Glossary of the British Raj

The following is based on a glossary attached to the fifth Report of the Committee of the House of Commons on Indian affairs, appointed in 1810, comprising Hindustani words commonly used in the administration of the British Raj (British India).

Lord Macaulay played a major role in introducing English and western concepts to education in India.

During the British Raj, lasting from 1858 to 1947, English language penetration increased throughout India.

This was driven in part by the gradually increasing hiring of Indians in the civil services.

At the time of India's independence in 1947, English was the only functional lingua franca in the country.