Imperialism Imperialism of India and it’s two different Perspectives

India’s Perspective The British took land, imposed taxes, and instituted some reforms. Many Indian’s resented the assimilation with the Britain British set up restrictions that prevented the Indian economy from operating from its own, for the British policies called for India to produce raw materials for British manufacturing and to buy British finished goods. Indian competition with the British finished goods were prohibited (example: Indian handloom industry was put out of business because of cheap cloth imported from Britain)

India’s Perspective (Continued) British restricted Indian-owned industries such as cotton textiles Emphasis of cash crops (type of farming), resulted in loss of self-sufficiency for the villagers Conversion to cash crops resulted in decrease of food productions, causing famine in the late 1800s British “allowed” the Indians of their religion. However, the increase of missionaries and outspoken racist attitudes of the British officials threatened Indians of their traditional life

India’s Perspective (Continued) The cartridges of the new Enfield rifles of the Indian soldiers were apparently sealed with pork fat and beef (soldiers had to bite off the seal), and because Indians were mostly Hindus, it was against their religion to eat meat. (Sepoy Rebellion) Only four different categories of jobs were available to the Indians, and 50% of those jobs were servants Jobs were strictly regulated

Britain's Perspective India was a major supplier of raw materials, treasured at first for its potential than its profit Built canals and railroads, introduced postage stamps, and encouraged education. Built railroads, which helped transporting manufactured goods become much easier Railroad that was built by the British was the third largest network in the world; helped India to develop a modern economy, and it brought unity to the connected regions.

Britain's Perspective (Continued) A modern road network, telephone and telegraph lines, dams, bridges, and irrigation canals helped India to modernize Sanitation was public health improved Schools and colleges were founded, therefore increasing literacy British troops cleared central India of bandits and put an end to local warfare among competing local rulers Had many raw materials such as tea, coffee, cotton, and opium: British shipped opium to China in exchange for tea, which were sold in Britain