COLONIZATION OF GREAT BRITAIN BY - MR. SUSHANT RAI
COLONIZATION OF GREAT BRITAIN
AUTHORED BY - MR. SUSHANT RAI
(BA.LLB Student) of Kes Shri Jayantilal H Patel Law College
ABSTRACT
This research paper examines the dark
history of Great Britain's colonial rule over India, highlighting how the
British Empire's proclaimed greatness was built on exploitation, suffering, and
economic plunder. Despite Great Britain's global leadership in education,
engineering, and manufacturing during the 1800s, its policies in India led to
the deaths of millions during famines and the extraction of wealth estimated at
$43 trillion today.
The paper details British atrocities,
including the deliberate withholding of famine aid, racial discrimination
against Indian soldiers, and the suppression of Indian industries. It also
underscores the economic devastation caused by British colonization, which
transformed India from a thriving economy, contributing 27% to the world GDP,
into a deindustrialized colony.
Addressing arguments that British
rule brought benefits like railways and education, the paper contrasts these
with the advanced Indian systems existing before British intervention, arguing
that the narrative of British benevolence is a myth. The study calls for
acknowledgment and reparations from Great Britain for the immense suffering and
economic damage inflicted on India. It emphasizes the need for an official
apology and truthful education about colonial history to prevent future
injustices, highlighting the resilience and growth of post-colonial India as a
significant global power.
KEYWORDS - British Colonial Rule, India,
Economic Exploitation, , Historical Atrocities, Economic Impact,
Deindustrialization,, Indian Economy, Historical Analysis,
METHODOLOGY –
Literature Review: Conduct a comprehensive review of
historical texts, academic journals, and primary sources on British colonial
policies and their effects on India.
Data Collection: Gather quantitative data on economic
indicators and qualitative data from historical records and eyewitness accounts
during the colonial period.
Case Studies: Examine specific events and
policies, like the Bengal Famine and industrial suppression, to illustrate the
broader impacts of British rule.
Comparative Analysis: Compare pre-colonial and colonial
economic data to highlight changes in economic prosperity and evaluate British
justifications for colonization.
Critical Analysis: Assess the long-term effects of
colonial policies on post-colonial India's development and the perceived
benefits of British rule.
HISTORY OF INDIA
The almighty queen of the world was being
considered by the Britain in 1800s, and the authorities of the Queen were not
so pleased with being underprivileged and unimportant at that time. A thriving
country so to speak Britain was a few years back, one the leading nations for education,
engineering, doctors, lawyers, manufacturing, Import and export, and covering
other booming industries calling itself to be the leader wherever it is
mentioned. How ironically the stage of a great empowered empire is being secured
and constructed on the 25 million dead bodies in India during the famine under
World War.
The Stage of being one of the
strongest economies is formulated on the loot of 43 Trillion dollars [of today]
by India itself[1]. The
Title “GREAT” is merely to be suited when they sacrifice just not for their
Breads but for the Humanities in itself. It was simple or even fundamental to
call ‘Monarchy’ (the Queen) of India when the Proclamation of Queen’s 1858 was
stamped upon India, leaving us during The Great Famine to Die, just because
they were worried about stacking up their inventory for any future war that
might outbreak.[2] An
Inventory, where sufficient food was stock-up for the tummies that were pouring
out of the belt while sitting at a desk. In a painless tone, we were left to
die on roads. Speaking of which, British India was named by them for poorly
colonized India where children were sold by their mothers for a one-time meal,
where the body was pilled in the old well because no one was even present in
their family for the last ritual because all were extinct. The administration
of India was wounded by None other than Winston Churchill the hero of the
marauder, who was praised for what he had done for his homeland where Mr.
Churchill stayed in an order blaming the Indians for breeding like hens and
rabbits. A clear order by Mr. Churchill was made to the British Indian Authority,
“NOT TO
REPORT ANYONE DEATH THAT HAPPENED BY FAMINE”.
