(a) “Many economists believe that India paid a very heavy price for the British industrialisation, by becoming their feeder economy.” Justify the…

During British rule, India was transformed into a mere exporter of raw materials for British industries, leading to a large export surplus. However, this came at a significant cost to India's economy, with essential commodities like food grains, clothes etc. becoming scarce in the domestic market. Policies like the commercialization of agriculture ensured maximum benefit for Britain. While India's exports grew, the benefits rarely reached the Indian population.

Under colonial rule, basic infrastructure facilities were developed in India. It enabled people to travel long distances thereby breaking geographical and cultural barriers. Moreover, it fostered commercialisation of Indian agriculture which adversely affected the self-sufficiency of the village economies in India. Furthermore, the colonial dispensation also took measures for developing the inland trade and sea lanes. Nevertheless, these measures were far from satisfactory.