num_pages: 360
description: In the 18th century India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947 after two centuries of British rule it had decreased six-fold. Beyond conquest and deception the Empire blew rebels from cannons massacred unarmed protesters entrenched institutionalized racism and caused millions to die from starvation. British imperialism justified itself as enlightened despotism for the benefit of the governed but Shashi Tharoor takes on and demolishes this position demonstrating how every supposed imperial gift - from the railways to the rule of law - was designed in Britain's interests alone. He goes on to show how Britain's Industrial Revolution was founded on India's deindustrialization and the destruction of its textile industry. In this bold and incisive reassessment of colonialism Tharoor exposes to devastating effect the inglorious reality of Britain's stained Indian legacy.
language: English
title: An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India
publisher: Aleph Book Company