ABSTRACT
How to deal with parts of the population that were deemed deviant or subversive was one of the areas in which British rule had a long-lasting and major impact on South Asian society. The establishment of colonial penal institutions was accompanied by a permanent debate within the administration, not least because of the often violent reactions of parts of the South Asian population to them. This contributed to the state’s deep suspicion towards large parts of Indian society and an increasing focus on deterrence.