British-Indian Authority was scared
by the deaths and called it a black day. When they saw the dead bodies of poor,
malnourished lies unalive on the streets of Bengal. The sorrow was held in the
eyes of the authorities but No reports were made. An order by the queen was
furnished to stop the ships from Australia with the aid and shipments of foods that
were docked and vogue towards Britain. The forces in the British army were from
India and Gurkha were 1,50,000 soldiers who were lined up on the Battlefield
for the Queen to fight. From them, more than 50,000 soldiers died, thousands
were injured, many of them were imprisoned and the Families of a few soldiers
didn’t recover their loved once bodies. They rant about the pay grade of these
Indian soldiers who a matter of fact were always awarded with being on Low posts
and faced racism and discrimination and were paid 11 rupees [ a month] and 3
times a meal. Indians were only in armies to feed their family because the
British administration was not even providing citizens with a bare minimum of
food supplies, and stated,
‘If
Indians served as soldiers for the queen they’ll be provided with
3 courses
of the meal.’
The Tax structure was not new to
Native Indians, before the invasion of the British into India, Indians were
taxed in 4 stages in which the highest revenue was generated by the crop tax on
the farmers itself of 1/3 of crop consideration had to be given as tax, and other
classes where taxed on their commodities and tributes used to work as yearly
Tax[3].
The GDP contribution was 27% to the whole world economy, and later the Invasions
of the Mughals didn’t hamper the status of India as a thriving nation under
Handlooms and Handicrafts artifacts[4].
In India, the coast areas such as Bengal, Kerala, and Surat were the most
advanced so to speak in the manufacturing of Ships, as it was estimated ship
lifespans were about 20 years and were made with excellent materials such as copper,
wood, iron, gold, brass. On the other hand, British Ships where lasted near
about 8 to 10 years and were poorly managed. The queen's rule so to speak was
not so effective creating a huge economic crisis due to trade masters such as
Dutch, French, and Spanish. The geographical conditions made it even harder
with harsh conditions to survive without the import of goods. With the order of
the Queen and 7000 Pounds Britain was set to build his nation and landed on
India.
A nation with foreign domineering was
not new to India but their Political and Administration were new and far easier
for Indians to understand the “Colonization Policy” they carried. Looted India
for 200 years creating the HUB of using India as an export Colony and emptying
the India Economic Treasury, Deindustrialized India to be the leading expert in
Industrialization, Destructed the Handloom industry even order to cut off the
thumb of weavers so they could not work, destroyed their machines beaten them
to death, looted the golds and precious stones, artifacts, arts, history,
culture symbols as they admitted it will look splendorous in their garden. They
Brought rules, acts, religions, chatters, and codes just to destroy and to fill
their pockets. They even created the act where the religious temples, Masjids,
were governed by them, they took lands and started controlling them by writs of
Quo-warranto.[5] They
never pulled the shackles by this time, they worked further deeper into religious
matters and brought the Cantonment Act of 1864, where the prostitution of the devadasi
and tawaifs took place.
The arguments that be presented by
most of the people who supported colonization and other Brits around the world about
Railways, Western Education, Social reforms, Courts, and Aids of today that be
given to India. 2000 years ago, India was a leading economic power around the
globe where 27% of world GDP can be traced down to the earliest sources,
with such power, money, and control hand by Hindustan, where artisans famous
for craftsmanship, business, innovation, arts, engineering and designs it is
relatively possible to construct a better railway system as japan has one. Ruled
for 200 years Crushed India under its rule and imminent with a fact of railways,
are such that when in your house there is burglary going on and the thief hits
his thumb and now everyone is equal.
The railway's first track was 37 km
long from Bombay to Thane[6]
used for goods and supplies to carry from one place to another just for their
purpose. The shareholders of the Company were promised of 5% incentive or
interest to be given to the investors from the railways. Such profits were cut
from the pockets of poor peasants because the manufacturing of tracks and
trains were made in Britain, where people had low skills and took more money to
innovate things, and then shipped back to India and the whole installation process
took a heap of money but still was made because the shareholders where flourished
with profits of 5% made out of tax revenue paid by poor Indians.
Speaking of education, the IKS [
Indian Knowledge System] around 2000 years back has the most advanced knowledge
to offer including History, Philosophy, political science, administration,
military strategies, Mathematics, Astrology, languages, Vedic knowledge, and
other subjects. The British were sure that this knowledge was the finest and
needed a way to just start education in such a way that they worked as workers
for them. In the English Education Act of 1835 Lord William Bentinck[7],
the Governor-General of the British East India Company stated that funding on
Indian Literacy, was an easy way to control them and creating a false ideology
of Western cultures and award them with a false preserved thinking of they
being one of them. Later on, the funds under the British parliament were
released and it was equal to 1 Lakh rupees and sent to Christian missionaries,
1 lakh was a fair amount for the whole Indian Education system. Here interesting
fact was that 29.02 pounds were given a day to maintain the uniforms of
soldiers which is 870.6 pounds a year which is equalized to 92,170.422 in today's
money almost 90% of the education budget was spent on the Uniforms they carry. Education
was only awarded to the Middle class or Higher classes so to speak of the
Privileged class.
