UPSC Prelims 2015 Q20: Modern History – British Administration & Economic Policies
Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?
1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. G. Subramania Iyer
3. R.C. Dutt
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Economic critics of colonialism in India
The early nationalists showed how British rule drained India's wealth.
| Critic | An economic critic? | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dadabhai Naoroji | Yes | Drain theory; book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India |
| 2. G. Subramania Iyer | Yes | Founder of The Hindu; wrote Some Economic Aspects of British Rule in India |
| 3. R.C. Dutt | Yes | The Economic History of India in two volumes |
Other economic critics:
| Name | Contribution |
|---|---|
| M.G. Ranade | Essays on Indian Economics; argued for industrialisation |
| G.V. Joshi | Critic of land revenue and expenditure policy |
| Prithwis Chandra Ray | Wrote on the poverty of India |
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. G. Subramania Iyer and R.C. Dutt were also economic critics.
- (b) Incorrect. R.C. Dutt wrote the best-known economic history of colonial India.
- (c) Incorrect. Dadabhai Naoroji was the foremost critic, with his drain theory.
- (d) CORRECT. Naoroji, Subramania Iyer and R.C. Dutt were all economic critics of colonialism.
Key point
Economic critics of colonialism: Dadabhai Naoroji (drain theory), R.C. Dutt (Economic History of India), G. Subramania Iyer, M.G. Ranade.
Remember
Naoroji, Dutt, Subramania Iyer = economic critics.
Common mistakes
- Knowing G. Subramania Iyer only as a journalist and leaving him out.
- Forgetting that the drain theory was Naoroji's.
- Confusing R.C. Dutt with R.P. Dutt, a later Marxist writer.
Exam tip
Naoroji, Ranade, Dutt and Subramania Iyer form one group: the economic nationalists.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 7 (An Economic Critique of Colonialism)
- Bipan Chandra — The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism in India