Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India

Shashi Tharoor

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Shashi Tharoor's 'Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India' provides an expansive and detailed account of how India was plundered and impoverished by British rule. Tharoor highlights the destruction of India's thriving economy, the exploitation of Indian resources, and the devastating impact of British imperialism on Indian society. Through historical facts and narratives, the book debunks myths of benevolent British rule and exposes the true nature of colonialism in India, shedding light on the atrocities committed by the British Empire.

Tharoor's writing style is engaging and informative, offering a wealth of research and depth on the subject of British imperialism in India. The book presents a critical analysis of British colonial looting, discrimination, and exploitation, while also emphasizing the resilience and resistance of the Indian people against oppressive colonial forces. With a focus on historical evidence and detailed accounts, 'Inglorious Empire' challenges readers to confront the dark realities of colonial rule and its lasting impact on India.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by engaging prose that balances emotional resonance with well-documented historical detail, highlighting systemic exploitation during the colonial era.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative reveals the extensive exploitation and socio-economic changes in India under British rule, emphasizing the detrimental consequences of colonialism and the divide-and-rule strategy.

Setting:

The setting spans the era of British colonialism in India, focusing on various historical contexts and social dynamics during that period.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates; early chapters may be dense with details while later parts develop a more pointed critique, influenced by the emotional weight of the subject matter.

1613–14 British East India Company sets up a factory in Masulipatnam and a trading post at Surat under William Hawkins. Sir Thomas Roe presents his credentials as ambassador of King James I to the Mug...

Genres:

nonfiction

historical analysis

political critique

Topics:

impact of colonialism

economic exploitation

social and political ramifications

cultural history of india

racial discrimination

colonial exploitation

historical injustices

divide and rule

Notes:

When the British arrived in India, it had about a quarter to a third of the world trade.

India had a strong education system and artisans before British rule.

By 1947, India was in dire straits, having heavily suffered under British rule.

Over 150 years, British GDP grew by 347%, while India's GDP only rose by 14%.

The British transformed India from a land of self-sufficient farmers into a society of tenants and moneylenders.

Tharoor claims British actions caused long-lasting echoes through Indian society.

The British looted India's textile industry, ensuring India became an importer.

The 'Divide and Rule' policy by the British exacerbated religious and social tensions in India.

Winston Churchill's policies during famines led to millions of deaths, as he prioritized British soldiers over Indians.

A significant amount of food was exported from India even during famines, contributing to starvation.

The British East India Company was heavily involved in the exploitation of India, treating it more like a corporation than a colony.

The British government facilitated the opium trade with China, demonstrating its exploitative policies.

Despite the devastation, Tharoor points out India had a previously flourishing economy full of potential before colonization.

The British created artificial divisions among various Indian communities to maintain control and diminish unity.

Tharoor highlights that numerous Indian soldiers fought in both World Wars without their input in the decision-making process.

The British introduced workhouses during famines, paying less than some slave labor conditions.

Indian literacy and life expectancy were among the lowest during British rule despite the claimed benefits of colonization.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions of violence, racial discrimination, economic exploitation, and descriptions of famines and other atrocities committed during colonial rule.

From The Publisher:

In the eighteenth century, India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947, after two centuries of British rule, it had decreased six-fold. Beyond conquest and deception, the Empire blew rebels from cannon, massacred unarmed protesters, entrenched institutionalised racism, and caused millions to die from starvation.

British imperialism justified itself as enlightened despotism for the benefit of the governed, but Shashi Tharoor takes on and demolishes this position, demonstrating how every supposed imperial "gift"-from the railways to the rule of law-was designed in Britain's interests alone. He goes on to show how Britain's Industrial Revolution was founded on India's deindustrialization and the destruction of its textile industry. In this bold and incisive reassessment of colonialism, Tharoor exposes to devastating effect the inglorious reality of Britain's stained Indian legacy.

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