ECONOMIC DESTRUCTION OF INDIA UNDER THE BRITISH RULE

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In 1800 CE, India amounted to a whopping 20% of the total world manufacturing output!

But more importantly the balance of trade went into the Indian economy in the form of goods in

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exchange or bullion and helped Indian people’s standard of living. It had second most powerful economy, the wages and productivity throughout all the sections of society were high. It had a simple, inexpensive education system suited for its needs.

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But, by the year 1900 , India had become synonymous with poverty, its exports accounted for mere 1.7% of the total world trade , and more than 30 million (more than 10 % of India's population) died of starvation in the British rule.

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After 1818 when British became the major power in India Indian manufacturing output rapidly declined while British
increased.

See the attached image of table given by Paul Kennedy in his book ‘The Rise and Fall of Great Powers’

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During the same period per capita levels of industrialization (relative to UK in 1900 =
100 scale) is given by Paul Kennedy in the following table.

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