ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Census in British India

So, imagine you lived in a really big house with lots of people. It's important to know how many people are living there, right? That way, everyone can have enough food, water, and space.

Well, the census in British India was kind of like that, but for a really big country with lots and lots of people. The British rulers wanted to know how many people were living in their country, what their names were, and where they lived.

So, they sent special people to go around and talk to everyone. These people were called census takers, and they asked lots of questions. They asked how old people were, what religion they followed, and what their jobs were. They even asked about the languages people spoke at home!

The information the census takers collected was very important. The British rulers wanted to use it to help govern their country better. They could plan what resources were needed and how to make sure everyone had what they need.

The census in British India happened every ten years, just like it does today. It was a big job, but it helped the country be a little bit better for everyone who lived there.