Starving Indians begging for food at British trading post in late 19th century (Image credit, artist unknown).

British India

British colonialism began in India in the mid 18th century, with the arrival of the British East India Company. British Crown Rule started in 1858, which meant that India was controlled both politically and economically by the British. Britain had colonized India because of its vast resources and valuable trade goods. A social consequence of this was that Indians were made second class citizens in their own country. Additionally, India was sinking into poverty, and its people suffered from racism. An example was that they were called racist slurs by the British like ‘coolie’ or ‘darkie’.

During the British Crown rule, the British were building expensive structures for themselves, like the Victoria Memorial Monument, Indian people were starving. A nation was being neglected and ignored throughout the British rule, children were starving, and fatalities were occuring more and more from malnutrition. As droughts were happening, cattle were dying, and the women had to pull the plows.

Communication in the Fight for a Free India

British India

Famine in India