Lecture Notes on British Colonial Impact on India

Introduction

• Discussion on the legacy of British rule in India.
• Contrast between British self-perception and historical analysis.

British Rule vs. Other Colonial Powers

• British often seen as "better" colonizers compared to others like the Belgians in the Congo.
• Historians reveal a darker reality:
  • Estimated 50 million excess deaths in India from 1880 to 1940.
  • Some estimates suggest up to 100 million deaths.

Economic Impact

• Analysis by economic historian Robert C Allen:
  • Extreme poverty in India doubled under British rule.
  • Real wages fell and famines became more frequent and severe.
  • Life expectancy dropped to an astonishing 22 years.

The Bengal Famine of 1943

• Context of Winston Churchill's leadership during World War II.
• Churchill's policies led to a catastrophic famine in Bengal:
  • Implemented a scorched Earth policy to deny food to Japanese forces.
  • Redirected food supplies away from Bengal, exacerbating the famine.
  • Reported that he viewed the Indian population as expendable.

Personal Accounts of the Famine

• Personal experiences of the lecturer's parents during the Bengal famine (1940-43):
  • Witnessed extreme suffering and trauma.
  • Descriptions of skeletal people begging for food.
  • Dead bodies left uncremated due to overwhelming death toll.

Long-Term Consequences

• British colonial practices contributed to millions of needless deaths during famines.
• Despite increases in population, India has not experienced major famines post-independence.

Historical Narrative Control

• The British narrative of colonialism emphasizes positive aspects:
  • Education, infrastructure (like railways), and legal systems.
• Neglects significant issues like hunger and famine.
• Historical records controlled by British perspectives have shaped public understanding.