British Imperialism In India

The mining industry also didn't help because it was taking 16 million tons of coal a year from the Indians (16). While the Indians lost their resources the English made off with a lot of money and India's resources. British imperialism had a positive impact on the economy of India because the British eliminated highway robberies, widow suicides and female infanticide. The British also brought English to Indians. Highway robbery was an extremely big problem in India causing people not to use the highways also widow suicide is when the husband dies the window will commit suicide along with the husband because women were seen as a useful and then the infanticide of female babies was when the parents would kill their female babies because they did not want to give the person who was to marry her any money(18).

However India did get some things out of its own conquest. The British were fairly gentlemanly in their actions in India. The terrible act of Siraj-ud-Dowla, imprisoning 146 Britons in the Black Hole of Calcutta, showed in some ways the psyche of some of the rulers of India and the British civilising influence must have had some effect on most Indians quality of life, for the better. I do not feel however, that the British went to India in order to civilise the culture, I do not believe that their motives were that selfless, the civilising influence seems to have simply been a by-product of the fact that the Britains came.

As India’s modernization developed, the entire civilization of India improved remarkably. The country’s improvement of civilization is exemplified through it’s establishment of schools and law. Western education was introduced by Britain and laws were well made with courts that enforce them. (Doc 3). One should take into account the speaker of this document because Romesh Dutt is an Indian like any other, yet he praises the British for what they have done to contribute to the development of India. In addition to these establishments is Britain bringing finer ideals of humanity to India. Infanticide, the killing of female babies, was brought to a halt as well as participation in the slave trade (Doc 5). Without the interference of Britain, these inhumane actions would be prevalent throughout India and the country would suffer from a bad reputation. These

British imperialism had a negative impact on the politics of India because of the establishment of the framework for India that leads to their downfall and the Indian Army which they used to control their own kind. According to Dr.Lalvani, the British established the framework for India’s justice system, civil services, loyal army, and the efficient loyal police. (Paragraph #6). While this is true, the framework didn’t include the Indians, because “Of 960 civil offices, 900 are occupied by English men and 60 by natives”(Doc. #2). British laws often benefited the British and were designed to limit the freedom of speech of the Indians, for example, the Rowlatt Act in 1919. (Gandhi). This evidence shows that the British, when creating the framework for the new and improved India wanted to benefit from it while trying to lower the Indian’s and limit the

Politically the British benefited more than the Indians. According to Dr. Lalvani the British imperializing India led to the Indians having the world's largest democracy and the British established the framework for India’s justice system, civil service, loyal army and efficient police force. Although, the British led to the largest democracy in India today. According to document 2, when the British imperialized India they had 900 Englishmen employed in the civil offices out of 960, the remaining 60 were occupied by Indians or natives.

This lead to the British using the army in wrong ways and the government being mostly white foreigners. The British made the Indian army and military academies to train officers. (According to Dr.Lalvani) However the British ended up using the Indian army against the Indians for example the Amritsar massacre. (Gandhi). The British created a superbly efficient administration over 500 million diverse people. (According to Dr.Lalvani) On the other hand as good as this may be the British government over India consisted of 960 officers, 900 of which were Englishmen. (Document 2). Because of this the Indians felt as if they had no responsibility over their own

Often people like to defend that “The world’s largest democracy… Is largely due to British imperial rule” (Lalvani), however of “960 civil offices… 900 are occupied by Englishmen and only 60 by natives” (Doc 2). While India might have had a strong government and democracy, only 6% was actually controlled by Indians meaning Englishmen had nearly all of the control. Regardless of the fact that it was the Indian’s land and government- the British took their voice and power away from them. Some may also argue that “The British established framework for India’s justice system, civil service, loyal army, and efficient police force” (Lalvani), however taxes were still being increased despite knowing most Indians couldn’t even provide food for themselves (Doc 3). India was only being used for profit.

The British starved the indians to death literally, so many people were dieing because they got no food. The British stole all of the India’s government away from them and changed it. The British were tearing down their forests and using it to plant cash crops/ crops. They also made it to where they stopped the spreading of new languages and their cultures. Although the British had power their rule

Dr. Lalvani claims that “Indians success, is largely due to British imperial rule.” The British didn't just establish the framework for the justice system for India but it established the civil service, loyal army and efficient police force (Document

British imperialism did not benefit the Indians politically because the British maintained almost a complete control of the government and also controlling the Indians lives, a way they did that was by having the police kill innocent people. Their police killed 400 people at Amritsar because they were protesting (Gandhi). Yes, the British might of had a well established efficient government in their eyes because they had everything under control but, out of the 960 people who ran their government only 60 of them were Indian and the other 900 were British (Doc 2). That matters

Would you like if someone came into your house and start changing everything you do? Well, that is what the British did to India but on a bigger scale. The British thought that Indian had a lot of resources, which it did it was called “Jewel in the crown.” So, they came in and started changing their political, economic, and social ways of life. There were some positives and some negative to what happens when the British control India. This was a negative effect of India because they had no responsibility in their government, forced to grow cash crops, and learning the English language. Although I believe it was negative, some people believe it was a positive effect on India.

It did bring: western-style secondary schools, western technology, such as railroads and medical knowledge, great security and order, relatively honest and efficient government

Wealthy young Indians were packed off to Britain to study and returned home “well-trained” (Dr. Lalvani) However, in India, the literacy percentages increased when British no longer had control over Indians and India got their independence. They sent Indians to study but the real effect happened after the Independence. “British governance was the only time period in Indian history when the minorities and people of different religion felt more secure and less discriminated… with a notable absence of killing…” (Dr. Lalvani) Although, the British government forced people to grow cash crops like indigo and cotton.

Though it is a fact that the British in India administered an efficient government and civil services, these actions ultimately hurt the Indians because of the British dominated parliament and the administration of oppressive laws. Dr. Lalvani claims that while in power, the British governed 500 million people of diverse religions in a “superbly efficient” manor. The reason that British India was efficient was because the British held complete control. The Indian government contained only 6% of native Indian officials, while the overwhelming majority were British foreigners (Doc #2). This lead to laws that hurt the Indians and helped the British such as laws like the Salt Act that devastated Indian taxes and revenue (Doc #2). This is significant because it does not matter if the British government was effective if it oppressed the Indian majority with little representation and unfair laws.

Britain had a desire to have a more economic, political, and social influence over India. Even though the British never preserved a notable military existence in India, they were able to maintain political control. Many changes were made, which benefitted India, but there were also some changes, which contributed to its deterioration. Despite the negative impacts Britain left on India, imperialism is best understood as a strong country extending its authority, in order to increase its wealth, by bringing more of the world under its control, because Britain helped in the development of India from a nation-state, to a unified country, which is modernly the world’s largest democracy.