Chapter 1 – From the British to Independent India

A major defect of British rule was the growing imbalance between population and resources. The former grew from 150-200 million at the end of the eighteenth century to 420 million in 1947 (Pakistan included). Until 1921 India was primarily exporting cereals. From that year on imports began, and would eventually reach 3 million t in 1950, versus 54 million t of food grains output. Imports further rose to 5 million t in 1951 due to a very severe drought, consequently avoiding casualties as had ..