Articles by Aditya Mukherjee

The view that colonialism did not have a major impact on the modernisation process of the colonising countries of Europe has not been critiqued adequately. Focusing primarily on the relationship between Britain and India, this paper argues that the economic development in Europe both in terms of the rise in living standards in human development and in the sense of the structural breakthrough with the rise of capitalism was closely linked with Europe's relationship with the rest of the world from about the 15th century. The imperial connection between Britain and India contributed to British industrialisation and its emergence as a hegemonic power in the world, sustained Britain through her period of relative decline in global competition in the industrial sphere, enabled her financial supremacy in the world till the first world war to finally seeing her through the crisis years of the 20th century and up to the second world war.

Imperialism and Growth of Indian Capitalism in Twentieth Century Aditya Mukherjee Mridula Mukherjee This paper discusses the Indian experience of development since independence, with the emphasis on trying to relate the specific development path followed by the country to the historico-structural conditions in which it was placed. The first two parts of the paper highlight the nature of the political, economic and ideological development of the Indian bourgeoisie in the colonial period as well as certain trends in the colonial economy before 1947. The actual trends that have emerged in the Indian economy since independence as a result of the specific path of development that has been followed are outlined in the third part. Part four discusses certain other factors which are crucial to the path of development followed, viz, the nature of the hegemonic ideology in the Indian national movement as well as in Indian society after independence, the role of political democracy, the balance of class forces since independence, the role of the state and the public sector and the size of the Indian home market. The authors conclude with a discussion of some of the political implications of post-independence Indian development.