“Development of Railways during British rule encouraged colonial exploitation of the Indian resources.”
Justify the given statement with valid arguments.
Ans.
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Resource Extraction: The development of railways primarily served the purpose of facilitating the extraction of Indian resources, such as raw materials like cotton, minerals, and agricultural produce, for the benefit of British industries. Railways provided a quick and efficient means of transporting these resources from the interior regions of India to the ports for export to Britain.
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Unequal Distribution of Benefits: While the railways were constructed using Indian resources and labor, the benefits primarily accrued to the British colonial administration and British investors. Indian resources were exploited to finance railway construction, but the economic gains and profits were largely repatriated to Britain.
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Commercial Interests: The railways were strategically designed to serve British commercial interests rather than the developmental needs of India. Routes were laid to connect resource-rich areas with ports for easy export, further facilitating the exploitation of Indian resources by British industries.
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Market Control: Railways facilitated the establishment of a colonial market system where British-manufactured goods were transported cheaply and efficiently across India, undermining indigenous industries and handicrafts. This further entrenched colonial exploitation by creating a dependence on British goods while stifling Indian economic autonomy.
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Social Impact: The construction of railways often led to displacement and disruption of local communities and economies. Forced resettlement of communities, land acquisition, and environmental degradation were common consequences of railway development, exacerbating the exploitation of Indian resources and labor.
