British Colonial Strategy: Undermining Indian BusinessPost-Independence Continuity of Colonial BiasIndia’s deep-rooted shift from a nation of business owners to one dominated by salaried employees did not happen by chance. Their success symbolized a deeply rooted entrepreneurial ecosystem that thrived under the Mughal administration.However, this momentum was disrupted as British colonial influence grew stronger in the 19th century. According to Mukherjea, the British began systematically displacing Indian entrepreneurs through discriminatory regulations and social engineering. Over time, they associated Indian entrepreneurial groups—particularly Gujaratis, Marwaris, Sindhis, and Parsis—with negative stereotypes. The civil service, inherited from the British Indian administration, continued to hold a skeptical view of private enterprise.

Source: The Times July 20, 2025 12:58 UTC