Mr. Musk, let’s talk about the British Raj

Elon Musk, about your British India tweet — what was once exploitation is now contribution.

Transcript

00:00Mr Elon Musk, you recently retweeted this stupid anti-immigration post.

00:04We'll explain why it was stupid. Here you go.

00:06During the British colonial era, India's wealth was systematically drained.

00:10Between 1765 and 1900, Britain extracted an estimated $64.82 trillion from India,

00:16enriching the British elite while leaving India economically stunted.

00:20Today, the descendants of the colonized are driving the very economy that once exploited them.

00:25Nearly 1,000 Indian companies operate across the UK, generating over £50 billion in revenue

00:30and employing more than 100,000 people while contributing billions in corporate taxes.

00:35Colonial policies led to devastating famines.

00:38The Bengal Famine of 1943 alone claimed the lives of around 3 million people,

00:43as wartime exports and oppressive tax system prioritized British needs over Indian lives.

00:48In contrast, India today is a major investor in the UK economy.

00:52Bilateral trade between India and the UK exceeded £40 billion in 2024,

00:56with India exporting £25.5 billion worth of goods and services to the UK.

01:01India's thriving textile industry was deliberately dismantled under British rule.

01:06Forcing raw materials to Britain while finished goods were imported back,

01:09crippling local craftsmen and industry.

01:11Today, Indian companies supply tech, pharmaceuticals and services that support UK industries.

01:17The British left a legacy of social and cultural disruption.

01:20Arbitrary borders and communal divisions fueled tensions,

01:23while colonial education systems replaced indigenous knowledge with foreign curricula,

01:28shaping society for generations.

01:30Modern India, however, contributes positively to the UK's social and academic fabric.

01:35Thousands of Indian students and researchers attend British universities,

01:38engage in cutting-edge research and foster cultural and academic exchange.

01:42What the British once took from India, India now gives it back.

01:45In the country that once ruled us, India is now a driver of growth and progress.

01:49Mr. Musk, history has come full circle.