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United Kingdom (1) In our time the legacy of colonialism is usually talked about in negative terms. It is rightly suggested that the colonial period, in worlds history, is marked with massive violations of native peoples rights. Also, contemporary critics point out to the fact that natural recourses, in underdeveloped countries, were being exploited in the most shameless manner, by the colonial powers. Yet, it is also an undeniable fact that the countries, which have a colonial legacy, as part of its history, had also benefited from it, in many different ways.
In this essay we will analyse the effects of British rule in India. From 1858 to 1947, India remained a British colony, although officially, it consisted of semi-independent principalities. There were no more that 60. 000 Brits, at any given moment, throughout this time, yet they were able to subject 60 million of locals with ease. Historians are still puzzled about how they were able to do this, especially given the fact that Indians are very ancient people, with well developed culture, which in many respects, proved even to be superior to English. In India Brits were dealing not just with a primitive tribes of savages, like in Africa these were people with well-developed sense of cultural identity. We know of only one time when there was an attempt to overthrow British rule.
This happened in 1857, when Sepoys, who were predominantly Muslims, learned that Brits used pork to seal rifle cartridges. This resulted in many bloody battles, but in the end, Britain was able to regain control of the country. By 1900 Britain was the most powerful nation in the world. Its fleet ruled the waves and there was no country in the world that was able to challenge Britains supremacy. Yet, it was India that allowed British Empire the global dominance, since 60 % of all British foreign trade accounted for the goods coming in and out of India.
Because of Britain, India still has the most developed railroad network in the world. British administrators were behind establishing of Indian universities. Many Indians share the opinion that one of the reasons, for their country being considered as the fourth most potent economical power in the world. is because of British colonial legacy. Even now, India tries to maintain close ties with Britain, by being a member of Commonwealth. This allows India to receive a financial aid, as well as to rely on British assistance, when it comes to dealing with numerous social and political problems. (2) The most obvious effect of British colonial rule in India is the fact that the English is second most spoken language in this country.
In schools, it is being given the status of first language, along with Indian local dialects. This gives Indians an advantage, when it comes to different kinds of international activity. Also, it makes it easier for the foreign businesses to operate in India, because there is no language barriers. Even the most ardent critics of British colonialism admit the fact that Indians had gained so much, out of being able to speak English. As the matter of fact, it is only after being translated in English, that the masterpiece of Indian literature Bhagavatgita, became known to the rest of the world.
It is not by mere chance that Britons used to refer to their colonial practices as white man's burden. They really did believe that they were bringing culture and progress to the native people, in Britain's numerous colonies. India is the country, where the positive effects of British colonial legacy, outweigh its negative impact. There were no universities, in India, in contemporary sense of this word, before 19 th century. Yet, by the time India has gained an independence, in 1947, it had 15 of them. At present time, there are 25 universities in India, which are known for its high educational standards.
Despite the fact that many Indians still remain illiterate, the country's educational progress can be considered as truly remarkable. But this would not be possible, if it wasn't up to British colonial rule. Although, many critics are now trying to diminish the importance of British involvement in establishing the system of high education in India, the truth is quite different. By the time Britons established control over India, they realized that its society was not socially progressing for thousands of years. The population was being divided by the caste system, which prevented any kind of political changes from taking place, before Britons arrived. It took a long time, for the local people, to be finally able to enjoy the fruits of Western civilization.
Another important effect of British colonial legacy in Britain is the fact that Britons introduced Indians to the principle of modern healthcare. Before 1800, there were no hospitals for public use in India, yet, by 1911 their number amounted for 5. 000. There is no doubt that this number was grossly inadequate, given the size India's population, even back then. Still, it is an undeniable fact that Britons had laid a foundation for the development of modern medicine in India.
The Indians were being encouraged to pursue the careers of doctor. Many of them were given free scholarships and were able to study medicine in Britain. Even up to this day, it is being considered as the great privilege for the student to be allowed to study in Britain. Britons introduced Indians to the system of vaccination, which significantly reduced the mortality rates.
Even though that many locals initially resisted it, by year 1945, the vaccination became a compulsory in many schools in India. This fact is often overlooked by many modern historians, who only focus on the negative effects of British rule in India. Many Indian cities still use the sewer system, which was being built by Britons, during the colonial times. This insures their normal functioning. Before the colonial times, such systems were virtually unknown to Indians.
It is well known that the population growth in India, before and during the British rule, was not quite as rapid as it is now. This was largely due to the fact that majority of Indians lived in anti sanitary conditions, which in its turn, kept the infant mortality rate very high. The building of sewer systems, in large Indian cities, local people still regard as one of the most important benefits of British colonial legacy. The agricultural progress in India can also be attributed to British rule. It is known that India's climatic contrition's require soil to be constantly irrigated, in order to yield good crops. This requires a well planned irrigation system.
Britons knew this better than anybody else. It is them who built 10. 000 irrigation canals, in addition to the primitive ones, which existed before. Without this being done, India would never be able to gain its present economical power. Our brief survey of the effects of British colonial legacy in India will not be complete, without focusing on India's railroad network, which was built by Britons. Even now it is considered to be the most developed railroad system in the whole world. Its total length is estimated to be 1. 5 million miles.
The railroad tracks run from Gang' valleys to the Tibetan mountains. It is an ironic that, even though that there is a lot of hostility between India and Pakistan, their railroad systems function as one. The rapid growth of population in India places a big strain on it, often resulting in railroad accidents. It is also being noticed that the railroads in India were not properly maintained, ever since the end of colonial times. Also, the service is quite unreliable. Nevertheless, the Indian railroad network is rightfully considered to be the subject of national pride.
Many people point out to the fact that India would not be the country, as we know it, if it was not up to British rule. This is because it provided Indians with the sense of national identity. They began to think of themselves as belonging to one nation, rather then being secluded within a caste. British oppression helped to the development of Indian nationalism, even though that these two concepts are opposite. Yet, history's ways often prove to be very bizarre and unpredictable.
Abstract This paper focuses on the positive effects of British legacy in India. Outline Introduction Analytical part. Bibliography British Empire in India. 1995. Parenting Magazine.
Dec. 2, 2006. web Hobson, Kevin Ethnographic Mapping and the Construction of the British Census in India. 2002. The British Empire. Dec. 2, 2006. web Kakar, Simon Leprosy in British India, 1860 - 1940: colonial politics and missionary medicine. 1996.
Pub Med Central. Dec. 2, 2006. web Kush, Desmond The Epic of Race: The Indian Mutiny, 1857. 2002. Victorian Web.
Dec. 2, 2006. web Warsaw, Steven India Emerges. Berkeley, CA: Diablo Press, Inc. , 1989.
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Research essay sample on British Colonial British Rule
