ECONOMIC HISTORY OF INDIA FROM 1857 TO 1947

By Dr. Linda George | St. Albert’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam

Learners enrolled: 949

It helps to familiarize the terms like imperialism, colonialism, drain of wealth, land settlements like permanent settlements, zamindari system, economic nationalism etc. which created a mark on Indian economy and society.

The legacy of colonialism had a deep influence in molding many economic decisions and structural arrangements since the attainment of freedom. The British rule marked a great impact on the primary, secondary, and even the tertiary sector of the country. The demographic profile along with the hardships caused by famines and their consequences on the economic structure is detailed here. So, this course helps to gain knowledge on the historical dimensions and their interlinkages on the socio-economic and political framework and how all these enabled the Indians to adapt to these structural changes.

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Elective
Duration :	16 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	5
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	03 Jan 2024
End Date :	15 May 2024
Enrollment Ends :	29 Feb 2024
Exam Date :	18 May 2024 IST
Exam Shift :	Shift 2

Note: This exam date is subjected to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Weekly Lecture Topics

Week 1
Historical background of India in the Pre-colonial phase

Advent of European powers

Expansion of the British empire in India

Expansion under Governor Generals

Week 2
Commercial and trade policies of EIC

Economic policies & Revolt of 1857

Mercantilism and Colonialism

Week 3
National Income during the colonial rule

Methods of measuring National Income

Week 4
Population of India

Occupational Structure

Urbanization in the Colonial period

Week 5
Changing agrarian trends in India during the Colonial period An introduction

Agricultural techniques and methods used in British India

Irrigation system under the colonial rule

Week 6
Land Reforms

Agricultural credit

Commercialization of agriculture

Plantations

Week 7
Famines

Peasant Uprising in Colonial India

The Peasant Movements of the 20th Century

Week 8
Advent of Railways

Railways on mkt integration

Post and Telegraph In Colonial India

Week 9
Industrialization in India

Characteristics of Indian industries

Rise of large-scale industries

Small Scale industries in British India

Week 10
Industrial Labour force in India during the British rule

Shipbuilding Industry

Ports in Colonial India

Week 11
Road Transportation during the Colonial Period

Mineral Resources in Colonial India

Power Sector in the Colonial Period

Week 12
Forest Sector of Colonial India

Education System in Colonial India

Health Care Sector During the Colonial Period

Week 13 Entrepreneurship in Colonial regime

Debate on de- industrialization - Handicraft Industries in Colonial India

Drain of Wealth

Rise of Economic nationalism

Week 14
External and Internal Trade in India during the British Rule

Trade Policy during the British Rule In India

Foreign Capital

Week 15
Indian Monetary System from 1857 to 1947

Fiscal Policy of India during the reign of Colonial rulers

Week 16. Status of Women in Colonial India

Development of Press in Colonial India

Week 17
State in the imperialistic structure

World Wars and Indian Economy

Indian economy at the time of independence

Week 18
Overview- Historical Background Of India

Overview - Macro Trends Of 1857-1947

Week 19
Overview- Agriculture Sector in Colonial India

Overview- Industrial Developments in Colonial India

Week 20
Overview- Infrastructural Developments

Overview-Economy and Polity in Imperial Context

Books and references

1. Roy, T. (2011). The Economic History of India, 1857-1947 (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

2. Tomlinson, B. R. (1993). The Economy of modern India, 1860-1970. Cambridge University Press.

3. Kumar, D., & Desai, M. (Eds.). (1983). The Cambridge economic history of India: Volume 2: c.1757-c.1970.

4. Bandopadyaya, S.(2014). From Plassey to Partition and After. Orient Blackswan Private Limited.

5. Dutt, R.C. (1994). The Economic History of India. Forgotten Books.

6. Habib, I.(2006). Indian Economy 1858-1914, A People's History of India, Vol.28, Tulika.

Instructor bio

Dr. Linda George

St. Albert’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam

Linda George is an Assistant Professor of Economics, at the Postgraduate Department of Economics, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam where she has been employed since October 2014. The area of her specialization includes Financial Markets, Banking and Microeconomics. She teaches Microeconomics, Public Economics, Environmental Economics and Sustainable development, Indian Economy, International trade and Agricultural Economics.

She is a resource person on e- content development and has taken many sessions in various colleges. She has to her credit two chapters on multi-disciplinary areas in two books and three international publications and co-authored a text book on Fundamentals of Economics.

She also participated and presented papers in many national and international seminars and workshops. She is a member of Kerala Economic Association and World Economics Association.

She received her B.A and M.A in Economics from Mahatma Gandhi University and Ph.D. in financial inclusion from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.