What bad things did the British do to India?
Up to 35 million died unnecessarily in famines; London ate India’s bread while India starved, and in 1943 nearly four million Bengalis died. It was their own fault, according to the odious Churchill, for “breeding like rabbits”. Collectively, these famines amounted to a “British colonial holocaust”.
Why did UK invade 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.
How did Britain lose India?
The country was deeply divided along religious lines. In 1946-47, as independence grew closer, tensions turned into terrible violence between Muslims and Hindus. In 1947 the British withdrew from the area and it was partitioned into two independent countries – India (mostly Hindu) and Pakistan (mostly Muslim).
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.
Was British colonialism good or bad for India?
But many historians generally consider the British presence in India, while at times horrifically violent, to be one of the most benevolent and productive in colonial history. …
What were the positive effects of British rule in India?
Positive Impact: Some positive impact of the British rule in India were the introduction of the railways, post and telegraph system for masses, introduction of Western sceinces and the English language. However, it is to be noted that the British intorduced railways for its own benifits.
Who looted India most?
Emperor Nader Shah, the Shah of Persia (1736–47) and the founder of the Iranian Afsharid dynasty of Persia, invaded Northern India, eventually attacking Delhi in March 1739.
How did the British drain wealth away from India?
The exact mechanism of drain, or transfers from India to Britain was quite simple. The key factor was Britain’s control over our taxation revenues combined with control over India’s financial gold and forex earnings from its booming commodity export surplus with the world.