Why did the Indians call British imperialism the knife of sugar?
The British, in order to advance their own interests, taught English and gave modern education to Indians. This helped them provide administrative and clerical services to the British. The British also developed modern systems like railways, electric infrastructure etc so that they could live in comfort while in India and to facilitate the shipment of Indian goods to England. This indirectly helped the Indians to some extent, thereby giving rise to the idea of British imperialism as the knife of sugar, though British rule damaged Indian society more than it did good. It destroyed the self-confidence and identity of the Indians which was much more important than material or scientific gifts bestowed upon them. Another negative influence was that, it gave a tacit thrust to the caste system, whilst absolving itself of any involvment, calling it a rigid and inflexible practice of the ancient Indians, which is not wholly true.
