Question

What were the positive and negative effects of british rule on indians?

Answer 1

Positive effects of British colonial rule:

Job opportunities: British rule in India made many job opportunities available for the Indian locals. There were many options for joining the military, as daily laborers, drivers, servants for Britishers and later the Indian civil services to earn the living during British rule.

Infrastructure development: Britishers during their rule did a lot of work in building roads, hospitals, schools and other infrastructural projects in India. While most of these developments were for their selfish interests, These developments did help in making life easier to some extent for Indians.

The introduction of new ideas and avenues: Although largely for their self-interests Britishers introduces some great avenues like Indian railways were introduced by them primarily to ship raw materials to Britain. Also, they introduce Indian postage system and abolished outdated customs like ‘suti’.

Stable economy: Unlike many Indian rulers who made arbitrary land tax and other such laws to increase their revenues as for and when they needed, British kept the uniforms tax rules throughout their time in India which helped in stabilizing the economy.

Safety: since India was the part of the British economy, it provided a safety net from the invasion of traditional enemies like Afghanistan, Persia and other western countries who wanted to colonize the country themselves. British rule thus protected India from all the enemies.

External opportunity: British rule in India gave the chance to rich Indians for availing opportunities of higher studies in the west. Few Indians, with means, used this excellent chance to study in Britain including Mahatma Gandhi.



Freedom from arbitrary rules: Britishers known for their discipline and strict rules made sure that all the rules are uniformly enforced and followed by everyone, unlike Indian rulers who with their power worked as they liked with no uniformity across.



Negative effects of British rule:

No decision making : During British rule, Indians had no decision-making or political power in any area. India lost its self-identity and once known for its rich culture, became the slave to Britishers.

Disruption of harmony: British used ‘divide and rule’ policy to make the Indians fight with other so they can use them for their self-interest. While Indians fought with each other, Britishers used the opportunity to conquer Indian places to extend their political influence. They made Indian rulers redundant.

Religious differences: Britishers for the first time started the hatred of communism between the Hindus and Muslims of India which later led to the division of the country into India and Pakistan.

High taxation: India under British rule struggled with high taxation rules which were almost impossible for craftsmen to pay to lead to the all time decline of Indian handicrafts which was world famous before Britisher’s invasion to India.

No economic growth : India made zero growth economically during Britishers rule from 1857-1947 as there were no opportunities for growth.

British rule was one of the toughest time India faced as the country. India got affected in many ways during British colonial rule but there was a positive side too, which cannot be denied either.