How the Partition of India Made the Rich Richer and the West More Powerful

 

How the Partition of India Made the Rich Richer and the West More Powerful

The creation of Pakistan in 1947 wasn't just about religion and culture. It also allowed a small group of wealthy individuals and Western powers to maintain economic dominance. This article explores how the partition of India into two separate countries benefited the rich and powerful and helped Western countries stay in control economically. Today, after 77 years of independence, citizens from South Asia are leading many Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Many of these leaders come from the education system that the British left behind in India, combined with their training in the West, enabling them to achieve these heights. This is exactly what the British and the people in the West were afraid of had they left India united because, in that case, instead of fighting wars, governments would have spent money on education and technology and would have left the West far behind in the economic race. Some traitors from both Hindus and Muslims helped the British succeed in their goals of leaving India behind with more problems than they needed. My research shows how this dirty act of the British, with the help of RSS and the Muslim League, has hurt India and Pakistan and helped the West in this economic race.

Economic Benefits for the Wealthy

One major way the partition helped the rich was through informal and black-market trade between India and Pakistan. Even though there were no formal business relations, significant trade still occurred unofficially. This trade avoided government oversight, meaning businesses didn't have to pay taxes or follow regulations. As a result, the profits from this trade didn't go to the countries' economies but instead enriched a few individuals. For instance, goods like textiles and spices continued to cross the border unofficially, creating wealth for those involved in this underground economy while depriving both nations of much-needed tax revenue.

Another example is the declaration of dry states in India, like Gujarat. The government bans alcohol sales in these states to improve public health. However, this ban leads to a thriving black market for alcohol. Gujarat, for example, loses over 15,000 Crore INR annually in tax revenue because of this prohibition. Despite the ban, alcohol is still available illegally, benefiting a select few who control this black market. These individuals avoid taxes and legal scrutiny, becoming wealthy at the expense of the state and public welfare. This situation is similar to the broader economic manipulations that the partition enabled, where regulations meant to benefit society instead created opportunities for exploitation by the well-connected.

How the Partition Helped the West

The partition of India and Pakistan also benefited Western countries, particularly by helping them maintain economic control over the region. By ensuring that India and Pakistan remained divided and often hostile, Western powers could continue to exploit the region's resources and labor without the threat of a unified, economically powerful India. A united India free from internal conflict posed a significant threat to Western economic interests. By supporting military aid to Pakistan and fostering continuous conflict, Western powers ensured that both countries remained dependent and underdeveloped. This dependency created a cycle of poverty and instability that Western businesses could exploit. For example, military aid from the United States to Pakistan during the Cold War was aimed at keeping Pakistan aligned with Western interests, ensuring the region remained strategically divided and economically dependent.

Western economic interests were further served by the creation of Pakistan as it created a buffer state that could be used to counterbalance India, especially during the Cold War. This geopolitical strategy allowed the West to exert influence over both nations. Military and economic aid to Pakistan ensured that the country remained aligned with Western policies, preventing the rise of a powerful, united subcontinent that could challenge Western economic and political hegemony.

Legacy of Partition

The economic benefits of partition for the rich and influential were multifaceted. By exploiting communal divisions, manipulating trade policies, and aligning with external powers, a select group of individuals ensured they emerged wealthier and more powerful from the upheaval of 1947. This manipulation at the expense of national interests continues to shape the economic and political landscape of South Asia today. The legacy of partition underscores the need to critically examine historical narratives and understand the economic motives that often drive political decisions.

Understanding the formation of Pakistan through this lens highlights how political and economic interests are often intertwined, with significant implications for national development and social justice. The partition, while a historical event marked by immense human tragedy, also serves as a case study in how economic elites can manipulate political movements to serve their interests, often with long-lasting and detrimental effects on broader society.

In summary, the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan were not just about religious and cultural differences. They were also about economic power and control. The wealthy and powerful, both within the region and in the West, manipulated the situation to maintain their dominance, with consequences that continue to affect South Asia today.