The role of the British in the Darjeeling hills is of great importance in history. The British ruled Darjeeling for more than a century and left behind a rich legacy eventually. The British decorated the place with a Sanatorium, Plantation, Railways, Roadways, Public Works, Tourism, etc. History shows that the importance of Darjeeling lay in its advantages as a Sanatorium and its position as the sole hill station of Calcutta. Nonetheless, the climate and geographic location of Darjeeling had many advantages to offer to the British Masters. They saw it in their Imperial interest to keep the region under direct management and under constant watch. Let’s enjoy an old video of the British era –

DARJEELING AS A HILL STATION/SANATORIUM:

History shows that the importance of Darjeeling lay in its advantages as a Sanatorium and its position as the sole hill station of Calcutta. The lofty mountains with the snow-covered peaks, the bracing climate, and the magnificent forests attracted the British pioneers to begin their adventures on the slopes of Darjeeling. J.D. Herbert recommended Darjeeling is a station of health for European troops, mainly for its cold climate. In 1828, Captain Lloyd along with Mr. J.W. Grant, the Commercial Resident at Malda came to the Hills and attracted by the position of Darjeeling. J.W. Grant and Captain Lloyd brought the proposal of establishing a sanatorium at Darjeeling under the notice of Lord William Bentinck, then Governor-General for the favourable climate.

The mountainous area of Darjeeling investigated by the Officers of the Geological Survey. Lord Napier of Royal Engineers laid out the town at an altitude of 2,134m (7,000 ft.). Dr. Campbell became the first Superintendent of the Sanatorium in 1839. Moreover, he also set up a market, popularly known as ‘Gundri Bazaar’ and a court-house.

The town also continued to grow as a tourist destination, becoming known as the “Queen of the Hills”. Urbanization through the establishment of a Sanatorium at the nucleus town also led to the growth of employment opportunities and hence to population growth. Darjeeling’s moderate climate prompted its improvement as a hill station for the British from the summer heat of the plains. The Eden Sanitarium built in 1882 named after the governor of Bengal, Sir Ashley Eden and the Lowis Jubilee Sanitarium for Indians set up in 1887.

DARJEELING PLANTATION INDUSTRIES:

Dr. Campbell brought about changes by encouraging immigration and by introducing tea and cinchona cultivation, which later became major attractions for the British themselves.

Tea estates began in Darjeeling in 1841. The main tea trial nursery raised by Dr. Campbell in Jalapahar, later moved to Lebong in 1845. The first tea garden began in Upper Takvar in 1852 raised by Captain Masson and Mr. Treustler. The Planter’s Club set up in 1868. The British encouraged the boom of the plantation industry in Darjeeling not only for economic bonanza but also for the beautification of the place. In Darjeeling, topography, climatic variations, soil condition, slope all is favourable or congenial for the cultivation of tea. The plantation sponsored by the British by investing their capital.

Similarly, the cultivation of Cinchona in Darjeeling commenced in 1862 in Mungpoo by Dr. Anderson. It supplied in the hospitals for a cheap remedy for malaria. The initial objective of the Directorate of Cinchona was to grow different species of Cinchona trees to produce the lifesaving Anti-Malaria drug Quinine from the bark. Besides Mungpoo, the Cinchona cultivation established in Munsong in 1901, Rongo in 1938, and  Latpanchor in 1943.

BRITISH EDUCATIONAL LEGACY:

Darjeeling has a rich history of educational establishments. Since 1835, Darjeeling became the educational hub for the British, while the native people also got the opportunity to enlighten through western education. No doubt, Christian Missionaries along with other voluntary organizations played a major role in imparting education among the masses.

The Scottish missionaries constructed schools and training centers for the British residents.  For instance, the Loreto Convent established in 1847, St. Paul’s School of Calcutta shifted in 1864, and other educational institutions also established. In the administration of education, the District Committee of public instruction assisted the Deputy Commissioner. Christian Missionaries played a major role in imparting education among the masses. Revd. William Macfarlane created the nucleus of the Training School at Kalimpong. The village weaving industry among the peasantry in the Kalimpong hills developed. The Church of Scotland Mission started classes to teach an improved pattern of weaving, crochet work, and lacework. Further, the Church of Scotland Mission’s subsequent work became the most important factor in the spread of education among the local people. Still, the educational legacy of the British sustained in the Darjeeling hills.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION:

Before the advent of the British, the transport and communication system in the region was of primitive type depending mainly on bullock-carts. Before the construction of the road in Darjeeling, 17,000 bullock carts were plying in the district. The name Hill Cart Road sustains this historical reality. It is the national highway from Siliguri to Darjeeling. The Northern Bengal State Railway opened in 1878 and the Mountain Railway in 1880. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Co. came into existence in 1881. Toy Train (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1999. Likewise, Ropeways also erected for economic progress such as the Kalimpong Ropeway Co. Ltd. (1928) and Darjeeling Ropeway Co. Ltd. (1939).

PRESERVATION OF FORESTS AND LANDSLIPS:

Forest conservancy began in Darjeeling in 1864 by Dr. T. Anderson. The preservation of forestbecame the prime comprehension of the British Government. In order to conserve and to check the foreign intrusion, the British passed Forest Acts. The preservation of forests is a unique step towards the visible threats of global warming.

Earthquake-induced landslides had been a compelling issue on the question of land degradation during the colonial period. In 1899, Darjeeling shooked by major landslides that caused severe destruction to the town and the native population. A Committee selected, comprising of architects and occupants of Darjeeling to assess and write about the state of structures, streets, and channels in Darjeeling and to devise measures to forestall the event of landslips in the future or to limit their results. The committee assisted by Mr. Holland of the Geological Survey Department made a systematic and penetrating investigation visiting every part of Darjeeling. The Bengal Act I of 1900 passed into law by the bill recommended by the Committee.

Darjeeling is popular for Tea, Timber, and Tourism from the beginning of British rule in India. The Europeans gave Darjeeling a formal metropolitan shape to fulfill their inclinations such as urban institutions like health, sanitation, municipality, educational institutions, water system, electricity, roads, railways, markets, and so on. Therefore, the European culture had a tremendous impact on the inhabitants of Darjeeling. Colonial architecture such as mock Tudor residences, Gothic churches, the Raj Bhawan (Governor House), Planters’ Club, and various educational institutions still sustained in the Darjeeling hills. However, the socio-economic problems of the region not addressed during British rule continued to linger after they left India. Between 1835 and 1947, Darjeeling had many advantages to offer to the British masters. So, the British ruled Darjeeling for a long time and still, their legacies are relevant to the hills.