Examine the impact of imperialism on british administrative policy in india
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Impact of Imperialism on British administrative policy in India :
Although no one can doubt that almost 300 years of British rule in India had a profoundeffect on Indian culture, economy, politics and the Indian society as a whole, I now seek todetermine the extent of their colonial dominance and if India really benefitted from it.
Firstly, on the economic front, the new economic structure brought by the British in the18th century was a form of "plunder" and a catastrophe for the traditional economy ofMughal India. The British were guilty of depleting the food and money stocks and ofimposing high taxes that resulted in the terrible famine of 1770, which killed a third of thepeople of Bengal. The British argue that their takeover did not make any sharp break withthe past, which largely delegated control to regional Mughal rulers and sustained agenerally prosperous economy for the rest of the 18th century. But the reality is that theBritish seized power by brute force and impoverished all of India. The mantra of the British
at that time was “Take what you can, when you can”, because history pro
ves that aprolonged sustainable colonization of a nation is unfeasible at best. Hence, the British
exploited India’s natural resources to the maximum of their abilities, leaving the Indians to
salvage what they could when they left.The same cannot be said though, about the ideological impact of the British. India hasmaintained such central British institutions as democracy, parliamentary government,universal adult franchise and the rule of law through the judiciary. They retained as well theinstitutional arrangements of the Raj such as district administration, universities and stockexchanges. They promoted education, which led to the emergence of the middle class in theIndian society. As a result of this, we Indians are noticeably more liberal in our thinking.Unintentionally, they also helped in forging a spirit of unity and nationalism, by fosteringcommon hatred against them.But, probably the most important of these impacts was the one they had on the politicalstructure of pre-Independence India. Seeing as the Indians were numerically superior, theBritish devised an ingenious plan to take advantage of the unstable balance of power in the
subcontinent. Their ‘Divide
and
Rule’ policy was by far, the most
brilliant political strategy inhistory as well as being the epitome of cruelty, barbarism and inhumanity. The effects of thePartition of Bengal and of India can be felt even today. They recruited Indians to aid them intheir conquest and thus, gulfed the difference in numerical strength. After that, it was easyto pick off one province after another. The technological superiority also gave them anadvantage over the antiquated Indians.The British may yet again argue that their rule brought about the Indian technologicaland economic boo
m from the 1960’s. But the tele
communications network, the railway,postal service and various infrastructural advancements they developed in India were for
their own benefit. Ruling such a vast country such as India isn’t easy
unless one establishes afast and proper network of communication and transport throughout the country. In theend, though, a lot of questions are left unasked and unanswered. Would we have reachedthe same economic, cultural and ideological standard that we have presently? Would wehave been a power to be reckoned with were it not for the Partition?
please mark as brainliest
Although no one can doubt that almost 300 years of British rule in India had a profoundeffect on Indian culture, economy, politics and the Indian society as a whole, I now seek todetermine the extent of their colonial dominance and if India really benefitted from it.
Firstly, on the economic front, the new economic structure brought by the British in the18th century was a form of "plunder" and a catastrophe for the traditional economy ofMughal India. The British were guilty of depleting the food and money stocks and ofimposing high taxes that resulted in the terrible famine of 1770, which killed a third of thepeople of Bengal. The British argue that their takeover did not make any sharp break withthe past, which largely delegated control to regional Mughal rulers and sustained agenerally prosperous economy for the rest of the 18th century. But the reality is that theBritish seized power by brute force and impoverished all of India. The mantra of the British
at that time was “Take what you can, when you can”, because history pro
ves that aprolonged sustainable colonization of a nation is unfeasible at best. Hence, the British
exploited India’s natural resources to the maximum of their abilities, leaving the Indians to
salvage what they could when they left.The same cannot be said though, about the ideological impact of the British. India hasmaintained such central British institutions as democracy, parliamentary government,universal adult franchise and the rule of law through the judiciary. They retained as well theinstitutional arrangements of the Raj such as district administration, universities and stockexchanges. They promoted education, which led to the emergence of the middle class in theIndian society. As a result of this, we Indians are noticeably more liberal in our thinking.Unintentionally, they also helped in forging a spirit of unity and nationalism, by fosteringcommon hatred against them.But, probably the most important of these impacts was the one they had on the politicalstructure of pre-Independence India. Seeing as the Indians were numerically superior, theBritish devised an ingenious plan to take advantage of the unstable balance of power in the
subcontinent. Their ‘Divide
and
Rule’ policy was by far, the most
brilliant political strategy inhistory as well as being the epitome of cruelty, barbarism and inhumanity. The effects of thePartition of Bengal and of India can be felt even today. They recruited Indians to aid them intheir conquest and thus, gulfed the difference in numerical strength. After that, it was easyto pick off one province after another. The technological superiority also gave them anadvantage over the antiquated Indians.The British may yet again argue that their rule brought about the Indian technologicaland economic boo
m from the 1960’s. But the tele
communications network, the railway,postal service and various infrastructural advancements they developed in India were for
their own benefit. Ruling such a vast country such as India isn’t easy
unless one establishes afast and proper network of communication and transport throughout the country. In theend, though, a lot of questions are left unasked and unanswered. Would we have reachedthe same economic, cultural and ideological standard that we have presently? Would wehave been a power to be reckoned with were it not for the Partition?
please mark as brainliest
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