BRITISH INFLUENCE ON URBANIZATION IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION

India shares a long history of urbanization, with Indus Valley Civilization dating back to 2350 BC as its first stepping stone towards urbanization. After this and post-independence period, with the emergence of Planning Commission, India witnessed the urbanization which it had never seen before. And this period marks the progression and flourishing of urbanization in India. However, cities in India have been urbanized in number of phases. The urbanization history in India has 5 different phases (given by historians) :

  1. The Pre – Historic Period (Indus): 2350 – 1800 BC
  2. The Early Historic Period (Aryans and Dravidians): 600 BC – 500 AD
  3. The Medieval Period (Mughal): 600 – 800 AD
  4. The British Period: 800 AD – 1947
  5. Post Independence Period: 1947 – till date

URBANIZATION IN BRITISH PERIOD

The British came to India in 1858 when India was one of the most urbanized nations due to Mughal supremacy. But in the early phase of British rule, Indian cities witnessed decline in the level of urbanization and during the later phase of British rule, the Indian cities regained the lost importance and new towns and cities emerged and newer urban form was added to existing cities.

Fort St. William in Calcutta is one of the best examples of factories constructed during British Era and fortified for protection.

URBAN DECLINE IN 19TH CENTURY

The main reasons for urban decline during the British Period were:

  1. Lack of interest in British in economic development, prosperity and growth of India and their negative attitude towards the traditional industries of India which were present during that period.
  2. The alteration of urbanization in India due to the industrial revolution in England.
  3. The diversion in existing trade routes due to sudden growth and building of rail networks.
  4. Disrupted monopoly in trade especially in port towns.

BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO URBANIZATION SCENES IN INDIA

  1. Emergence of three metropolitan port cities which emerged as leading colonial cities (Calcutta, Bombay and Madras).
  2. Creation of hill stations and plantation settlements.
  3. Modification of urban landscape in existing cities.
  4. Introduction of civil lines, camps and cantonments.
  5. Improvement in connectivity through railways.
  6. Enhanced scope of industrialization.
  7. Improvements in urban amenities and urban administration.

CONCLUSION

British era had both positive and negative impact in India but the extent of positive changes is more. The process of urbanization and building of new cities can be seen as the breaking of the continuum. During British Period, the Indian cities emerged as the focal points of urbanization and westernization. The westernization brought by the British Period continued to guide the destiny of urban elite in India. It helped in transforming the agriculture as a means of commerce by introducing new crops like indigo, tobacco, coffee etc. Thus, British Era can be seen a the period when India came across fundamental economic transition, mechanized industries and developed connectivity through railways and foreign trade. But the British Era didn’t consider the rural – urban conflict which increased the gap between urban and rural areas of India.

Thus, it can be concluded that British rule had definitely been useful in providing the foundation of development and urbanization to India. As per Census 1941, which is the last census before Independence, India had 49 one lakh cities and 2500 urbanized towns. So, when this urbanization is compared to previous trans, it can be seen that the urbanization attained zenith during the end of British period as compared to past events.

žIn 1941, which marks the last census before independence, There were 49 one-lakh cities in India and in all round 2500 urbanized towns. Urbanization attained zenith during end of this period compared to entire past events.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Shilpa Rana