On June 28th, 1858, The British Empire annexed the Indian subcontinent. Prior to this, the East India Company had controlled India as an enterprise. The Great Uprising of 1857 derailed this business, and the Crown insisted upon direct control of the country.  The British continued their policy of non-intervention in social matters, but would not officially grant India independence until 1947.

The 1857 Indian Rebellion was spurred by a number of factors, including British social reforms like Macaulay's education reform.  Many Indians resented these policies, and felt that the British were attempting to dismantle their social and cultural systems and norms.  Company rule was particularly insensitive toward native religions, and many Indians considered this style of governance to be a total failure.

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