May 2, 1876
The Indian Daily
The Freedom Fight
by Emily Shine
As of yesterday Queen Victoria declared the title of Empress of India to her regalty. This reinforces the idea that India is still under the control of the British. The definition of freedom is the ability to determine action without a limit.(1) For more than 100 years now this definition in our country of India has not held true and our culture has been imposed on by the British. We have had to cope with the death, despair and humiliation that the British have forced on our people in the name of their colonization and expansion.
Our country has dealt with the racism that the British have towards us in using our country for the financial well- being of their people. They have no concern for our deprivation of freedom. This freedom that the British value for themselves is neglected to be demonstrated in our country.
When helping their financial well-being, they do not care about the increased cost in our country for their colonialism and the adjusting we have to do.
Since the transistion from the British East India Company control to the British government our traditional practice of religion, the foundation of our army, and our honor is progressively being restored; however, we still do not have our full independence (2).
Since that day of transition on November 1, 1858, the day the Proclamation was made, we hoped that the British might slowly retreat from India. However, as shown yesterday, May 1, 1876, Parliament added the title of Empress of India to Queen Victoria's royalty(3). This should be a position that should be held to monarchs in India.
Britain is trying to stay ahead of our country because they are afraid of our rebellious nature, which we have already illuminated during The Sepoy Rebellion.
The British are trying to secure their control so that the foundation of their imperial rule will not be shaken up again. We have seen in recent years that Britain is strongly trying to strengthen their efficiency in maintaining order and keeping a peaceful bond with our nation(4). They believe that by ceasing to obstruct our customs they can reign in our country and continue to benefit from our economy.
Although we do have some of our religious practices and some of our dignity back, when hearing that Queen Victoria is the new Empress of India, it conveys the meaning that we do not have full independence. We need to keep fighting for this right and come together to stop this empire!
Even if Britain does have some sympathy for our society, it cannot be denied that their main obligation is to their country's status as a world power. In taking the position of Empress of India, Britain has showed the Indian population that their imperial rule is their top priority and their standards of administration in India has not be abolished. In reality, now that they have this position in our society, it implies that they have no plans to leave and they are more deeply involved.
India needs to take the fight in becoming independent from Britain to the next level, and stop the spread of imperialism in our country. We need to find a powerful leader who can stop the British and unify our country. As long as were present in this world, we will fight for our freedom!
Footnotes:
1. “Top Web Results for “Freedom” (2006). Available from: Dictionary.com <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freedom> (accessed 5 December 2006).
2. Michael Edwards, The Horizontal History of the British Empire (Nederland: Paul Gottlieb, 1973), 172.
3. Encyclopedia Britannica Online, Academic Ed, s.v. “British Imperial Power, 1858-1947.” Available from: Encyclopedia Britannica, Menlo School Lib. <http://library.menloschool.org> (accessed 7 December 2006).
4. Karl de Schweinitz Jr., The Rise & Fall of British India (New York: Methuen & Co., 1983), 177.
Images:
1. Gal. Oriental Art, "Indian Servants Attending to a British Woman" (image), 1996. Available from: British Rule of India <http://www.kamat.com/database/content/british_raj/bri_india02.htm> (accessed 8 December 2006).
2. "Queen Victoria as Empress of India" (image), Available from: bbc.co.uk <http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/sceptred_isle/page/163.shtml?question=163> (accessed 5 December 2006).