The Negative Impact: The British ruled over India for about 200 years. They came to India to trade. However, gradually they colonized and took over power from the princely rulers. Whenever a country imposes its rule on another country, it always has an impact on the country’s culture, economy and life Style. 1. The British dented our country’s progress in many ways. Most parts of India had separate crops grown on the ridge and furrow. This helped to maintain the fertility of the soil. However, the British transformed the agricultural system of India to suit their own needs. They made the Indian farmers plant the same crop in the ridge and furrow. As a result of this, the soil began to lose its fertility. Bengal was transformed from a rich fertile land to a poor infertile land. Similarly, in the Deccan region they introduced sugarcane plantations along with cotton. Both the crops absorb nutrients from the soil. Soon there developed a huge gap between the deletion of nutrients and the replenishing of the land with the same. Moreover, there were no artificial fertilizers then. As a result, the country with the largest area of cultivable land became the country with famine and drought. 2. The British used to take raw materials from India, manufacture goods in England and sell them back to India. They also sowed an idea in the Indian mind that the nation is incapable of change. This destroyed the spirit of many Indians who lost the sense of nationalism. The British used the policy of divide and rule and pitted the Hindus against the Muslims. 3. India had a balance between industries and agriculture but the British transformed India to a fully agricultural nation and all industries were wiped out. As agriculture suffered with no income, the Indian economy suffered a hard set back. The cost of administration was borne by the Indians and the high salary of the staff would go to England since the British were the rulers. With regard to export and import, the British made a lot of money as they imposed duties on goods. The British were able to make profit on every enterprise. As Dadabhai Nawroji said, ‘the British drained India of its wealth.’ The British transformed one of the richest economies of the world in to one of the poorest.
The positive Impact:
The British also did much good to improve India.
1. They introduced education to all and the study of English, as they wanted people to work in their offices. 2. The transportation and communication system in India are their gift to us. 3. India benefited quite much from the Railway system as it connected many parts of the country, though for their own purpose. 4. Our judiciary and legislative assemblies are also a blessing of the British Imperialists. 5. Many of the customs in the military have their roots in the British rule. 6. India owes a lot to the British for an administrative mechanism today in our country. Some of the Indian rituals and socially harmful customs like that of the SATI were banned, the Thugi was controlled by employing severe punishment for the thugs. 6. They established laws on minimum wage and child labour.
Conclusion: Depends on what one looks for and his/her mind frame.
0 comments:
Post a Comment