
             There was a point in the British occupation that they passed an act called the Act for Better Government of India, that switched control of India from the East India Company to the British crown. This was a bad thing for the Indians who had been under lenient Company rule. At least under the Company'...