Renowned economist Utsa Patnaik, who has done a deep research on the fiscal relations between Colonial India and Britain, has tried to answer one particular question every Indian seems to be interested in knowing -- how much money did Britishers take away
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Yes, we almost destroyed India. Just look for example at the mess we left them in.
Language. The English language taught to Indians opened the doors of the world to the country, helped in improving knowledge and thought process and allowed the population to read and appreciate the most famous literary works of the world.
Railways. The founding stone of one of the largest railway networks in the world was laid by the British. Most of the central stations were the work of the British Infrastructure
Army. The pride and honor of the Indian nation, the Indian army, was formed with British training and discipline, the culture of its army practices still persist today.
Sanitation. Britain helped combat illnesses such as the smallpox epidemic. Britain passed a Compulsory Vaccination Act in India in 1892 and set up ‘Sanitary Commissioners’ in the various regions to keep a check on the disease by setting up dispensaries.
Social practices. Britain directed the removal of social practices like Sati, child marriage, untouchability. Not only did they ban such cruel inhumane practices, they also promoted a widow’s remarriage and passed many acts and ordinances to eradicate abhorrent social practices.
Census. The British started the census in 1871 in India to collect the statistical data of age, gender, religion, caste, occupation, education of the population
Geography. Britain set up the department of Geographical Survey of India in 1851, the institution surveyed villages, cities, and made maps of India. Many places use the same maps today which were made during the British time. Using advanced surveying instruments, the British surveyed every inch of India.
Trade. The British East India Company came to India as traders in spices, a very important commodity in Europe back then as it was used to preserve meat and with other British companies brought money and prosperity to parts of India, helping to create India’s important trading position in the world.