India gained independence from British rule on 15 th of August 1947. It was a peaceful transfer of power for the Britishers, for it divided the country into two, displaced the population it ruled, causing untold miseries and death – a parallel of which is not found in the annals of history till now. The Indian stalwarts were too kind-hearted to allow them to depart peacefully, and didn’t even ask for reparations from the Britishers.
The narrative the Britishers presented was at odds with their deeds. The truth was just hidden, not allowed to come out.
A renowned economist, Utsa Patnaik, says that Britain took nearly $45 trillion from India between 1765 and 1938, which is 17 times Britain’s current GDP. Besides, Indian soldiers fought alongside the British Army in both World Wars. Shasi Tharoor, the Member of Parliament, says, “India was governed for the benefit of Britain. Britain’s rise for 200 years was financed by its depredation of India.” India’s contribution to the world economy was 23% in the 18th century, roughly equal to all of Europe put together, and this reduced to 4% when it left the country. Such is the example of their benevolence, which they proudly expostulate. Simply put, India was the Britishers’ cash cow.
In the Great Bengal Famine of 1943, four million Bengalis had died because of Winston Churchill, for he had ordered the diversion of food from the starving people to the British soldiers. He argued: “The starvation of anyway underfed Bengalis is less serious than that of sturdy Greeks.” When it was pointed out about the scale of sufferings his decision had caused Mr Churchill responded by asking: “Why hasn’t Gandhi died yet?”
Corruption was rampant during the British rule. Robert Clive, on his first return from India, took home £234,000 in spoils. So enthused was he with India that he could stay home for a long time and returned to India again in 1765; when he returned home two years later, he had a fortune of £400,000. He had a wonderful time in India, for he declared: “ An opulent city lay at my mercy; its richest bankers bid against each other for my smiles; I walked through vaults which were thrown open to me alone, piled on either hand with gold and jewels…” The British called him “Clive of India”.
Life expectancy was approximately 25.4 years around 1800, 27 years at the time of India’s independence, and now more than 71 years.
India would have been a different country if it had not been invaded by foreign powers.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33618621
‘An Era of Darkness’ by Shashi Tharoor