Reality of 'Divide and Rule' in British India.

The policy of 'divide and rule' is seen as a mechanism used throughout history to maintain imperial rule. It identifies preexisting ethno-religious divisions in society and then manipulates them in order to prevent subject peoples' unified challenge to rule by outsiders. Many Indian and other scholars have maintained that the British adopted this strategy in order to strengthen the Raj. Both communal conflict and Muslim separatism are seen as being created by this strategy. This understanding sidelines all the factors which forced the Muslims to seek a homeland. Even the advocates of the theory deny the fact that unrest, turmoil, communal clashes and poor condition of law and order weaken the grip of the ruling authorities over the country. Therefore, to argue for the existence of a 'divide and rule' strategy implies that the British were prepared to risk instability which went counter to their requirement for law and order. Insolent behaviour and injustice did not pave the way for harmony and co-operation. The Congress was infuriating the Muslims and their leadership although it was clear that the Britishers had been making the fullest use of the 'divide and rule' policy regarding the Muslims. It convinces to conclude, whether the Congress leadership was not aware of the British's 'divide and rule' policy or it adopted deliberately the supportive attitude towards the British in fulfilling their sinister objectives of vivisection of India. This article explores different dimensions of the divide and rule policy and its practicality in the politics of British India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]