The Benefits of British Rule

Brett Fields
World History II Section 003
Professor Haug

India was a British colony in the 18th century between 1858 and 1947, the Indian solders assisted the British to conquer India, and they were however mistreated at the hands of their colonizers and denied higher positions which they were qualified for. This was a strategy used by the colonizers to ensure that they maintain control and power over the natives. Moreover Indians were traded as slaves to other British colonies where they provided free labor which enhanced the growth of the Britain economy. In the process of exploiting India, the British improved the transport system through construction of roads and railways to ease the transportation of manufactured goods such as textiles and machines. The improved transport system eased the movement of goods and people and improved. People were able to access the market easily and it led to the spread of trade.
The judicial system was improved through establishment of law courts where disputes and cases could be settled amicably. In order to incorporate democracy, schools and universities were established, since the native only spoke in their mother tongue, they had to be taught English for easier communication. Christianity was also introduced by the missionaries, who also did some translation of the bible to the native Arabic languages.
British rule in India had both benefits and detriments to the citizens. To start with the benefits experienced included:The Indians had a practice of burying their widows alongside their husband’s corpse. They could be tied to a pile to prevent them from running away, a practice termed; “concremation”, the British outlawed the practice and introduced a rule where the Hindu widows could be remarried. Schools and universities were introduced; this assisted the natives to obtain an education which would play a role of helping them increase their knowledge and hence led to better equipped individuals who were to improve their countries economy.
The improved civilization helped reduce oppression caused by the rulers. There was freedom of speech, association which ensured justice prevailed among the natives. Democracy was introduced such that Indians had an opportunity to select their leaders.
There was increase in exports with the improved transport system, goods such as tea, indigo were transported to other countries which ensured that they earned foreign exchange and lead to improved economy. The Indians were issued with loans from England. This money was used in constructing railways to ease transport and in irrigation of the plants
Despite all these benefits the native Indians also faced some detriments on the other hand, these included: Indians were denied political positions; the British believed the admission of natives to high offices must be effected slowly. This was to protect their interests and power over the Indians such that they could not be overthrown. As Macaulay puts it; "Propter vitam vivendi perdere causas,”["To lose the reason for living, for the sake of staying alive"]. Many are the times when the British breached the promises and pledges made to the native on their inclusion to the governance of the county.
New modes of taxations were devised, but the natives never had the means to raise the money to be paid as tax. This was an exploitative move by the Britons; it increased the inequitable financial relation between England and India. The British established a textileindustry in Britain and would buy wool at a cheaper price from India manufacture clothes and sell them to the Indians at an expensive price. This exploitation lead many Indians being unemployed. On the contrary the Britain economy improved greatly, on account of the materials from India.
The British’ main role in India was to bring civilization to the people. They did this by establishing schools and universities where the locals improved their knowledge. With education came the need to do away with some of the traditions which were detrimental to the society well-being. Widows were not required to marry again after the demise of their husbands
There was creation of social amenities such as health centers and hospitals which in general helped reduced the number of deaths greatly as the people could seek medical attention from the hospitals as opposed to other traditional methods which were less effective. The transport system was also improved by construction of roads and railway lines. This eased the movement of people from one place to another as they took part in trade. Certain industries were set up, which provided employment opportunities and increased the amount of goods available to be transported as exports.
The missionaries visited India during this colonial period and introduced Christianity to the Indians. Since they had to learn how to read the bible, they went to school and got the necessary skills which would later be required as some of them became clergymen. They also used the knowledge acquire in bible translation to help spread the gospel to the natives were not conversant with the English language.
The British aimed to reduce the dependency of the natives; this was a selfish move as they only targeted the improvement of their economy.
Most Indians knew only their vernacular language; as such it was hard for them to be educated by use of their mother-tongue. They were taught a foreign language; English which eased the communication especially in the schools, since the tutors were of British origin. Some translations of the books were made to the Sanscrit and Arabic dialect which were the common native languages.
Indian writers Dadabhai Naoroji and Raja Rammohan Roy have given an opinion as to how they viewed the British rule in the 18th century. Both of them agree that through the British rule, India has developed, despite the developments observed, they also enumerate some weaknesses accustoming the colonization period. Dadabhai Naoroji appreciates what the British did for his country as he clearly states in his summary: “the British rule has been: morally, a great blessing; politically, peace and order on one hand, blunders on the other; materially, impoverishment, relieved as far as the railway and other loans go. “ He appreciates the effort done to improve an otherwise dwindling economy.
As Naoroji summarized the benefits; “A slowly growing desire of late to treat India equitably, and as a country held in trust. Good intentions. No nation on the face of the earth has ever had the opportunity of achieving such a glorious work as this. I hope in the credit side of the account I have done no injustice, and if I have omitted any item which anyone may think of importance, I shall have the greatest pleasure in inserting it. I appreciate, and so do my countrymen, what England has done for India, and I know that it is only in British hands that her regeneration can be accomplished”, it can clearly be alluded that he was in full support and appreciation of what the Britons did to improve his country India.
Raja Rammohan Roy studies extensively the practice of burning widows alive. He gives a defense on why women should not be considered as the inferior gender if they are not given an equal opportunity as their male counterparts as he outlines; “If, after instruction in knowledge and wisdom, a person cannot comprehend or retain what has been taught him, we may consider him as deficient; but as you keep women generally void of education and acquirements, you cannot, therefore, in justice pronounce on their inferiority.” Many accusations are thrown at women which Roy considers as injustice as he enumerates in his article, these accusations do not have any basis whatsoever as he advocates for them to be disregarded. Roy in regard to marriage arrangement had this objective: “with respect to their subjection to the passions, this may be judged of by the custom of marriage as to the respective sexes; for one man may marry two or three, sometimes even ten wives and upwards; while a woman, who marries but one husband, desires at his death to follow him, forsaking all worldly enjoyments, or to remain leading the austere life of an ascetic.”
In their defense, Roy saw it not fair for a man to have many wives and fail to provide for her and her children. In such situations the woman would rely on her brothers and father for the children upkeep. Where a husband takes two or three wives to live with him, they are subjected to mental miseries and constant quarrels. The benefits outweigh by far the detriments brought about by the British rule. It has improved the Indian economy greatly in all sectors that is; politically, socially, economically. The Indian authors seem to support this fact as they seek ways in which they can reduce the negative effects.

