critically examine the impact of colonialism on the political economy of india
Answers
Colonies had always been there for example the Greeks had established colonies in the pre-Christ era; the Cholas went overseas and established colonies in Indo-China and Indonesia. From the 16th century onwards a small part of the world such as Spain, Portugal, Holland, Britain and France established political domination over the rest of the world. This resulted the economic integration of the colonised world into the needs of the economies of conquering powers through a process of deeply inequitable trade. The level of development of many countries was very high before the rise of colonialism; for example countries such as India, China, Arabs, etc.
The Mediterranean or the Indian Ocean trade was controlled by the Arabs. Industrial revolution began a few decades later with the invention of steam engine, spinning jelly etc. The decline of Indian had started because of British colonisation.
The British conquest of India was different in character from all the previous conquests of the country. In the past the change of rulers implied merely a change of the dynasty that exercised political authority over the people, but it did not affect social fabric, the productive organization, the property relations or the system of administration. Under the British rule all this was altered and a socio-economic revolution was started which culminated in the destruction of the old institution and in the emergence of new social classes and forces.
Development Impact The most beneficial effect of British dominance over the country was the provision of law and order. The British rule that followed such a long period of turmoil security enforced a rule of law and heralded a long period of peace and stability. To run these institutions the British set up a new type of educational system. A new class of Indian wellversed in English had appeared. The three upper castes have monopoly first over the jobs and than over the professions like Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, etc. In 1854 the construction of railways have been started. All the major areas of India were constructed by 1914.
About 34,000 miles was constructed. This made the travelling easier from one place to another place. People across India contributed largely to the development of trade and capital, it also made easier of loading of goods from one place to another.
Travelling helped the integration of various local economic zones and helped in an interacting economy. With the help of railways Pan-Indian market was also developed. Apart from the railways, roads were built linking the main cities. Roads or rail-roads were constructed in the manner it can link to the port of cities; from which finished goods were exported into India and raw material can be taken out. Dadabhai Naoroji gave it the name of ‘Drain Theory’.
Neglecting the old traditional irrigation the modern irrigation network was constructed which resulted the increase of the power of landlords over the agrarian economy and increasing miserable condition to the peasantry.
The modern irrigation helped the growth of exportable foodgrains and commercial crops. Industries of tabacco, jute, cotton, sugarcane have developed by displacing the production of jaggery and crude brown sugar.