Which is the best book for Indian history?
There is no single book that could cover the entire “Indian history” in the best way possible. However, you can divide the entire history into different time periods. And for each period, here are some of the best books, in my opinion.For Ancient India (till 1200 CE)India’s Ancient Past by R.S. SharmaFor specifically Ancient Indian culture during the pre and post Vedic period,The Wonder that was India by A.L. BashamFor Early Medieval India, (From Sultanate until the advent of the Mughals)History of Medieval India (Part 1) by Satish ChandraAnd for the Mughal Era,Emperors of the Peacock Throne, by Abraham EralyIt covers only the greatest reign of the important Mughal emperors, from Babur to AuranzebAnd for the later Mughal emperors, you can read the Part 2 of Satish Chandra’s Medieval India.For Modern Indian History (from the 1857 Rebellion till the colonial Independence in 1947)India’s Struggle for IndependenceAnd for the events after the independence until the early 21st century,India After Gandhi, by Ramchandra GuhaI have not considered about the empires and events in the Deccan and the South during the late Medieval and early Modern periods of Indian History as I have not yet read about that era much. You might want to read about it, though, especially the Maratha empire.Images source - Google Images
British East India Company?
The British East Indian Company was born during a time of European trade/imperialism in Asia during the 17th century. The Dutch East Indies Company was one of the first to start European trade with the east and the British, along with the Portuguese, Spanish, and French, quickly saw the value of trade with the countries of the East. This was the background of India directly before the British began to colonize the Sub-Continent. Colonize many not even be the right word since the British population itself was never large in comparison to the native population of India. Of course, the weakened Mughal Empire and conflicts between it and the Marathas, Rajputs, and Sikhs, only divided India further. Had there been a unified state in India that was strong then it is possible that the British would never have gained so much control. The British were able to wage war against these smaller states and defeat all of them. The Indian Mutiny of 1857 was the last real struggle that challenged the British before the Independence Movement during the early to mid 20th century. The story of imperialism is the background to the 20th and 21st centuries. The world that the Europeans, including the British, left behind is one that is still very much with us. The division between India and Pakistan is one such example. Spanish and Portuguese rule in Latin America can still be seen the use of those languages today in those regions. The United States itself the result of British imperialism. Imperialism in India was no different in that a foreign culture through trade, politics, and war, was able to influence and add to a native culture and thus create a hybrid identity.
Why did the British view India as the "Jewel in the Crown"?
because it was the largest wealth producing colony in the empire