Did the British stroke religious division in India during this time and, if so, how

Question

The British did not stoke religious divisions, only divisions between people who were European and people who weren’t. They did this by oppressing anyone who wasn’t European.
Despite all the cruelties the British committed, they at least tried to play down religious divisions. Unfortunately, this didn’t work and ultimately led to the Amritsar Massacre.
The British widened divisions that already existed between Muslim and Hindu groups by partitioning areas to separate Muslim and Hindu populations.
The British began divisions between Muslim and Hindu groups that hadn’t existed before by partitioning areas to separate Muslim and Hindu populations. This directly led to the Amritsar Massacre.

Answer 1

The British colonial rule in India (1858-1947) had a significant impact on the religious and social divisions within Indian society. It is important to consider the various ways in which colonial policies and practices contributed to the exacerbation of these divisions, as well as the pre-existing tensions that were manipulated during this period.

1. "Divide and Rule" Policy: The British employed a "divide and rule" strategy, which often involved emphasizing and exploiting existing religious and social divisions for administrative purposes. By consolidating power with certain communities, they manipulated loyalties and fostered competition among different religious groups. This culminated in the communal politics of the later years, where Hindus and Muslims were portrayed as inherently opposed to one another.

2. Census and Social Engineering: The British introduced standardized census methods that categorized people based on religion and caste. This emphasis on religious identity solidified communal identities and encouraged divisions that were not as pronounced previously, contributing to a sense of exclusiveness and mistrust among communities.

3. Political Representation and Policies: British policies, such as separate electorates for Muslims introduced by the Government of India Act of 1909, reinforced religious identities in politics. By providing distinct political representation based on religion, the British further entrenched communal divisions, making it difficult for Hindus and Muslims to find common ground.

4. Communal Riots and Violence: The British response to communal riots often included harsh crackdowns or deliberate non-intervention, which further fueled sectarian sentiment. The Amritsar Massacre in 1919, while primarily a response to colonial oppression, can also be seen within the broader context of escalating communal tensions exacerbated under the colonial regime.

5. Partition of India: The culmination of these religious divisions was evident during the partition of India in 1947, which led to massive violence and displacement. The British decision to partition the country along religious lines was rooted in the communal divisions that had been intensified during their rule, leading to deep-seated animosity and a fracturing of the social fabric.

While it is misleading to state that the British created divisions between Hindus and Muslims that did not exist before, their policies undeniably led to the worsening of existing tensions and the creation of a landscape where communal identities were central to politics and society. The legacy of this division had lasting repercussions on post-colonial India and Pakistan.