Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.

Question

Accepted Answer

Yes, there were various positive contributions made by the British in India. However, it must be noted that these contributions were not intentional but were purely the effects of colonial exploitation. The following are the positive contributions made by the British:

1. **Introduction of railways**: The introduction of railways in India in 1850 was a breakthrough in the development process of the Indian economy. It opened up the geographical and cultural barriers and facilitated the commercialisation of Indian agriculture. It enabled people to undertake long-distance travel and promoted national integration.

2. **Commercialisation of agriculture**: The introduction of commercial agriculture is an important breakthrough in the history of Indian agriculture. Prior to the advent of the British, Indian agriculture was of a subsistence nature. But with commercialisation, agricultural production was carried out as per the market requirements. It is due to this factor that today India can aim at attaining self-sufficiency in foodgrain production.

3. **Introduction of free trade**: The British forced India to follow a free trade pattern during the colonial rule. Free trade provided the domestic industry with a platform to compete with the British industries and led to an increase in the volume of India's exports.

4. **Development of infrastructure**: The infrastructure developed in India by the British, including roads, railways, ports and communication, proved useful in checking the spread of famines. The telegraph and postal services served the Indian public.

5. **Promotion of western education**: English as a language promoted a westernised form of education. The English language acted as a window to the outside world and integrated India with the rest of the world.

6. **Role model administration**: The way and technique of British administration acted as a role model for the Indian politicians and planners. It helped Indian politicians to govern the country in an efficient and effective manner.

In conclusion, these contributions were incidental results of the exploitative colonial policies. Nevertheless, they left a lasting impact on the structure of the Indian economy and prepared the ground for its future development.