In this episode with New Wave History, Ilhan Niaz discusses his 2019 book, “The State During the British Raj: Imperial Governance in South Asia, 1700 to 1947” and outlines how South Asian states were largely governed by martial rule, with militaries playing pivotal roles in administration and succession before British colonialism.
Empires like the Mauryan dynasty and the Sikh kingdom of Ranjit Singh were led by military leaders, and internal power struggles within the armed forces often shaped political outcomes.
The British invasion in 1757 marked a significant turning point, facilitated by alliances with local actors. The British fundamentally restructured governance, insulating the military from politics and establishing civilian supremacy. They professionalized the armed forces, introduced merit-based recruitment, and abolished practices such as purchasing military commissions. This separation of civilian and military spheres, rooted in British traditions, was alien to the governance models of pre-colonial South Asia.
In addition to military reforms, the British introduced legal frameworks that distinguished private property from state control, curbing rulers' arbitrary authority over resources. They also promoted a version of secularism to manage communal tensions, creating a bureaucratic and civilian-led governance structure.
These measures significantly altered the balance of power, diminishing the military's political role and fostering the development of modern state institutions. This shift laid the foundation for contemporary governance in South Asia, emphasizing civilian leadership and institutional rule over martial dominance.