Aids which a few years back England
mentioned to India was Only 0.4% or close to it, by the fact India spends more
on subsidiaries of crops in different parts of the state itself. The court
system was in place and working fine with Royal courts where Rajas used to be
present, in the Book by Megasthenes, who was a Greek ambassador when he
was under the court of Chandragupta Maurya an impression of an efficient court
was run with the help of Arthashastra[8].
Under the Mughal Era, the courts were also adequate and the courts had multiple
levels to appeal against the Zamindari under a small taluka. As the dharma and
natural justices were the base of the Indian Judiciary system the corruption
was owned by the British under its judiciary where a constant failure of power
was seen due to ineffectiveness and administration interference in the work was
carried out.
Corruption indeed is the legacy that
is being condemned by India, the lower court was handled by laymen, incompetent
judges, and their favorite merchants, the police were corrupted, and policies
were infamous, and the people of India were left to die on the streets. Mr
Churchill was a hero under the crown and on the other hand people were
atrociously treated as slaves for their lives, people were getting murdered and
killed just for one Flag to be hosted for the rest of their lives.
The Rebellions were trashed under the
rule that the shoot-on-sight was ordered. Humanity which today England claims
to promote was taken into a satanic uprising. General Dyer was set free by the
hunter committee with no charges for the massacre that occurred under
Jallianwala Bagh. They all bragged about imposing 80% tariff and taxes on
products and also stated on paper in parliament
“We have
put the highest amount of taxes on India to the extent such all the resources
will be drained”[9].
Britain was proud that an achievement
of Satan was proved, Millions were dead, lakhs of families lost their loved
ones, people died without food on the streets, body of them were piled and
burned like animals, and mothers sold their children for food, husbands drained
their wife’s just because they don’t die to starvation.
This act was an inhuman approach
towards humans. They were made by White British because Indians Speak differently,
Look Different, and have money that could be earned with good trade relations
and in an appropriate way. Still, the Queen chose a vicious way and did all the
atrocious acts just for Money and to make them “THE GREAT BRITAIN” As the Ruler
of the world they thought history would be suppressed by great leaders like
Winston Churchill, Elizabeth 1, Victoria and Kings Charles and their other
Members. India was left by them in 1947 or to be stated thrown out near the
dates. India was under the ash of colonization, only 3% of the GDP contribution
was left, only 7% of people were engaged in Handicrafts, and sanctioned with no
money left for the Indians[10].
For the last 70 years, we have never faced a major famine, never had a major
recession, thrived as a superpower leading into industries, and now After 200
years, England has the audacity to even speak of aid to India.
The Not So Great Britain owes an
apology to every Indian and family that lost everything because the queen
needed “GREAT” in the country's name. Britain had reparations and needed to be
admitted, and No 43 Trillion dollars would solve the problem and crisis
faced by India, as it didn’t even help Britain for so many years, it faced a
severe crisis, a weakened economy, deficits with employment, and other factors.
An apology to every nation on public
sources by the queen and the government is what a true democracy will spark as.
A nation where their people have to learn about their personal colonization
history, their radical and racial discrimination, and the histories of great
leaders, queens, and subordinates have to be presented to their new generation.
Suppressing history always repeats itself. A coin has two faces and the
possibility of getting heads or tails lies in the flip of it, Similarly, the UK
has gotten into a trap of flips where in recent times it clearly depicts itself
to be a very thriving supporter of India, but under an interview with India’s
foreign minister respected Mr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, England stated, ‘India
purchasing oil from Russia at a lower price in a situation where the EU and
Western Countries are restricting the trades via sanctioned on Russia.’[11]
The question of Western media
highlighting a nation tie where an approach for 140 billion people is to be
taken into consideration, where such a large population has to fill their
plates with food, where such a large number of people have to work to push
other’s western economy too, putting up a question to define its ties is only
to mock a nation of being unworthy of trust. But Astonishingly England tends to
forget that under the EU nation UK is the biggest Importer of Russian Barrels
of Oil. The UK itself is the biggest Importer of Crude Oil from Russia unless
the World Media demands a sanction on Russia.
