British anchor vs. Shashi Tharoor

Summary

The video script discusses the detrimental impact of British colonial rule on India, highlighting economic exploitation, deindustrialization, and the suffering of its people. It emphasizes the British Empire's use of India as a cash cow, contributing to its own industrial revolution while impoverishing India. The script also points out the hypocrisy of celebrating democracy after years of oppression and the significant contributions India made to both World Wars, which were never adequately compensated.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The British Empire's global reach was so vast that it was said 'the sun never set on it', implying a distrust even from God due to the English and their colonial actions.
• 📉 India's share of the world economy drastically declined from 23% when Britain arrived to below 4% by the time they left, due to governance that prioritized Britain's benefit.
• 🏭 Britain's industrial revolution was built on the de-industrialization of India, with British policies destroying local industries like handloom weaving and replacing them with British manufactured goods.
• 💸 Colonial figures like Robert Clive amassed personal wealth at the expense of India, leading to a perception of ownership over the country despite their exploitative actions.
• 📉 The decline in India's global trade share from 27% to less than 2% reflects the economic impact of British colonial policies.
• 🌾 British-induced famines, including the Great Bengal Famine during WWII, resulted in millions of deaths due to policies that prioritized Europeans over Indians.
• 💂‍♂️ Winston Churchill's policies during WWII, including diverting essential supplies from Bengal to Europe, demonstrate the harsh realities of colonial rule and disregard for colonial subjects.
• 💰 India's contribution to both World Wars was immense, both in terms of human lives and resources, with a significant financial burden placed on the Indian economy.
• 🛤️ Infrastructure like railways and roads were built to serve British interests rather than the needs of the local population, with costs and benefits skewed towards British enterprises.
• 🗳️ Democracy and rule of law were not extended to India willingly; it was a hard-won right after prolonged struggle against British rule.
• 🤝 British aid to India is minimal, at about 0.4% of India's GDP, contrasting with the substantial economic impact Britain had on India during colonial times.

Q & A

Why does the script suggest that countries with a space program should not be given money?

The script implies that countries with a space program, like Britain during its colonial era, might have been economically prosperous at the expense of other nations, suggesting that financial aid to such countries might not be justifiable.

What was India's share of the world economy before and after British colonization?

Before Britain's arrival, India's share of the world economy was 23 percent, but it dropped to below four percent by the time the British left, indicating the negative economic impact of British rule.

How did Britain's industrial revolution relate to its colonial activities in India?

Britain's industrial revolution was premised upon the de-industrialization of India, where British policies led to the destruction of India's textile industry and the exploitation of its raw materials.

What impact did British policies have on Indian handloom weavers?

British policies, including the imposition of tariffs and duties, and the destruction of looms, led to the destitution of Indian handloom weavers, turning them from world-renowned exporters to beggars.

How did the British exploitation of India's resources contribute to the empire's wealth?

The British exploited India's resources, turning raw materials into manufactured goods that were then sold globally, which financed Britain's rise and its industrial revolution.

What was the role of Robert Clive in British colonial India?

Robert Clive was a colonialist who amassed personal wealth through the exploitation of India, and his actions exemplify the broader pattern of British colonial exploitation.

How did British policies contribute to famines in India?

British policies, including the diversion of essential supplies during World War II by Winston Churchill, contributed to several famines in India, resulting in millions of deaths.

What was the economic cost of World War I to India?

India contributed significantly to World War I, with a cost equivalent to eight billion pounds in today's money, including supplies, ammunition, and personnel.

What was the contribution of India to World War II in terms of personnel and resources?

India provided over two and a half million personnel in uniform and substantial resources, contributing to Britain's war efforts but at a great cost to itself.

How did the construction of railways and roads in India serve British interests?

Railways and roads in India were built to facilitate the extraction and transportation of raw materials for British benefit, rather than to meet the needs of the Indian population.

What is the script's view on the legacy of British colonial rule in India?

The script criticizes the British colonial rule for its oppressive and exploitative nature, challenging the notion that it brought democracy and progress to India.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Colonial Exploitation and Economic Impact on India

This paragraph discusses the negative impact of British colonial rule on India's economy and society. It highlights how Britain's industrial revolution was funded by exploiting India's resources and people, leading to a drastic reduction in India's share of the world economy. The paragraph also describes the destruction of Indian industries, such as handloom weaving, and the imposition of tariffs and duties that turned India from a global exporter to an importer. It further touches on the British officials' personal enrichment at the expense of India, the severe famines induced by British policies, and the exploitation of India during both World Wars, where India provided significant resources and suffered heavy casualties.

