By Ghulam Rasul Shahzad

As Training Development Officer for Rochdale Council, I delivered training courses and attended events at the Town Hall innumerable times. I was born in United India before partition, in 1947.

One of the vertical stained glass panels on the steps to the Great Hall, bears the name of the East India Company. The first delegation of businessmen from the East India Company landed at a port in India in 1604. They set up trade centres in Bengal and Gujarat and expanded their businesses to other parts of India as well.

The East India Company ruled over Bengal from 1757 and the British Government ruled from 1857 to 1947, until partition of India and Pakistan on 14th August, 1947. During the period of British rule, India saw many changes. A democratic and legal system was introduced, and political parties were established. Railways were set up throughout the country and an irrigation system was set up in Punjab with the construction of canals and bridges. The English language was introduced, and Urdu was also promoted as a common language for United India. India also became part of the Commonwealth.