Structural Change

Colonialism has had a profound and structural impact on India, shaping its modern identity. It can be understood through two main dimensions:

1. Economic & Political Structural Changes:

• Unification: Colonialism created the first unified political map of India through a single administrative system, uniform laws, and the introduction of railways and postal services.
• Capitalism: It integrated India into the global capitalist market, but often in a disadvantaged position (as a supplier of raw materials and a buyer of British manufactured goods).
• Forest Laws: New land and forest acts changed the lives of tribals and pastoralists by restricting their access to forests.

2. Social & Cultural Changes:

• Rise of Middle Class: The introduction of English education created a new English-speaking middle class that eventually led the freedom struggle.
• New Identities: It changed how Indians viewed themselves. Census operations solidified caste and religious identities.
• Modern Values: Concepts like democracy, liberty, and equality were introduced, which later became the foundation of the Indian Constitution.

General Relationship:

In the standard western model (like in Britain), industrialisation and urbanisation were deeply linked. Factories were set up in cities, attracting rural labor. As industrial production grew, cities expanded.

The Indian Experience (Colonial Context):

• De-industrialisation: In India, the process was different. British policies led to the decline of traditional industries (like weaving in Surat and Masulipatnam). This actually led to people moving back to agriculture (de-urbanisation of old towns).
• Colonial Cities: Urbanisation occurred only in specific colonial port cities like Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. These cities grew not just because of factories, but to facilitate the export of raw materials to Britain.
• Uneven Growth: Thus, while the two processes are theoretically linked, in colonial India, urbanisation often happened without significant industrialisation in the hinterlands.

City: Bengaluru (Bangalore)

• History of Growth:
  • Pre-Colonial: Founded by Kempe Gowda in 1537 as a mud fort.
  • Colonial: The British established a “Cantonment” area in 1809. This created a divide between the “City” (traditional Kannada-speaking area) and the “Cantonment” (English/Tamil-speaking, colonial architecture).
  • Post-Independence: Became a hub for public sector industries (HAL, BEL).
• Contemporary Status:
  • Known as the “Silicon Valley of India” due to the IT boom in the 1990s.
  • It is a cosmopolitan metropolis facing modern urban challenges like traffic congestion and water scarcity.
  • The distinction between the old “City” and “Cantonment” has blurred, but traces remain in the architecture and street names.

To classify your settlement, look for these specific features:

• Occupation (The 75% Rule):
  • Village: Agriculture is the dominant occupation.
  • Town/City: At least 75% of the male working population is engaged in non-agricultural pursuits (industry, services, trade).
• Population Density:
  • Towns and cities have a much higher density (typically over 400 persons per sq. km) compared to villages.
• Social Relationships:
  • Village: Relationships are personal, face-to-face, and community-based. Everyone knows everyone.
  • City: Relationships are often impersonal, formal, and anonymous.
• Infrastructure:
  • Does your area have a municipality or corporation? (City/Town feature)
  • Are there factories, shopping malls, or higher education institutions? (City feature)

Example Conclusion: “My settlement has a Municipal Council, most people work in shops or offices rather than farms, and the population is around 50,000. Therefore, it is a Town (or semi-urban area), not a village or a large metropolitan city.”