05:01

🛤️ Infrastructure for Colonial Gain and Unpaid Debts

The second paragraph focuses on the infrastructure built during British colonial rule in India, emphasizing that it was designed to serve British interests rather than the local population. It points out that railways and roads were built to transport raw materials to ports for export to Britain, disregarding the needs of the Indian public. The paragraph also addresses the high costs of these projects, funded by Indian taxes with excessive returns for British investors. It criticizes the celebration of British democracy and rule of law in the face of oppressive colonial practices and mentions the unpaid war debts owed to India. The paragraph concludes with a critique of the minimal British aid to India, which is a small fraction of India's GDP, contrasting it with the significant financial burden India bore under colonial rule.

Keywords

💡Space Program

A space program is a national or international endeavor to explore outer space through manned and unmanned missions. In the context of the video, it is used to criticize the allocation of resources to space exploration instead of addressing the needs of impoverished countries, reflecting a broader critique of global economic priorities.

💡British Empire

The British Empire refers to the historical empire of the United Kingdom, which at its height was the largest empire in history, covering a quarter of the world's land area. The video script uses the phrase 'the Sun never set on the British Empire' to illustrate its vastness and the enduring impact of colonialism, particularly on India.

💡Depredations

Depredations are acts of plundering or destructiveness. In the script, it is used to describe the exploitation of India's resources by Britain, which contributed to the decline of India's economy and the enrichment of Britain during the colonial period.

💡Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid industrialization that began in Britain in the late 18th century and spread to other parts of the world. The script suggests that Britain's Industrial Revolution was facilitated by the de-industrialization of India, as raw materials from India were used to fuel British manufacturing.

💡De-industrialization

De-industrialization is the process of the decline in the importance of industry in an economy. The video explains how Britain's policies led to the de-industrialization of India, destroying local industries like handloom weaving and turning India from an exporter to an importer of textiles.

💡Loot

Loot refers to goods or money obtained illegally, often through theft or plunder. In the script, 'loot' is used to describe the wealth extracted from India by British colonialists, which was then used to finance Britain's economy and enrich individuals like Robert Clive.

💡Famines

Famines are extreme scarcity of food leading to widespread starvation. The script mentions British-induced famines in India, such as the Great Bengal Famine during World War II, where millions died due to policies that prioritized British needs over Indian lives.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. The video critiques colonialism, highlighting its violent and exploitative nature, and how it was used to subjugate and impoverish India.

💡World War I and II

World War I and II were global conflicts involving many of the world's nations. The script quantifies India's contributions to these wars in terms of troops, resources, and financial costs, emphasizing the sacrifices made by India under British colonial rule.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for a society to function, such as roads and railways. The video argues that infrastructure built during colonial times, such as railways and roads, primarily served British interests rather than the local population's needs.

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives. The script criticizes the British for celebrating the establishment of democracy in India after a long period of colonial rule, suggesting that democracy was not granted willingly but had to be fought for.

💡British Aid

British Aid refers to the financial assistance provided by the UK to other countries. The script mentions it in the context of India, highlighting that the amount is relatively small compared to the historical exploitation and the ongoing economic disparity between the two countries.

Highlights

The British Empire's colonial exploitation of India, leading to a significant decrease in India's share of the world economy from 23% to below 4%.

Britain's industrial revolution was financed by the depredations in India, including the de-industrialization of its handloom weavers.

British policies led to the impoverishment of Indian weavers, transforming them from world-renowned exporters to beggars.

Colonial figures like Robert Clive amassed personal wealth at the expense of India, contributing to the myth of British colonial benevolence.

India's economic decline was exacerbated by British-induced famines, resulting in millions of deaths.

Winston Churchill's policies during World War II contributed to the Bengal famine, causing the death of four million people.

Indian contributions to World War I were significant, with substantial resources and finances provided by India.

India's financial burden during World War I amounted to eight billion pounds in today's money.

India's role in World War II was even more substantial, with 2.5 million Indians in uniform and a significant financial debt owed to India.

Infrastructure like railways and roads were built to serve British interests rather than the local population's needs.

The British profited immensely from the Indian railway system, which was built at a high cost to the Indian public.

Democracy in India was not a gift from the British but a hard-won right after 150 years of struggle.

British aid to India is minimal, constituting only 0.4 percent of India's GDP, with India spending more on fertilizer subsidies.

The narrative of British colonial benevolence is challenged by the historical facts of exploitation and violence.

The transcript emphasizes the dark side of the British Empire, questioning the trustworthiness of the English even by God.

