Imperialism In India

Imperialism Position Paper
In the mid-1800s the British extended their power by taking control over India, leaving a detrimental impact on their nation both socially and politically after ultimately exploiting their people, leaving them on the verge if not already lost to starvation, and consciously stripping many of them of their self-governance rights.
The British throughout their rule mistreated the natives, and clearly disregarded their well being after allowing them to starve, and exhausting their workers for their own personal gain. The age of imperialism in India began in the mid-1700s as the British East India Company began to gain greater political influence and power. They were eventually able to monopolize the trading industry,

According to Dadabhai Naoroji’s article, “The Benefits of British Rule for India”, the Indians/natives had no voice in the taxes, legislations, or were qualified to earn the position of a court judge or high-ranking government official. The society the British constructed blocked the Indians out, and openly disregarded their opinions and desire for change and equality. Some may claim that the British modernized their country by reforming the natives education system, and implementing new innovations and technological advancements, like railroads to improve transportation within the country. However, according to the article written by Professor Peter Marshall titled, “The British Presence in India in the 18th Century,” the majority of these systems primarily focused on English and Western ideas, rather than their own distinctive culture. The traditional ideas and beliefs focusing on theory and methodology, that were implemented into their previous education system, were then modified to a practical approach, forcing their pre-existing system to slowly descend into oblivion. These western ideas concealed them from spreading their own culture, and placed their country in brief turmoil as they struggled to create a uniform education system after independence. Additionally, the true purpose of the railroads they established according to Dadabhai Naoroji, in his article, “The Benefits of British Rule for India” was to transport the raw material produced from India’s interior, rather than benefiting travel. Priyamvada Gopal also states in her article “The Story Peddled by Imperial Apologists [Defenders] is a Poisonous Fairy Tale” that during the construction of the railroads the British not only