Muslim Rule vs British Rule in India
Muslim rule and British rule are two types of rules India had experienced before attaining independence in the year 1947. British rule took place in India between 1858 and 1947. On the other hand Muslim rule in India was well spread in different centuries. India experienced the rule of the Sultans, the Khiljis and more importantly the Mughals for a long period of time.
Railways in India were set up for the first time during the reign of the British. Lord Hardinge, a governor general of India allowed some private entrepreneurs to set up the first railways in India in the year 1844. On 16th April 1853, the first ever passenger train service was inaugurated between Bori Bunder in Bombay and Thane covering a distance of about 34 kilometers.
On the other hand several tombs and architecture marvels were erected during the Muslim rule, especially during the time of the Mughals in India. These wonderful monuments and buildings include the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid and the Pearl Mosque. Qutab Minar was constructed near Delhi during the reign of Iltutmish, another Muslim ruler in the 12th century A.D. Some of the other constructions erected during the Muslim rule in India are the Biwi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad and the Charminar in Hyderabad in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.
It is true that there was religious intolerance during the Muslim rule in India. On the other hand there was religious tolerance in India during the British rule. Some of the Muslim emperors like Akbar the Great were exceptions in the sense that they tolerated all religions. As a matter of fact Akbar promoted a separate religious movement called Din-i-lahi in support of all religions.
Economy in India flourished during the last part of the Muslim rule whereas India experienced a slide in its economy during the British rule. Trade too flourished during the Muslim rule. On the other hand trade was moderate during the British rule. During the British rule India experienced several mutinies and struggles expressing its displeasure over the British rule.
On the other hand there were no such struggles in the whole of the country during the Muslim rule. On the other hand there were struggles and fights between the Hindu kings and the Muslim rulers in several parts of the country in order to establish their supremacy over each other.
The need for the independence was felt very much during the time of the British rule in India. On the other hand the urge for independence was not very much felt during the Muslim rule because India appeared very much like an independent country then.