Calculating an approximate amount that the United Kingdom would need to pay India for the damages caused during colonial rule is a complex and speculative task, as it involves numerous factors including economic exploitation, loss of life, cultural degradation, and more. However, various estimates and discussions have been made by scholars, historians, and economists over the years. Below are some considerations and approximate figures that have been proposed:
1. Economic Exploitation:
- Drain of Wealth Theory: The economic historian Dadabhai Naoroji proposed that India lost substantial wealth to Britain through exploitative trade practices, taxes, and other mechanisms during the colonial period. This “drain” has been estimated to amount to hundreds of billions of pounds when adjusted for modern currency values.
- Recent Estimates: Shashi Tharoor, an Indian politician and author, suggested in 2015 that Britain owes India reparations for colonial rule, estimating an amount of about £45 trillion ($58 trillion USD at that time) when considering the economic exploitation alone.
2. Famine-related Compensation:
- The major famines during British rule, particularly the Bengal Famine of 1943, resulted in the deaths of millions of Indians. The British government’s policies were seen as contributing to or exacerbating these famines.
- Compensation for the loss of life and suffering due to these famines, if calculated, could amount to several billions or even trillions of pounds, depending on how loss of life and economic impact are valued.
3. Cultural and Humanitarian Impact:
- The destruction of India’s traditional industries, such as textiles, and the suppression of local cultures also had long-lasting impacts on Indian society. While these impacts are harder to quantify in monetary terms, they represent a significant part of the reparations discussion.
- Compensation for these damages would likely involve large sums, potentially in the billions or trillions, considering the long-term effects on Indian society.
4. Land and Resource Exploitation:
- The British extracted vast amounts of natural resources from India, including minerals, agricultural products, and other valuable commodities. Calculating the value of these resources in today’s terms would add another significant sum to the reparations.
- Estimates for the value of extracted resources could range in the trillions of pounds.
5. Infrastructure and Development:
- While the British built some infrastructure in India (railways, ports, etc.), these were primarily for their benefit and often at the expense of Indian labor and lives. The lack of genuine developmental focus for the Indian population during British rule had a long-term negative impact on India’s development.
- Reparations for delayed development and lost opportunities could also be substantial, possibly in the range of hundreds of billions to trillions of pounds.
Approximate Total Estimate:
- Conservative Estimates: Some conservative estimates for reparations suggest amounts in the range of £1-3 trillion ($1.3-4 trillion USD), considering only partial factors like economic exploitation and resource extraction.
- Higher Estimates: Including broader considerations such as cultural impact, loss of life, and comprehensive economic exploitation, estimates like those proposed by Shashi Tharoor could reach as high as £45 trillion ($58 trillion USD) or more.
The exact amount that the United Kingdom might be required to pay India under principles of natural justice would depend on numerous factors, including the specific historical grievances addressed, the method of calculation, and international legal precedents. While speculative, the range of reparations could potentially span from a few trillion pounds to as high as £45 trillion, depending on the comprehensiveness of the claims.
| Famine | Death Toll Estimated | Region | Causes | Monarch | Prime Minister of Britain | Viceroy of India |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal Famine of 1770 | 10 million people | Bengal | This famine occurred under the rule of the East India Company and was partly caused by a drought. However, the Company’s policies, such as heavy taxation and export of rice, worsened the situation. Crime against Humanity | King George III | Lord North | British East India Company |
| Chalisa Famine (1783-1784) | 11 million people | Northern India, including Delhi, Punjab, Kashmir | This famine was triggered by a major drought and was exacerbated by the inability of local rulers, under direct British influence, to manage the crisis effectively. Crime againt Humanity | King George III | William Pitt the Younger | British East India Company |
| Doji Bara Famine (1791-1792) | 11 million people | Southern India, especially Hyderabad State | Also known as the Skull Famine, this famine was caused by a series of failed monsoons and was worsened by Direct British looting policies. Crime againt Humanity | King George III | William Pitt the Younger | British East India Company |
| Agra Famine of 1837-1838 | 800,000 people | Northern India | A drought in the region was the primary cause, but Inhuman Direct British policies, including land revenue systems that placed heavy burdens on farmers, intensified the effects. | Queen Victoria | Viscount Melbourne | The Earl of Auckland |
| Orissa Famine of 1866 | 1 million people | Orissa (now Odisha) | This famine was caused by crop failures due to drought, but the British administration’s Intentional neglegence and inhuman policies | Queen Victoria | Lord John Russell / Earl of Derby | Sir John Lawrence |
| Bihar Famine of 1873-1874 | 100000 | Bihar | Crop failure due to drought. Notably, this famine saw significant relief efforts, which reduced the death toll, but it was one of the few exceptions in British famine management. | Queen Victoria | William Ewart Gladstone | Lord Northbrook |
| Great Famine of 1876-1878 | 5.5 million people | Southern and western India, including Madras and Bombay Presidencies | A severe drought coupled with Direct British economic policies, including the export of food grains, led to massive starvation. Crime againt Humanity | Queen Victoria | Benjamin Disraeli | Lord Lytton |
| Indian Famine of 1896-1897 | 1 to 2 million people | Central and northern India | A combination of drought, inadequate relief measures, and continued export of food grains during the famine. Inhuman Policies and intentional neglect for loss of life | Queen Victoria | Lord Salisbury | Lord Elgin |
| Indian Famine of 1899-1900 | 1 to 4.5 million people | Western India, including Bombay Presidency and parts of Rajputana | Again, drought and poor administrative response worsened by colonial economic policies. | Queen Victoria | Lord Salisbury | Lord Curzon |
| Bengal Famine of 1943 | 2 to 3 million people | Bengal | This famine was largely caused by wartime policies, including the requisitioning of rice for the war effort, disruption of food supplies, and British refusal to import food to alleviate the famine. War Criminal Winston Churchil . Crime Againt Humanity | King George VI | Winston Churchill | The Marquess of Linlithgow |
