In the article by Hind Swaraj, he mentions the dominance and influence of Western technology, specifically machinery in India. This greater dependence of usage begins to weave itself into the daily lives and culture that makes India. There is a sense of losing original values and adoption of a new one. He argues that in order to free India, we cannot use what the dominant power has given us. In order to dismantle the master's house, we cannot use the tools that have been given to us. I don't necessarily agree with this statement as we must consider the context of the country or place or group being oppressed.
Historically, we see that it is usually developing third world countries that are taken over and influenced by another greater world power. In the case of India, Britain has imposed their machinery in order to increase rates of production, as well as importation of foreign goods and products. The benefits that machinery offers is something far more advanced and efficient than what the people, resources, or technology that India itself could have provided. Through time, the use of Western education and influence begins to infuse itself with Indian culture. We see that present now as India is seen as a developer and intelligence hub for computer and IT aid.
There are some benefits that come with the introduction of Western intervention. It supplies the country with more resources and jobs for workers. To withdraw both physically and mentally from this dominant power may not have similar advantages. This economic dependence is what makes it worthwhile to be connected to its colonizer. The struggles and discourse that India would undergo in order to free itself of their control would have been costly. The slow usage of their machinery to benefit India's economy is the best way to slowly chip away at their dominance, while maintaining true values and beliefs of their culture.
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