References

Bose, Sudhindra. Some aspects of British rule in India,. Iowa City: The University, 1916.

Embree, Ainslie Thomas. Charles Grant and British rule in India. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962.

Eraly, Abraham. India. New York, N.Y.: DK Pub., 2008.

Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan. British rule in India and after,. 6th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1964. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857.

Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934.

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[ 1 ]. Bose, Sudhindra. Some aspects of British rule in India,. Iowa City: The University, 1916.
[ 2 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857.

Bose, Sudhindra. Some aspects of British rule in India,. Iowa City: The University, 1916.
[ 3 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857.
[ 4 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857.
[ 5 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857.
[ 6 ]. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan. British rule in India and after,. 6th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1964.
[ 7 ]. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan. British rule in India and after,. 6th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1964.
[ 8 ]. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan. British rule in India and after,. 6th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1964.
[ 9 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934.
[ 10 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934.
[ 11 ]. Eraly, Abraham. India. New York, N.Y.: DK Pub., 2008.
[ 12 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934.
[ 13 ]. Embree, Ainslie Thomas. Charles Grant and British rule in India. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962.
[ 14 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934.
[ 15 ]. Eraly, Abraham. India. New York, N.Y.: DK Pub., 2008.

References: Bose, Sudhindra. Some aspects of British rule in India,. Iowa City: The University, 1916. Embree, Ainslie Thomas Eraly, Abraham. India. New York, N.Y.: DK Pub., 2008. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934. -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. Bose, Sudhindra. Some aspects of British rule in India,. Iowa City: The University, 1916. [ 2 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857. Bose, Sudhindra [ 3 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857. [ 4 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857. [ 5 ]. Martineau, Harriet. British rule in India; a historical sketch.. London: Smith, Elder and Co.; [etc.], 1857. [ 6 ]. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan. British rule in India and after,. 6th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1964. [ 7 ]. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan. British rule in India and after,. 6th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1964. [ 8 ]. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar, and Savitri Mahajan. British rule in India and after,. 6th ed. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1964. [ 9 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934. [ 10 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934. [ 11 ]. Eraly, Abraham. India. New York, N.Y.: DK Pub., 2008. [ 12 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934. [ 13 ]. Embree, Ainslie Thomas. Charles Grant and British rule in India. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962. [ 14 ]. Thompson, Edward John, and G. T. Garratt. Rise and fulfillment of British rule in India,. London: Macmillan and Co., 1934. [ 15 ]. Eraly, Abraham. India. New York, N.Y.: DK Pub., 2008.