by Oliver Wilson
Sep. 10, 2024

Throughout history, British conquests have facilitated human flourishing. In India, the British approach often resulted in freeing citizens and with a heightened respect for pre-existing cultures. By instituting property rights, promoting religious tolerance, respecting existing customs, and abolishing faulty religious laws, the British significantly contributed to India’s development and modernization.

One of the key contributions of British rule was the implementation of property laws, which fostered economic growth. Through policies and governance reflective of Britain’s own, the British allowed for free trade and resource abundance. The establishment of property rights and the rule of law created a foundation for economic stability. The British colonization of India, known as the ‘British Raj’ (1858-1947), was a period of direct rule that, through a centralized framework, helped build a successful economy. This connection between British rule and economic development is evident across many former British colonies, where the introduction of property rights empowered the growth of free-market ideals. 

British colonies were seen as ”laboratories” for testing economic freedom and property rights. In regions like North America, British agricultural practices encouraged the establishment of property rights through central governance. Critics of British rule in India often highlight tariffs, such as the 1860 tax to pay off British war debt. However, the 10% tax was progressively reduced and eventually abolished, reflecting the British commitment to free-market principles. The economic stability that followed fostered religious peace and allowed the British to adopt non-interventionist policies toward religion. 

The British approach to religion was a marked departure from that of the previous Mughal rulers. They emphasized a non-interventionist policy, keeping the empire out of social and religious matters. British royalty enforced religious freedom, and in an 1858 proclamation, Queen Victoria’s commitment to non-intervention in Indian religious practices was made clear. The British reversed earlier policies of political annexation, allowing Indian princes to adopt heirs as they saw fit, provided they swore allegiance to the crown. Even earlier, Governor-General Warren Hastings had insisted on ruling India with respect for its ‘ancient constitution,’ focusing on customs, traditions, and learning Sanskrit to better align governance with Indian culture. 

While the British refrained from intervening in peaceful worship, they simultaneously worked to dismantle unjust and inhumane religious practices. Before British rule, Mughal Islamic rulers had subjected India to despotic governance. Scottish historian Alexander Dow observed that Islamic rule in India led to a culture of ‘jealousy and intrigue,’ which eroded freedoms like property rights and justice. Under the Mughals, fragmented legal systems broke governance into small communities, leading to inconsistent rights. The British, on the other hand, implemented universal laws that applied to all citizens, establishing a predictable system of property rights and taxation.

British rule also challenged existing social structures through the introduction of Western institutions. Secular British institutions encouraged people to question long-standing traditions, such as caste and gender hierarchies. In education, British universities introduced new ideas that helped undo the conservative mindset ingrained over centuries. Indian sociologist Andre Beteille noted that these institutions ‘opened new horizons both intellectually and institutionally in a society that had stood still in a conservative and hierarchical mold for centuries.’ By implementing property rights, respecting culture, and correcting religious laws, the British acted as a force for good in India. While the harshness of colonialism cannot be denied, the more just, economically developed, and democratic society in India today can be attributed, in part, to British influence.