In The History of India, John McLeod spends a large section of the book talking about the various aspects of ancient Indian history that served as predecessors to several modern religions and cultural practices. McLeod describes tribal life on the Indian subcontinent as being influenced by many different cultures, leading to multiple languages and religious beliefs to be practiced in a relatively small geographical area. Even in ancient times, what we now refer to as India was vast, and with this large territory, divisions were inevitable. Nothing demonstrates this variance in cultural, economic, religious, and linguistic divisions as well as Ashoka’s short-lived policy of dhamma, meant to bridge these very divisions. Although these differences shifted over time, sometimes intensifying while at other times blending, it illustrates the complex cultural history of India. This history provides a millennia-deep background on why India remains so diverse even into the twenty-first century and shows why there is no one monolithic culture or identity in modern India.
With the Mughal dynasty, the importance of India as a trade hub was solidified. Although contact with the Arab world and East Asia had long been in practice, the Mughal era ushered in a new phase in Indian trade that didn’t just focus on economics, conquest, and religion but one that included the arts. The Muslim ruler Akbar opened himself and his kingdom to other ideas and practices, acknowledging that multiple perspectives were a good thing and all religions held the same universal truth. In addition to meeting with leaders from a variety of faiths, Akbar’s rule was the start of a melting pot of artistic influences, sometimes combining elements of Indian art with influences from Iranian and European Christian art. In addition, dance, music, poetry and other forms of art and entertainment flourished. With a knowledge of this era’s multifaceted influence on a variety of lasting cultural artifacts, it is possible to trace the history of certain styles of music or art through the identifiable links to other cultures. Modern India retains this cultural diversity, and the art from this time period remains important.
McLeod offers a variety of reasons as to why Great Britain colonized India, however emphasizing that many Brits thought Indians to be “backwards” and prime to be molded into Western ideals. In British-era India, shifts in religion, politics, and rapid industrialization sparked some of the most visible changes in the country. Higher education was offered in English, leading to the perception that English-speaking Indians were elite in relation to their uneducated counterparts, providing explanation for why the English language is still so wide-spoken today. Although it stemmed from prejudiced colonial beliefs, it also united India with a common language, which still proves useful by providing a common tongue in a country with dozens of dialects. From the English language to colonial infrastructure, the remnants of this period are just as physical apparent as they are residual politically.
The struggle towards post-colonialism illustrated the difficulties of uniting an ancient empire in order to gain independence. Britain’s involvement in the World Wars put India in a situation where autonomy seemed in the balance. India financially supported Great Britain in the first World War in hopes for self-rule. The economic strains of war as well as religious disputes intensified as Indian political identity began to emerge, all while still under British rule. The rise of Mahatma Gandhi and resistance against British rule reinvigorated Indian identity and increased the power of Indian India. However, the struggles between Indian Hindus and Muslims also intensified as Indian political parties emerged, sometimes along religious lines. These divisions led to the eventual partition of India and Pakistan, the effects of which are still very much important when considering inter-religious relations in India.
As Nehru became the first prime minister of India, he ushered in the modern state of India. However, differences in religion, caste, and language continued to make a difficult environment for compromise in the vast new republic. The mid-twentieth century brought transformative economic change to India as industrialization modernized and continued to expand, all based on Nehru’s economic policy of central planning. Even as Indian production grew, there were still issues with the republic’s economy, such as educational shortcomings, a rapidly growing population, and an increasing gap between the country’s rich and the poor. Indian agriculture struggled to keep up with the population growth as India industrialized. Indira Gandhi, Nehru’s daughter and political successor, began her rule in a politically fragmented new republic, which angered grassroots politicians who felt left behind as India’s government centralized. These political differences led to further political fragmentation and economic instability. Although India has made great gains industrially and politically, the legacies, both positive and negative, of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty continue to shape modern India.