FIG 1. London 

Historical/Social Context: Poverty and inequality: Social reformer Charles Booth’s famous Inquiry into the Life and Labour of the People in London (1886–1903) revealed that nearly 30% of London’s population lived in poverty, with overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, and limited access to education. Industrial and social change: London was the largest city in the world, with over 6 million inhabitants by 1900. It was a hub of industry, finance, and trade, but also a place of labor unrest, strikes, and debates over wealth distribution.

Relation to Empire: The empire shaped London’s culture from exotic goods in shops to imperial exhibitions and debates in Parliament. Citizens were constantly reminded of Britain’s global reach. Despite imperial dominance, there was growing concern about Britain’s relative decline compared to rising powers like Germany and the United States The contrast between London’s imperial wealth and India’s harsh outposts underscores the story’s themes. While London thrived as the imperial center, officers in Rajputana endured isolation and exhaustion.