The British East India Company (BEIC) began as a small enterprise of London Merchants in 1600 and eventually expanded into a globally recognized economic and military power. They officially asserted their military dominance after seizing control of Bengal, an Indian province, in 1757. Their presence in India was wholly oppressive and in 1857 ignited a rebellion in India known as the Indian Mutiny. This uprising sparked concern among the British Parliament who worried about the company’s overwhelming political presence in India as opposed to purely economic. Parliament ultimately dissolved the company in 1873 after shareholders in the company received compensation with the “East India Dividend Redemption Act.” The company’s dissolution meant imperial rule in India was given completely to the British Raj. Haimabati Sen was born in Bengal in 1866 and remained there until moving to Benares in 1886, thus she experienced life both under BEIC rule and the rule of the British Raj.

Sources:

Margaret Makepeace, 'A Brief History of the English East India Company 1600–1858', Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/en/brief-history-english-east-india-company-1600–1858> 

“East India Company and Raj 1785-1858.” UK Parliament. Accessed February 28, 2021. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/le....