Question

”The real motive behind infrastructural development under the British rule was not to provide basic amenities to the people of India but to subserve various colonial interests.”
Do you agree with the given statement? Give valid reasons in support of your answer.

Answer 1

Infrastructural Development During British Rule

I agree with the given statement, as the primary motive behind infrastructural development during British rule was to serve colonial interests rather than to benefit the Indian population. The reasons for this are:

1. Railways for Resource Extraction:
   The primary purpose of the railway network built by the British was to transport raw materials from the interior of India to ports for export to Britain. Railways were not designed to connect rural India or support the mobility of Indian citizens but to enhance the efficiency of colonial trade and resource extraction.
2. Ports for British Trade:
   Ports were developed to facilitate the import and export of goods, especially raw materials from India to Britain and British goods to India. These ports mainly served the British Empire’s economic interests, not the Indian population.
3. Limited Investment in Public Welfare:
   While some infrastructure projects like irrigation systems and roads were built, they primarily supported British revenue generation. There was minimal focus on improving the living conditions of the Indian people or providing essential services like education, health, or sanitation.
4. Exploitation of Indian Resources:
   Infrastructure such as administrative offices was built to strengthen British colonial governance and maintain control over Indian resources. These developments were aimed at supporting the British regime rather than public welfare.
5. Neglect of Indian Needs:
   The British government largely ignored the basic needs of Indians. While British-controlled urban areas developed, rural India saw little progress in terms of infrastructure, education, or healthcare.

Conclusion: While the British did undertake infrastructural projects in India, their primary objective was to serve their own colonial interests and enhance control over the Indian economy and society, not to improve the welfare of the Indian population.