Transcripts

we should not be giving money to

countries with a space program no wonder

that the Sun never set on the British

Empire because even God couldn't trust

the English and the dark

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

India share of the world economy when

Britain arrived on its Shores was 23

percent by the time the British left it

was down to below four percent why

simply because India had been governed

for the benefit of Britain in Britain's

rise for 200 years was financed by its

depredations in India in fact Britain's

industrial revolution was actually

premised upon the de-industrialization

of India the handloom Weavers for

example famed across the world whose

products were exported around the world

Britain came right in there were

actually these Weavers making 5 Muslim

lightest woven air it was said and

Britain came right and smashed their

thumbs broke their looms imposed tariffs

and duties on their clothing products

and started of course taking the raw

materials from India and shipping back

manufactured cloth flooding the world's

markets with what became the products of

the dark and satanic Mills of Victorian

England that meant that the Weavers in

India became Beggars and India went from

being a world famous exporter of

finished cloth into an importer went

from having 27 percent of World Trade to

to less than two percent meanwhile

colonialists like Robert Clive

in England and the proceeds of their

loot in India while taking the Hindi

word loot into their dictionaries as

well as their habits

and the British had the goal to call him

Clive of India as if he belonged to the

country when all he really did was to

ensure that much of the country belonged

to him

by the end of the 19th century the fact

is that India was already Britain's

biggest Cash Cow the world's biggest

purchaser of British goods and exports

and the source of highly paid employment

for British civil servants we literally

paid for our own oppression between 50

1829 million Indians died of starvation

in British induced famines the most

famous example of course was the great

Bengal famine during the second world

war when four million people died

because Winston Churchill deliberately

as a matter of written militant policy

proceeded to divert essential supplies

from civilians in Bengal to sturdy

tummies and Europeans as Reserve

stockpiles he said that the starvation

of any way underfoot underfed bengalis

mattered much less than that of sturdy

Greeks this is Churchill's actual quote

and when conscious stricken British

officials wrote to him pointing out that

people were dying because of the of this

decision he peevishly wrote in the

margins of the file why hasn't Gandhi

died yet so all Notions that the British

were trying to do their colonial

Enterprise out of enlightened despotism

to try and bring the benefit

of colonial

Colonial civilization to the Ben

knighted Heathen I'm sorry

Churchill's conduct in 43 simply one

example of many that gave a lie to this

myth as others have said on the

proposition violence and racism were the

reality of the colonial experience and

no wonder that the Sun never sat set on

the British Empire because even God

couldn't trust the English and the dark

well let me quantify World War one for

you one-sixth of all the British forces

that fought on the war were Indian 54

000 Indians actually lost their lives in

that war 65 000 were wounded another

four thousand remained missing or in

prison

Indian taxpayers had to cough up a

hundred million pounds in that time's

money

India supplied 70 million rounds of

ammunition 600

000 rifles and machine guns 42 million

garments were stitched and sent out of

India and 1.3 million Indian Personnel

served in this war but not just that

India had to supply 173 73 000 animals

370 million tons of supplies and in the

end the total value of everything that

was taken out of India India and India

by the way suffering from recession at

that time and poverty and hunger was in

today's money eight billion pounds you

won quantification it's available second

world war it was even worse two and a

half million Indians in uniform I won't

belabor the point but of Britain's Total

War debt of 3 billion pounds in 1945

money 1.25 billion was owed to India and

never actually paid Railways and roads

were really built to serve British

interests and not those of the local

people but I might add that many

countries have built Railways and roads

without having had to be colonized in

order to do so I mean

they were designed to carry raw

materials from the hinterland into the

ports to be shipped to Britain and the

fact is that the Indian or Jamaican or

other Colonial public their needs were

incidental Transportation there was no

attempt made to match Supply to demand

for mass transport none whatsoever

instead in fact the Indian railways were

built with massive incentives offered by

Britain to British investors

guaranteed out of Indian taxes paid by

Indians with the result that you

actually had one mile of Indian Railway

costing twice what it cost to build the

same Mile in Canada or Australia because

there was so much money being paid in

extravagant returns Britain made all the

profits control the technology supplied

all the equipment and absolutely all

these benefits came as private

Enterprise

British private Enterprise at public

risk Indian public risk that was the the

railways as an accomplishment there was

reference to democr mercy and rule of

law let me say with the greatest

possible respect you can it's a bit Rich

to oppress enslave kill torture maim

people for 200 years and then celebrate

the fact that they're Democratic at the

end of it we were denied democracy so we

had to snatch it seize it from you with

the greatest reluctance it was conceded

in India's case after 150 years of

British rule and that too with limited

franchise the British Aid to India is

about 0.4 percent of India's GDP the

government of India actually spends more

on fertilizer subsidies which might be

an appropriate metaphor for that

argument