Why did the armies of the British East India Company – mostly comprising of Indian soldiers – win consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the then Indian rulers ? Give reasons. (Answer in 150 words) 10M

The British East India Company enlisted Indians in their army due to their familiarity with the local conditions. The Indians were willing to accept lower wages, resulting in reduced overall expenditure for the Company as compared to hiring British soldiers on contract. Given the vast distance between Britain and India, the British populace was reluctant to relocate to India. Therefore, the English employed all possible military and administrative tactics to establish their dominance over India.

Superior military and armaments strategy:

• The British had an advantage in military strategy and armaments, as their cannon and assault rifles had greater range and firing speed compared to Indian weapons.
• While some Indian rulers acquired European weapons, they could not match the tactical expertise of the British authorities.

Armed regulation, dedication, and consistent remuneration:

• The British emphasized a strict code of conduct and regular payment to ensure the loyalty of their commanders and soldiers.
• In contrast, many Indian rulers struggled to provide consistent salaries and relied on unreliable personal guards of mercenaries.

Effective leadership:

• The British boasted exceptional leadership from figures such as Robert Clive, Warren Hastings, Elphinstone, and Munro.
• They also had competent second-line commanders like Sir Eyre Coote, Lord Lake, and Arthur Wellesley, who fiercely defended their nation’s interests and honor.
• Though the Indian side had skilled commanders like Haider Ali, Tipu Sultan, Madhu Rao, Sindhia, and Jaswant Rao Holkar, they lacked a reliable second line of leadership

A solid financial foundation:

• The British enjoyed financial support from their trade, which contributed to government assistance in the form of resources and funds.
• In contrast, Indian rulers struggled to maintain a stable financial foundation.

Absence of national pride and unification:

• Indian rulers lacked a sense of cohesive political nationalism, and the British exploited this by inciting civil war among them.

The East India Company maintained a private army, which it utilized to enforce oppressive taxes, engage in authorized plunder, subjugate Indian governments and principalities with whom it had previously engaged in commercial transactions, and protect its economic exploitation of skilled and unskilled Indian laborers.

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