British Empire in India
British Empire in India Indian diplomat-turned-politician Dr. Shashi Tharoor argues in his best-selling book “An Era of Darkness” that before the Britishers came, India’s share in the global GDP was 27 percent. But when the Britishers left after 200-years of rule, it was reduced to a paltry 4 percent. In fact, the industrial revolution of Britain was financed by the loots from India. India was Britain’s largest cash cow. Salaries of British officials working in India were taken from the Indian exchequer. Indian textile industry was famous worldwide. The colonial power absolutely ruined it. In many instances, the thumbs of the weavers were cut. Raw cotton was shipped into imperial Britain and the finished products were sold back to the Indians. The country which was once the largest exporter of textiles became a buyer. There are a number of cases of massive embezzlement. Robert Clive-later Lord Clive- stolen a huge sum of money from Bengal. Almost 14-29 million people died