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Indian Subcontinent benefitted more than it lost from the experience of British Colonialism - A Critical Analysis
The apologists of the colonialism give the credit of various developments of modern India to the British Colonial Govt. Inspite of their exposed tyranny the British are often given the credit for ushering in the modern age in India, by civilising the so called “snake-charmers” into gentlemen with modern intellect. The developments like “Industrialisation of India”; “Political Unity”; “Modern Railways”; “Rule Of Law”; “Self Governing Institutions”; “English Language” etc are treated as a blessing in disguise for Indians. However, the reality is altogether different.
“At the beginning of 18th century India’s share of the world economy was 23% as large as all of Europe put together. By the time India achieved Independence, it had dropped to less than 4%.”
The Golden Bird India had been governed for the benefits of Britain. Britain’s rise for 200 years was financed by its depredations in India. Its Industrial Revolution was based on De-Industrialisation of India and substitution of the Indian Handicrafts with the cheap manufactured goods from England. Such circumstances were not only a hard blow to the economy but to the socio-cultural fabric of India as well (the misery of handloom weavers of Bengal stand as a testimony). Instead of a great exporter of finished products India became an importer of British goods. Colonialists like Robert Clive bought their ‘rotten boroughs’ in England from the proceeds of their loot in India. Ironically even the word “Loot” was taken into the dictionaries and the habits of colonial masters. By the end of 19th century India was Britain’s biggest cash cows, the world’s biggest purchaser of British exports and the source of highly paid employment for British Civil Servants - all at India’s own expense. While this ruthless exploitation was being carried out by the British, millions of Indians died tragically unnecessary Deaths from starvation. The last large scale famine to take place in India was under British Rule. Around 40 lakh Bengalis died in the Infamous Bengal Famine 1943 after the deliberate orders of Winston Churchill to divert the food from starving Indian Civilians to well-supplied British Soldiers and European stockpiles. British Imperialism had long justified itself with the pretence that it was enlightened despotism, conducted for the benefit of the governed. Churchill’s inhumane conduct in 1943 exposed this myth - which had been battered for two centuries already. British imperialism had triumphed not just by conquest and deception on a grand scale but by blowing rebels to bits from the mouths of canons, massacring unarmed protestors at Jallianwala Bagh and upholding inequity through institutionalised racism. In 1940s, while a black African could say with pride ‘moi, je suit Franca-is’, no Indian in the colonial era was ever allowed to feel British, we were always subjects and never citizens.
It is often claimed that the British colonialism bequeathed India its Political Unity. But the fact is India had enjoyed cultural and Geographical unity throughout the ages, going back to the Emperor Ashoka in 3rd Century BC and Adi Shankar travelling from Kerela to Kashmir and from Dwarka to Puri in the 7th Century AD, establishing his temples everywhere. The yearning for Political Unity existed throughout . The warriors and kings tried to dominate the entire Indian Subcontinent (usually unsuccessful). However, with modern transportation and communications, national unity would have been fulfilled without any colonial rule, just as in equally fragmented 19th century Italy. Moreover the so called political unity gets eclipsed by the horrors of ‘Partition’ - a direct result of British Policies of ‘Divide and Rule’ that tormented religious antagonisms.
The construction of Indian Railways is often pointed to as benefit of British Rule, without realising that many countries have built Railways without having to be colonised. Moreover Railways were not laid to serve Indian Public. They were Intended to help British get around, and above movement of people was incidental except when it served colonial interests; no effort was made to ensure that supply matched demand for mass transport; rather the Railways turned into a symbol of racial discrimination and oppression. It may as well be said that Indian Railways were a big colonial scam. British shareholders made absurd amount of money by investing in Indian Railways where the govt guaranteed an extravagant returns on capital, because the difference was paid for by the Indian Taxes. The British made all profits, controlled the technology and supplied all the equipment, which meant that the benefits went out of India. It may as well be described as a scheme of “private (British) Enterprise at public (Indian) risk”. As far as Rule of Law is concerned, the present form in independent India with a welfare state is welcomed. However, Britain in its colonial rule saddled us with an adversarial system excessively bogged down in procedural formalities. This inevitably has caused a legacy of interminable trials and long pending cases, far removed from India’s traditional system of justice. Moreover the Laws are enforced by the colonial era police system which was used as an instrument of oppression rather than empowerment, the legacy of which has severe consequences till this date. The argument that British left us with self governing institutions and Democracy is preposterous in the light of Indian struggle to win a smidgen of self government after many broken British Promises. In context of English Language, it is a fact that it was not a deliberate gift but an instrument of colonialism. Lord Macaulay’s statement testifies this : ”We must do our best to form a class of interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a class of persons, Indians in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect". Turning the language into an instrument for the liberation is to the credit of Indians and not the British.
Therefore it may be concluded that British Colonialsim had caused severe damage to the Indian Subcontinent in all dimensions (Social, Economic, Political and so on). The consequences (like strained Indo-Pak Relations, Hindu-Muslim Polarisation, 'Police' apprehended as an instrument of Oppression etc ) of which are felt till this date. Therefore, saying that India has benefitted more than it lost from colonialism would be a dishonour to the Indian nationalist leaders, Freedom Fighters and the very existence of India as a Sovereign Nation.
By: Chandan Sharma ProfileResourcesReport error
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