The correct answer is James Mill. James mill, a British Historian divided Indian history into three parts, i. e. , Hindu, Muslim and British. In 1817, James Mill, a Scottish economist and political philosopher published a massive three-volume work, A History of British India. This periodization came to be widely accepted. So the terms through which we periodized that is, demarcate the difference between periods became important. They reflect our ideas about the past. Before the British came to India, Hindu and Muslim despots ruled the country. Religious intolerance, caste taboos, and superstitious practices dominated social life. Mill suggested that the British should conquer all the territories in India to ensure the enlightenment and happiness of the Indian people. British rule represented all the forces of progress and civilization. Additional InformationWarren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal. During his term, the First Anglo-Maratha war and the second Anglo-Mysore war were fought. The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed during his term. He supported Sir William Jones in the formation of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1785. Annie Besant was the founder of the Home Rule League in 1916 along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Sir Thomas Smith was a major promoter of voyages to find a Northwest Passage to the Orient.