Control of India would always be the crown jewel of the British Empire. India brought them riches that only they could provide, in spices and exotic foods, cotton, silk, indigo dye, tea, and opium. With the help of all these riches one can almost say that the British Empire was built on the backs of Indians. Due to this fact, Indian independence was a difficult issue and England found it difficult to let it go easily. But India was not always a British colony and has its own rich history that speaks for itself. They would gain independence from the British with the help of Mahatma Gandhi and achieve one of the few mostly peaceful changes of power in history. The leadership before the British arrived on the scene was the Mughal Empire which ruled most of India and Pakistan since the 16th century. to the 17th century. A descendant of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mughal Empire was a Central Asian ruler called Babar. Unable to rule in his ancestral lands, Babar would turn his interests to India to satisfy his needs for power. Through diplomacy and warfare the Mughal Empire would conquer much of India's surrounding territory. This conquest would also allow the spread of their religious faith, Islam. The Islamic faith would be widespread throughout South Asia, as would Muslim arts, traditions, customs and culture. An interesting note about these Mughal Muslims was that they allowed Hindus to rise to military and government positions. Many governments of the time were not as compassionate towards those of other faiths. Hindus then and even today constitute the majority of religious practitioners in India. Their religion believes in many gods and is characterized by tolerance towards other religions. The Mughal Empire... half of the document... Pakistan will be divided into two countries. Independence from Britain had been achieved, and although many died, the policies established by Gandhi are attributed to India's semi-peaceful transition of power. India's loss will always be felt by the British, mourning the loss of their flagship. For centuries India would bring untold great wealth and importance to the British Empire. The British Empire was built on the backs of the Indians and they had a hard time letting it go easily. However, their loss benefited both the people of India and Pakistan. India can now speak for itself in the world and enjoy its rich cultural and historical heritage. Within the country of India there are many different religions, traditions, art and cultures that make it one country. It is now a thriving epicenter and boasts numerous modern amenities.