One major advocate for Indian independence was Mohandas Gandhi. He quickly became the leader the Indian National Congress due to his persistence, strong will, and his continuous acts of civil disobedience. In a complaint he makes about imperialism, Gandhi states, “You English committed one supreme crime against my people. For a hundred years you have done everything for us. You have given us no responsibility for own government.” Gandhi tells that Britain took away all political power from Indians. Patronizing Indians, all control and responsibility was ripped from the Indian’s grip and Gandhi is viewing this as a “supreme crime” against his …show more content…
In the book, The English in India, published in 1932, British historian J.A.R. Marriott explains the advances the British made on India in an excerpt that says, “British capital have changed the face of India. Means of communication have been developed… number of bridges, more than 40,000 miles of railway, and 70,000 miles of paved roads...irrigation works on a very large scale and have brought 30 million acres under cultivation… added to agricultural wealth of the country… industrialization… improved sanitation… higher standard of living… fine transportation system… relief work… because of these things, famines have now almost disappeared.” This excerpt talks about the many positive benefits that came from European imperialism in India. Indians may have lost most of their political and economic power for a hundred years or so, but, while under British control, many important advances were made to technology, medicine, public health, and there was a significant increase in trade. Indian culture may have been lost for many years due to overpowering European traditions, some patronized Indians parts of Indian culture, such as the slave trade and some religious practices, had to be updated regardless because of modern morals and human rights. Lastly, Indians were, in some cases, dehumanized because of their lack of control and