The Trade partner or Aid partner just
to be accurate under the terms, the UK has invested around 2.3 Billion
pounds via FDCO, BII, etc. Investing rovers, but has to which 2016 to 2021 is
the year of Billion-pound investment which were carried on under general and
global general market contributing none or far lessor to India[12].
The Economic structure had been destroyed via the rule of 2 centuries, and lots
of aid will be required to compensate for that.
As to speaking of Numbers, it is a
well-established fact that the UK has outnumbered India under Industrialization
for only one fact because we used it as an Export Colony of Cheap Raw Material.
The Indian Economy franticly got crushed under the British Raj but at the time
of partition, the world-class Brits purposely supported the idea of 2 Nations
with Mountbatten plans. The plan ended the integrity and sovereignty of India
itself establishing India and Pakistan of today.
The Democratic ties of both nations
i.e. UK and India have become better in recent times after New Prime Minister
Mr. Rishi Sunak held the office. Once upon a time, Under the British Railway
Dogs and Indians weren’t allowed, and that changed. India now after 75 years of
independence is growing to its potential and becoming a flourishing nation, and
under such a new modern India it has created a positive impact and relationship
with the UK. Such maturity under relation has resulted in many bilateral
agreements, Aids, and other Economic growth being overflowed towards each
other.
Under Asia, India and China are top
players dominating the Western market via production, manufacturing, and
consumer market consumption, the needs of India emerging as an ‘imminent growth
market’ have made formulating needs of India into the trade list of other
nations. India grew under the Export market by 11.4% (345 Billion dollars)
in 2023 as compared to China’s Growth of 10.1%. The Market cap of India in the Global
Market surged to 24.5% (5.23 Trillion Dollars) in the year 2024 compared
to the UK's 2,642.196(USD bn) in May 2024.[13]
India’s growth rate as per MOSPI is 8.2%
under FY24 which for 3 quarters maintained about 8% on constant. [14]Under
renewable energy, India’s growth rate is by an annual growth rate of 4.94%
is expected (CAGR 2024-2029)[15],
Rate of growth of health care reflects a 12.59 % increase from 2024 to
2025, In the case of employment growth from 2017 to 2023 India has shown a
favorable growth under the market Indicating growth from 46% to 56% and unemployment
rate plunged from 6% to 3.2%.[16]
After Witnessing the vicious era of
colonization and deindustrialization India emerged as a superpower and became a
great leader in the Global Market. Shockingly under 75 years of independence
being a nation of 140 billion people, having a democratic approach, witnessing
several wars, having such harsh conditions, and still managing to lead under
the Global Market has proved that a nation once called ‘Golden Sparrow’ would
always be a Golden Sparrow.
As it is said by Swami Vivekananda
–
"We are responsible for what we
are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.
If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly
follows that whatever we wish to be in the future can be produced by our
present actions; so we have to know how to act.”
India’s power, money, and resources
are the people of India itself, a nation that upholds his people first in every
situation, the youth of India is the real treasure, and the mindset of people
is the real by-product of modernization, Great Leaders of India are the
reflation of our culture. No colonization mindset can take the essence of its
people, India fights with its own problems and every nation as subjective
difficulties but the nourishment and love you get from this diverse country
makes you fall for this nation and be it forever. As an Indian, I am proud of
my nation and hold no hatred towards any nation as our culture is as welcoming
as it was 200 years before as it is 200 years after and will be forever. JAI
HIND.
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[1] By Hindustan times Articles
[2] Inglorious Empire –Shashi Tharoor
[3] National Council of Educational
Research and Training book
[4] Bipin Chandra pal book Modern
History
[5] Inglorious Empire –Shashi Tharoor
[6] Indian Railway by Rail recipe
[7] Bipin Chandra Pal – Modern History
[8] Indica – by Megasthenes
[9] Parliamentary document stated
under parliament of England in 19th Century.
[10] Inglorious Empire –Shashi Tharoor
[11] International Press Conference in
London (ANI)
[12] icai.independent.gov.uk report on
aid
[13] By Economic Times Report on Apr
26, 2024,
[14] By Economic Times Report on 31 May
2024
[15] By Economic Times Report
[16] By TIME OF INDIA Report on Apr 24,
2024