Does India like the UK?

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Does India Really Like The UK?


 On a social media platform, I was asked to answer this question. The original question was actually worded, "Why Does India Not Like The UK?" Here is my written response:

 In what context are you asking? 

 Do you mean the people of UK, the climatic conditions, British Politics, education system, working in the UK, current economic standing, the dominance of the British Empire or what?? And when you say India, do you mean Indians in general or do you mean the Government of India?

I will still attempt to answer this question. Having lived in India and being of Indian origin I feel India has a strong liking for the UK. I will explain why:

1. The role of the British Council.

While in India, I had the opportunity of working with the British Council and its libraries as a school teacher, resource worker and as a parent and can confidently say that they do a fantastic job in enabling Indians to connect with the UK. British Council | India

They offer a platform where students can gain knowledge about the UK, courses, requirements, universities, IELTS tests, other entrance exams and also useful information about scholarships and finance. 

The British Council also go out of their way to enable partnering of UK and Indian schools. Our work with schools 

In addition, they do a lot of social enterprise work and have also raised English Language standards through their programmes and partnerships with schools. This includes working with Government schools in Punjab, Bihar and Maharashtra. Our work in the society 





 I have only outlined the work of the British Council, their work is far more in-depth in India.

If India didn't like the UK, then the British Council would not have a role in India. That is to say, if there wasn't a demand in India for UK services then the British Council would be non-existent. Demand is only generated when something is desired and desires are created from a strong liking or attraction. 

2. Emigration and Education in the UK

There are tens of thousands of people who want to work, study, invest and emigrate to the UK from India. Their reasons could be anything from study purposes, work or to expand their business. The demand to come to the UK is definitely growing otherwise why would the UK impose tougher immigration laws to regulate immigrants. 

The UK is an attractive destination for students, offering the very best of higher education. Read this 11 Reasons to Choose UK Universities for Higher Education.






Indians are the fifth largest student group at Oxford University and they have seen an increase in applications since the University announced that they would accept the CBSE and ISC exam results as a basis for their offers. If India doesn't like the UK then where are these Indians coming from?

When I was living in India, I knew of a region in Punjab called Doaba. It was extremely popular for its NRI population. In fact, the Doaba region is often referred to as the NRI hub by the Indian media, with a high percentage of its population having left India in favour of the UK.

There are a growing number of visa agencies in India, thousands located in Punjab offering varying levels of ''immigration services'', with many of them charging extortionate fees to their clients promising a quick and easy transition from India to the UK enabling clients to achieve their ''London Dream''. If people in India do not like the UK then who are these agencies catering for? 

There are also a high number of illegal immigrants, including Indians who are living in the UK who had entered the country by illegal means. Read here, why they don't like the UK: Young Punjabi illegal immigrants in UK desperate to return home 

3. Historically

When at its peak, the British Empire was the largest ever to have existed. Without going into too much detail, The British Raj has had a great impact on India and its citizens. The British rulers had a range of strategies including coercive policies to ensure compliance and maintain their stand in India. For some Indians, the freedom struggle and remembering brutal incidents from that period ignites some sort of hostility towards the UK.





There are many reports of brutality, torture, racism and cruelty being inflicted towards Indians by the British during their rule, but one horrific incident, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, where on 13th April 1919 British troops opened fire on thousands of innocent Indians under the instructions of the notorious General Dyer was perhaps the most barbaric. There were mixed reactions in Britain and later he was forced to resign by the House of Commons. 

"An episode without precedent or parallel in the modern history of the British Empire... an extraordinary event, a monstrous event, an event which stands in singular and sinister isolation... the crowd was neither armed nor attacking." Sir Winston Churchill.





“Scars have the strange power to remind us that our past is real.” Cormac McCarthy

 I have seen these bullet marks etched into the walls and are clearly visible. This gruesome episode is still alive in the memory of many Indians, and is brought back to life for those who visit the gardens, while they remember those who lost their lives on this tragic day. 

This would give rise to some feeling of animosity towards the conduct of the British Empire during that period. However one cannot genaralise and hold the present day UK Government and its nationals accountable for what happened over a hundred years ago. 

In 2009, I remember watching Prannoy Roy interviewing the then UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair during his visit to India. The interview was interesting, allowing the excited young Indian audience to engage with Tony Blair and question him about the relations between India and the UK. Watch the question asked at 28.40 and Tony Blair's immediate response. 

India Questions Tony Blair 

4. Weather

Given its geographical location, Great Britain certainly doesn't have the best of climates. That's my personal opinion by the way. The perfect climate all boils down to personal preference and some don't mind the grey skies, rain and cold weather in the UK, whereas some would rather sit in the sun and boost their vitamin D levels. 





From what I know of India, having lived there and from my personal experiences and observations I'm NOT convinced that India doesn't like the UK. I know when I came back to live in the UK from India, I really missed India, the people, my relatives, the lifestyle, the sunshine and India's warmth. However, that's not to say I don't like the UK. On the contrary, I love the UK! 

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