Is India still a colony of the UK?

India was once a part of the British Empire, but it became an independent nation on 15 August 1947, after a long struggle for freedom led by Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders. India decided to remain in the Commonwealth of Nations after becoming a republic, but it has since pursued its own diplomatic and economic interests.

However, some people may argue that India is still a colony of the UK in some ways, such as:

Cultural influence: The UK has left a lasting impact on India's culture, language, education, law, sports and cuisine. Many Indians still speak English as a second or third language, follow British-style parliamentary democracy, play cricket and enjoy tea and biscuits.

Economic dependence: The UK is one of India's largest trading partners, investors and aid donors. Many Indian companies have their headquarters or branches in London, and many British companies operate in India. Some critics claim that the UK exploits India's resources and labour for its own benefit.

Political interference: The UK still has some influence on India's foreign policy, especially on issues related to Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. The UK also supports India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, but some skeptics doubt its sincerity.

Therefore, the answer to the question of whether India is still a colony of the UK depends on one's perspective and criteria. While India is legally and formally a sovereign and independent state, it still has some ties and similarities with its former colonial master.

India-UK collaboration in 2021

The year 2021 marked a significant milestone in the India-UK relationship, as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on a shared commitment towards democracy, fundamental freedoms and multilateralism12. The partnership was announced during the virtual meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 4 May 2021, which also saw the launch of the 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations.

The roadmap outlines the key areas of cooperation between the two countries for the next decade, such as:

Health: The two countries agreed to expand their health partnership to enhance global health security and pandemic resilience, including by strengthening international supply chains for critical medicines, vaccines and other medical products. They also agreed to collaborate on research and development of new vaccines and therapeutics, and to support the global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility.

Climate: The two countries agreed to work together to ensure an ambitious outcome at COP26 and to expand their partnership on tackling climate change, including by accelerating the development of clean energy and transport, promoting green finance and innovation, protecting nature and biodiversity, and helping developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change. They also agreed to launch a new UK-India Green Grids Initiative to enable clean energy transition in India.

Trade: The two countries agreed to deepen their economic relationship through an Enhanced Trade Partnership and to confirm their intent to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with a view to doubling UK-India trade over the next decade. They also agreed to remove barriers to trade and investment, enhance cooperation on digital trade and services, and support small and medium enterprises.

Education: The two countries agreed to increase cooperation between their universities on crucial research in areas like health, emerging technologies, and climate science, and to bring enterprises together to propel ground-breaking innovations to communities that need them most. They also agreed to launch a new UK-India Global Innovation Partnership, which will co-invest in climate and health innovations from India to transform the lives of people across Africa, Asia and the Indian Ocean. They also agreed to extend the UK-India Education and Research Initiative to conclude its important work in bringing higher education and research sectors, and the people who work in them, closer together34.

Defence: The two countries agreed to cooperate closely to tackle threats to their shared security in all their forms. They also agreed to enhance their defence and security partnership, including by increasing maritime cooperation, conducting joint exercises and training, and collaborating on defence technology and innovation. The UK’s Carrier Strike Group visited India in July 2021 to boost this work with the navies and air forces undertaking joint training exercises to enable future cooperation on operations in the Western Indian Ocean.

Migration: The two countries agreed to enhance their migration relationship, to make it easier for British and Indian nationals to live and work in each other’s countries. They also agreed to sign a new Migration and Mobility Partnership, which will facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows between the two countries.

The India-UK relationship in 2021 demonstrated the strong commitment and shared vision of the two countries to work together for a sustainable global future. The partnership also reflected the deep and vibrant people-to-people ties between the two countries, fostered by the living bridge of 1.6 million strong Indian diaspora in the UK.

Conclusion

The India-UK relationship is one of the most important and dynamic partnerships in the world. The two countries share common values, interests and aspirations, and have a long history of cooperation and friendship. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations provide a framework for enhancing and expanding this cooperation across various domains, such as health, climate, trade, education, defence and migration. The partnership also benefits from the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries, which are enriched by the cultural diversity and contributions of the Indian diaspora in the UK. By working together, India and the UK can achieve their mutual goals and address the global challenges of the 21st century.

Author’s point of view

The author of this article is a supporter of the India-UK relationship and believes that it has a positive impact on both countries and the world. The author is impressed by the achievements and progress made by the two countries in 2021, and hopes that they will continue to deepen their collaboration and friendship in the future. The author also appreciates the role of the Indian diaspora in the UK, and thinks that they are a valuable asset for both countries. The author is optimistic about the potential and opportunities that the India-UK partnership offers, and encourages the readers to learn more about it and support it.