While there were some advantages, in British India, Indians were seen as second-class citizens, and they lived in a Third World country with few modern conveniences. In 1947, the country gained their independence from Great Britain, but the agreement also created Pakistan, and created divisions between Indians that have never mended, as a result.
India has evolved into a democracy that is becoming more industrialized and modern by the day. Much of the outsourcing of American jobs is taking place in India, helping its economy grow and prosper. India has capitalized on technology and it has helped the entire country. However, the road to this success was hard fought. Early political administrations suffered from accusations of corruption and scandal, and Indira Gandhi, the prime minister for several decades, was shot by her own bodyguards in 1984. Her son was also assassinated, and governments came and went during the 1990s. There has been so much political strife, it has been difficult for India to grow, but it has grown, and it is still growing and changing, becoming more economically feasible in Asia and the world.
Was India better off under English rule? Not really. Although the political scene in India is still far from stable, India is struggling to maintain a democracy and take care of herself, rather than leaving her rule to the whims of others. In addition, the culture and
However, the British did leave behind one legacy that has continued to plague the region. They were the engineers of the split between India and the creation of Pakistan, and Pakistan continues to be a negative influence in the region - harboring terrorists, and employing a government that is dictatorial and perhaps even murderous. In that area, the entire region is not better off, and the rift between Pakistan and India could turn nuclear one day, endangering the entire planet. In many cases, colonialism is preferred, because the country does not have the economic and social foundations to rule for themselves. This is not the case in India, and the country will continue to grow and prosper as it modernizes and becomes even more a part of the 21st century.
In conclusion, India's plight during British colonization left it far behind in technology and modern conveniences when it gained independence. The biggest problem with independence is the rift between Pakistan and India, which has led to nuclear proliferation in the area, and general unrest between the two countries that exists to this day. There have been many successes since India gained independence, and overall, it has been much better for the country to lead itself and create a democracy, even though it has led to some political unrest and strife.
References
Bose, Sugata, and Ayesha Jalal. Modern South Asia: History, Culture, Political Economy. New York: Routledge, 2003.
Lal, Vinay. "British India." University of California Los Angeles. 2005. 15 Feb. 2008. http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/British/BrIndia.html
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