Our latest “Document of the Week” was chosen by our Editor, Nishah Malik. It is an article titled "Britain’s Beneficent Sway in India" from The Sphere. Published on 2 December 1911, this piece encapsulates the British colonial administration's self-congratulatory narrative about its role in India. The article claims that British governance had brought immense progress. It highlights infrastructural achievements, asserting that “the railways, aided by splendid roads . . . have greatly stimulated trade and industry”, and boasting that “nearly 56,000,000 acres of cultivable land is now commanded” through irrigation projects.
Behind these grand claims lies a clear imperial agenda, presenting British involvement as inherently philanthropic. The article claims that the colonial mission fostered “moral progress” among Indians. Statements such as Britain having brought India “internal peace and security of life” and having removed her “from the isolation of centuries” exemplify the pretentious tone adopted by The Sphere, and like-minded publications, when dealing with British colonialism. These statements glorify British intentions as “pure” and present colonial governance as having enabled India’s “social, political and moral evolution”.
The article expressed orientalist notions, suggesting that Western thought, under British guidance, spurred India’s educated elite towards “mental and moral elevation” and ultimately uplifted the “depressed masses”. This document offers a glimpse into the imperial mindset of the time.
Where to find this document
It is is from our collection The Sphere, 1900–1964. This features nearly 160,000 images from almost 4,000 weekly issues of the publication, which was owned by the Illustrated London News. The Sphere provides key insights into the social and political transformations of the early to mid-twentieth century, making it an excellent resource for students and researchers. Visit the collection page to learn more.