COLONIAL ENCOUNTERS: THE BRITISH IMPACT ON INDIAN CULTURE

This paper examines the multifaceted impact of British colonialism on Indian culture, highlighting its complex legacy of transformation, exploitation, and resistance. Drawing on cultural theory and historical analysis, it conceptualizes culture as a politically charged domain shaped by power relations, in line with Foucauldian perspectives. The study traces Britain’s colonization of India, driven primarily by economic and imperial interests, and analyzes the institutional, educational, and administrative changes introduced during colonial rule. While acknowledging the constructive outcomes of British governance—such as political unification, modern infrastructure, English education, and the foundations of democratic institutions—the paper foregrounds the severe economic exploitation, deindustrialization, and social trauma inflicted upon Indian society.