After almost two-hundred years of Western integration, one could visualize India’s prosperous progress, yet this was not the case. Mark Davis succinctly summarizes the economic impact of British colonial rule in South Asia in one sentence, “there was no increase in India’s per capita income from 1757 to 1947” (Davis: 311). Imperial rule brought technological improvements into India and helped India integrate into the world trading market. Yet these advancements were canceled out as periods of agricultural instability led to a deterioration of economic conditions in India, and any profit made in India was either brought back to Britain or quickly absorbed by the poor in India leading to little improvement in economic life for villagers and peasants in India. Though the British tried to distance themselves from moneylender system, Davis describes the British as “both father and mother …show more content…
Though the traditional system was far from perfect, it functioned well in Indian society. The new system along with loose enforcement by the British led to diminished value of property rights, hence those who owned land grew poorer while working harder. This led to a deterioration of economic status for many villagers while a few moneylenders grew richer, widening the income inequality gap. Though these farmers were poor before the introduction of the British Raj, these money-lending systems tolerated by the British exacerbated their poverty. Many villagers were upset with this new system, due to its inability to allow peasant agriculturers to develop into capitalist farmers (Davis: 326). Upset, villagers protested, leading to the Uprising of 1875, anti-moneylender riots in West India, causing the British crown to take over for the non-adept East India Trading Company and further corroding economic progress for
What is pictured when someone thinks of India? Perhaps the manufactured goods, or diverse people. The truth is, however, that until India gained its independence in 1947, it was ruled entirely by British government. The British then proceeded to “improve” India, driving it into a deeper hole. Although British Imperialism in India had some positive effects, the overall political, economic, and social impacts were negative.
To begin with, one can observe that the British colonizers did indeed improve Indian civilization by developing means of communication and transport. They built a great number of bridges, over 40,000 miles of railway and paving an astounding 70,000 miles of road (Doc. 4). They established schools,newspapers and telegraphs for the people of the colonies.All blessings of civilization they could not create for themselves (Doc. 1). Furthermore, the British brought 30 million acres under cultivation with large scale irrigation works, began industrialization, improved sanitation and provided an overall higher standard of living (Doc. 4). With many new establishments and institutions to staff, job opportunities opened up left and right for Indian workers.Their contributions to Indian civilization made famine all but disappear throughout India. Without the British, it’s quite possible India could not achi...
Despite impacting India very positively, imperialism still caused problems within the Indian society. An example of this negative effect is that poverty was very prevalent in India due to the dismantling of the old crafts such as metalwork, glass, paper, etc. The rationale for this huge spike impoverishment is because India was to be used as a supplier for raw materials, thus halting the growth of the economy (Doc 7). Not only did Britain disrupt the Indian’s industry, but they also caused unemployment through the superseding of Indian handspinners in the 19th century. (O.I) Another negative effect imperialism has made on India is through the persecution of Indians. "For a hundred years you have done everything for us. You have given us no responsibility in our own government," says Mohandas Gandhi in regards to the British rule. He also says that the British treat the Indians insultingly and without empathy (Doc 6,7,8).
James, Lawrence. Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India. New York: St. Martin's, 1998. Print.
First, the British were building 10,000 miles of railroad track which gave Indians jobs (Lalvani). On the other side, that railroad track was used to extract raw materials from India and flood their markets with British textiles (Doc #3, Gandhi) This means that even though they were getting paid to build the railroad, it wasn’t enough to cover the costs of all the raw materials that they were losing to the British. Secondly, the British claimed that they were the world’s largest employer with a staggering 1.6 million workers on the railroad (Lalvani). In reality, they raised taxes on the Indians which forced them to replace their food crops with cash crops such as indigo, which was not wanted at the time. This happened during many famines and caused the death of over 58 million Indians (Doc #7). This is important because the Indians simply didn’t make enough money to support their families, so they died of
British Imperialism in India brought about many changes in India; both positive and negative. It was however, as a whole, an important turning point in India’s history. Imperialism had its positive economic outcomes for the British during the 1600s, but also had its negative effects on India’s people; leaving their governmental power in the hands of Britain.
The 190 years of Imperialism in India by the British were over all a negative experience for the country. However, a few good things did come out of imperialism like transportation. Britain became selfish and inconsiderate towards the Indian people and only did what helped their country and their economy. Because of the imperialism India’s people became hostile towards each other and later, after being freed from British rule, broke out into a civil war.
There is no doubt that British imperialism had a large impact on India. India, having previously been an group of independent and semi-independent princedoms and territories, underwent great change under British administration. Originally intended to consolidate their hold on India by establishing a population that spoke the same language as their rulers, the British decision in the 1830s to educate Indians in a Western fashion, with English as the language of instruction, was the beginning of a chain of events, including a rise in Indian nationalism, that led to Indian resentment of British imperialism and ultimately to the loss of British control over India.
An effect of British Imperialism economically is the products produced and an environmental affect is Britain's profits. Britain is producing goods, materials, and luxury goods and receiving splendid feedback, which will cause other countries to adapt the same methods of gaining materials. Numerous battles and wars will be fought over those materials and over inhabited territories. Britain is heavily controlling India and gaining profit from then while India gains nothing but mistreatment. While Indians are in harsh conditions, they are only profiting an average of $800, while the British have an average of $9,300.
The caste system in India is elaborately structured to have an Indian touch to it, clearly distinguishing it from social structures worldwide. Caste is a word often used to describe a cluster of people who have a specific rank in the society. Each caste system is elaborately crafted to suit the needs of the society and they vary from group to group; each has its own rules and customs. Different chaste systems are planned in a hierarchical manner to become part of any of the four basic colors; varnas (a Sanskrit word for color). These include; the varna of Brahmans, identified with the learned class and priests; varna of Kshatriyas, which is encompasses warriors, rulers and property owners, the varna of Vaishyas, which attracts traders ; and lastly the varna of Shudras, who are servile laborers (Bayly, 1999).
1 Moore, Robin J., "Imperial India, 1858-1914", in Porter, Andrew, Oxford History of the British Empire: The Nineteenth Century, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2001a, p.422-446,
Iyer , L, 2004, The Long-term Impact of Colonial Rule: Evidence from India. [Online] available at [accessed on 12 November 2010]
Imperialism in India British imperialism in India had many positive and negative effects on both the mother country, Britain and the colony, India. Many people would argue which effects were more prominent in these countries, and some would agree that they were equal. But in both cases, there were actually both. In India, the British colonization had more positive effects than negative. For instance, when the British colonized India they built 40,000 miles of railroad and 70,000 miles of paved roadway.
The decision to grant independence to India was not the logical culmination of errors in policy, neither was it as a consequence of a mass revolution forcing the British out of India, but rather, the decision was undertaken voluntarily. Patrick French argues that: “The British left India because they lost control over crucial areas of the administration, and lacked the will and the financial or military ability to recover that control”.
India was the first major Asian civilizations to fall victim to European predatory activities (Duiker 31). With conquering India, the British had various purposes behind it. Their main purpose was to achieve a monopolistic trading position (The Economic and Social Impact of Colonial Rule in India). The second purpose was the control of India; this was a key element in the world power structure, in terms of geography, logistics and military manpower (The Economic and Social Impact of Colonial Rule in India). When the East India Company continued to trade under the British, huge armies were created, largely composed of Indian sepoys (Marshall). The armies were used to defend the Company’s territories protect the Indian states (Marshall).