India 1: May the Queen rest in peace (The British and India) (v1.1)

Last year the queen passed away. I am of Indian origin. India has a complicated history with the British. 

1. India’s complicated relationship with Britain

When Queen Elizabeth II passed away, many in India revisited the long and painful history of British colonial rule. The grievances are real: economic extraction, political subjugation, and episodes of brutality. The most symbolic demand is the return of the Kohinoor diamond, which many Indians believe was taken through coercion, even though the British maintain it was a “gift.”

India carries a deep historical memory of trauma and impoverishment under colonial rule. For many, the monarchy — including the Queen — becomes a stand‑in for that entire legacy.

2. What empires do

Empires, across all of history, behave like empires: they extract wealth, consolidate power, and often subjugate their subjects. This is not unique to Britain. It is simply how imperial systems have operated “since time immemorial.”

Expecting reparations is unrealistic. Even the United States was once a colony. Acknowledging the pain of events like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is important, but the question remains: what can realistically be done now?

3. The other side of the legacy

Colonialism was destructive, but it also left behind institutions and infrastructure that continue to shape modern India:

• a vast railway network
• roads, bridges, ports, and dams
• the Indian Civil Service
• a legal system grounded in rule of law
• a professional army
• democratic ideas
• the English language
• cricket, now a national passion

These do not erase the harms of colonialism, but they are part of the inheritance.

4. The Queen as an individual

It is important to separate Elizabeth the person from the British imperial system. By the time she ascended the throne, India was already independent. She had no role in colonial administration, lawmaking, or governance. Her role was ceremonial, advisory, and symbolic.

The Kohinoor had been taken long before her time. Blaming her personally for colonial actions is historically inaccurate.

5. India today: a young nation with enormous potential

India is a young country — independent only since 1947 — and a young society, with 50% of its population under 28. Its future matters far more than its colonial past.

India is increasingly central to global geopolitics and economics:

• Its economy is now the fifth largest in the world, surpassing the UK.
• Goldman Sachs projects it will overtake Germany and Japan by 2028.
• It is expected to surpass China in population.
• Global powers seek India as a strategic partner.
• No global climate solution is possible without India.
• Apple plans to manufacture up to 25% of its iPhones in India.
• Micron is building a major semiconductor hub.
• India was a star presence at Davos.
• Fareed Zakaria called it “the most optimistic country in the world right now.”

India’s trajectory is upward.

6. What India must still fix

To fully realize its potential, India must address:

• infrastructure gaps (though improving rapidly)
• political corruption and cronyism
• bureaucratic red tape
• contract enforcement delays
• uneven playing fields for business
• the need for high‑value jobs for its massive youth population

A young population can be a tremendous asset — or a powder keg — depending on opportunity.

7. A personal note

I hold sincere respect for Queen Elizabeth II. She lived a life of dignity, duty, and grace. Her passing marks the end of an era. May she rest in peace.