While the European Whites were segregating and exterminating Native Americans in the United States, their counterparts were running their very own eradication campaign in India. During a span of four decades, from 1880 to 1920, British colonial rule resulted in the death of 100 million Indians. Economic historian Robert Allen’s research indicates that extreme poverty in India escalated under British governance, rising from 23% in 1810 to over 50% by the mid-20th century. Allen, along with other academics, suggests that before the advent of colonialism, the standard of living in India might have been comparable to that of the evolving regions of Western Europe.
Like what happened to the Native Americans in the United States, the flu pandemic that struck India in 1918 and continued into 1920 was a devastating outbreak of influenza. It is estimated to have claimed the lives of over 17 million people. The arrival of British colonists in India, accompanied by their soldiers and warfare, had far-reaching consequences. Ships from Britain, carrying troops returning from the First World War in Europe, also brought the Spanish Flu to India, causing widespread devastation. This pandemic resulted in the loss of nearly an entire generation of Indians. The rivers across India were filled with bodies of Hindus due to a lack of firewood for cremation.
In her book “Churchill’s Secret War: The British Empire and the Ravaging of India During World War II,” U.S.-based journalist Madhusree Mukerjee highlights that Winston Churchill, the U.K. Prime Minister and the greatest war Hero, disregarded the desperate appeals of farmers for emergency food assistance. This indifference led to widespread starvation as rice fields were repurposed for jute production. Mukerjee refers to ministry documents that disclose how vessels transporting cereals from Australia overlooked India, instead heading towards the Mediterranean Sea where there was already a surplus of supplies, as reported by the Telegraph.
Approximately 35 million Indians perished as a result of British policies during a series of famines. The Bengal famine of 1943/44 was particularly severe, with around 4 million deaths. This occurred as Churchill (Who was of mixed English and American parentage) diverted grain from Bengal to Britain to bolster reserve supplies for British troops in Europe, even as the people of Bengal were succumbing to starvation. Upon being informed of the devastating impact of his decisions, Churchill responded with a dismissive remark, questioning why Gandhi had not yet passed away.
The British disrupted traditional agricultural practices by enforcing commercial cropping, which increased India’s vulnerability to famines. The British authorities seldom provided relief aid in response to these famines, maintaining that starvation was a “natural” and “necessary” measure to control overpopulation. During the Great Famine of 1876-78 in Madras, the British authorities did not initiate any relief efforts until 5.5 million Indians had already perished. Rather than providing aid, the British established labor camps for the impoverished, where Indian workers received food rations that were less than half the size of those given in Nazi concentration camps.
As per a YouGov survey conducted in 2016, 43 percent of British respondents viewed the British Empire’s existence as beneficial, while 19 percent disagreed. The notion that British imperialism was advantageous for India, one of its wealthiest colonies, is a misconception. It exploited India’s wealth and resources, a typical characteristic of colonial rule.
The British East India Company subtly entered India through the port of Surat in 1608. Initially, it was a band of merchants aiming to monopolize trade activities in the East Indies. In 1615, a company member, Thomas Row, sought permission from the reigning Mughal emperor Jehangir to establish the first factory in Surat.
Gradually, as their trade operations expanded, the British began establishing colonies. Delving deep into Indian politics, the colonialists exploited the internal conflicts among the ruling royalty in various states, instigating them against each other by taking sides and offering protection.
Colonial governance led to the devastation of India’s indigenous handloom sector to finance its process of industrialization. India emerged as a critical cotton supplier to the U.K. Raw materials were transported from India to the U.K., where they were transformed into finished goods. These products were then shipped back to markets in India and elsewhere around the globe. This process resulted in the collapse of the Indian handloom industry and the loss of employment for local weavers.
In 1843, Governor-General Charles Hardinge stated that the development of railways would serve the empire and assist with “the commerce, government, and military control of the country.” Indian taxpayers bore the cost of the railway construction. British shareholders asserted that these investments guaranteed substantial returns.
The colonizers were primarily focused on exploiting India’s natural resources. They transported commodities like coal, iron ore, and cotton to ports for shipment back to Britain for use in their factories. Despite contributing to the construction of the railways, Indians were barred from traveling in first-class compartments, even if they could afford it. The first compartments had signs stating, “Dogs and Indians are not allowed.” The construction of the railways resulted in the death of thousands of Indian workers.
During World War II, the Indian Army, under British command, engaged in battles in various locations. They fought against the Italian Army in Ethiopia and the Italian and German armies in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. Following Italy’s surrender, they continued their fight against the German Army in Italy.
However, most of the Indian Army was dedicated to combating the Japanese Army. This began with the British defeats in Malaya and the retreat from Burma to the Indian border. After resting and refitting, they advanced victoriously back into Burma as part of the largest Army ever assembled by the British Empire.
These campaigns resulted in the loss of over 87,000 Indian service members, while 34,354 were wounded and 67,340 were taken as prisoners of war. The involvement of the Indian Army as part of the British military ended with World War II, as India gained independence and underwent partition in 1947.
Estimates suggest that Britain stole close to $45 trillion from India during the period spanning from 1765 to 1938. The British systematically impoverished India through a taxation scheme that essentially amounted to organized plunder. The British levied hefty cash taxes on the Indian populace, utilized this tax revenue to purchase goods from Indians, and subsequently exported these goods abroad. The profits were then invested into the British economy and a colonial army comprised of Indian men, significantly larger than India’s defense requirements warranted.
The indenture system, often referred to as Indian indentured slavery, stands as a stark reminder of the historical injustices perpetrated by British and Australian capitalism. This system was in operation from 1834 to 1920, during which approximately 2 million Indians were relocated to 19 colonies throughout the British Empire and certain French and Dutch territories. The distribution was widespread, with over 400,000 individuals sent to Mauritius and Malaysia each, 240,000 to the then British Guiana, 150,000 to Natal (now a part of South Africa), 145,000 to Trinidad and Tobago, and over 60,000 to Fiji. This large-scale displacement resulted in a significant diaspora, with Indian immigrants and their descendants constituting nearly half the population in some countries.
The derogatory term “coolies”, derived from the Urdu word “kuli,” meaning slave, was indicative of the disdainful attitude towards Indian indentured workers. In 2005, a survivor of indentured servitude in Fiji recounted their experiences to the BBC. They described being roused from sleep at 3 am by horse-riding men and compelled to labor. The overseers, they said, would resort to physical violence, such as kicking and whipping, to enforce discipline. “Proceed with your duties,” they were told, “This is part of your contract.” Disobedience was met with frequent beatings and whippings. In some areas of the Caribbean, the punitive measures were even more severe, with salt and pepper rubbed into whipped laborers’ wounds. These plantations were referred to as “Naraka,” a Sanskrit term signifying “hell” in the Hindu religious terminology.