1. Colonial Ideology of Difference and its impact on India Historical Explanation of the British Rule and its impact on the governance of India

2. Origins of Colonial Rule Expansion of Europe and the Mercantile Empire. Collapse of the Mughal Empire 1526 to 1707 Uneven Process of colonization. The Rebellion of 1857 and the changes in the British Indian Empire. The new rule of the crown.

3. Ideology of the Colonial Governance The idea of Modernization The notion of civilizing Mission: White man’s burden. The theme of benevolent despotism and impartial masters. The search for natural leaders: Princes, landlords and religious figures. The qualified and restrained democracy.

4. The dialectics of retreat: Pressure from below and response from above Indian response to colonial rule. Peasant resistance. Organized domain of politics and the demand for constitutional reform. Gandhian revolution. Balanced Constitutional Reforms. Retreat from the provinces to the Center.