Perhaps the biggest contribution of British in India was removal of social practices like Sati, child marriage, untouchability. Not only they banned such cruel inhumane practices, they also promoted a widow’s remarriage. Just imagine what India would be if such practices still existed.
What did the British bring to India?
The British view tended to portray British rule as a charitable exercise – they suffered India’s environment (eg climate, diseases) in order to bring to India good government and economic development (eg railways, irrigation, medicine). Modern admirers of British rule also note these benefits.
What benefits did India gain from British rule?
Improvement of government in the native states. Security of life and property. Services of educated administrators, who have achieved these results. Materially: Loans for railways and irrigation. Development of a few valuable products, such as indigo, tea, coffee, silk, etc.
Why did Britain give up India?
Due to the Naval Mutiny, Britain decided to leave India in a hurry because they were afraid that if the mutiny spread to the army and police, there would be large scale killing of Britishers all over India. Hence Britain decided to transfer power at the earliest.
Why did the British go to India?
The British East India Company came to India as traders in spices, a very important commodity in Europe back then as it was used to preserve meat. Apart from that, they primarily traded in silk, cotton, indigo dye, tea and opium. They landed in the Indian subcontinent on August 24, 1608, at the port of Surat.
Was India rich before British rule?
From 1 century CE till the start of British colonisation in India in 17th century, India’s GDP always varied between ~25 – 35% world’s total GDP, which dropped to 2% by Independence of India in 1947. At the same time, the Britain’s share of the world economy rose from 2.9% in 1700 up to 9% in 1870 alone.
How did the British treat India?
They legally and socially discriminated against Indians and people of mixed race, who were also shunned by Indian people. They forced Indian farmers into a global market and mandated the growth of commercial crops, which left them open to the ups and downs of supply and demand.
What impact did British have on India?
They forced the commercialisation of agriculture with the growing of various cash crops and the raw materials for the industries in the Britain. With the strong political control, the British were able to monopolise the trade with India. They defeated their foreign rivals in trade so that there could be no competition.
What is the real reason behind Indian independence?
The INC and Home Rule
It was only after the turn of the century that Congress began to support the growing home rule, and later independence movements in India. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, the party gained votes through its attempts to eradicate religious and ethnic divisions, caste differences and poverty.
How did British exploit India?
The British East India Company made its sneaky entry through the Indian port of Surat in 1608. … After the Indian Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the British government assumed full control, dissolving the trading company. Imperial rule destroyed India’s local hand loom industry to fund its own industrialization.
What would have happened if Britain never ruled India?
India would probably be a continent in itself consisting of 30-40 states each aligning its identity to a language or religion. They either have monarchies, parliamentary systems or a presidential system, some being stronger than others. Border security would be tight due to terrorism and revolts by Naxalites.