70 Proofs Life Was Better Under British Rule Than Today

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Prologue

We like to tell ourselves that life today is better, freer, and richer than ever before. We celebrate technology, modern cities, and conveniences, and look back at the past as if it were dark and backward. But how often do we stop and ask ourselves: Better for whom?

This essay is not about nostalgia, nor is it an argument to glorify colonial rule. It is a candid, sometimes uncomfortable look at how ordinary life—our daily routines, family bonds, community ties, moral stability, health, and security—has changed over time.

Through 70 clear comparisons, you will see how personal stress, fractured families, social distrust, cultural erosion, economic uncertainty, and environmental collapse shape life today. And you will realize that, in many ways, people lived simpler, safer, and more predictable lives under British rule.

The purpose is not to romanticize the past but to hold a mirror to the present. If we cannot learn from it, we risk continuing the drift toward instability, disconnection, and dissatisfaction.

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Personal Life

1. Now: People are always stressed about money and work. Under British rule: Life was simple and predictable.

2. Now: Many people feel anxious or depressed. Under British rule: Community life and daily routines kept people calmer.

3. Now: People often don’t get enough sleep. Under British rule: Life followed natural rhythms, and sleep was easier.

4. Now: Diseases like diabetes and heart problems are common. Under British rule: Hard work and simple food kept people healthier.

5. Now: People sit too much and don’t move enough. Under British rule: Daily work and walking kept people fit.

6. Now: People worry about their safety. Under British rule: Police and local rules kept neighborhoods safer.

7. Now: Life is shorter for many because of stress and pollution. Under British rule: Natural living kept people healthier even without modern medicine.

8. Now: People depend on complicated systems for everything. Under British rule: People were more independent and self-reliant.

9. Now: Money problems are always on people’s minds. Under British rule: People lived within their means and had stable routines.

10. Now: People rarely have time to relax or enjoy life. Under British rule: Daily life included rest, leisure, and community time.

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Familial Life

11. Now: Families are smaller, and elders are often alone. Under British rule: Extended families lived together and cared for each other.

12. Now: Parents often cannot guide their children enough. Under British rule: Families and neighbors naturally taught children how to live.

13. Now: Marriages break more often. Under British rule: Families and social norms kept marriages stable.

14. Now: Domestic violence is common but hidden. Under British rule: Communities watched over families, reducing extreme abuse.

15. Now: Old people often feel lonely. Under British rule: Elders lived at home, were respected, and had authority.

16. Now: Family members feel distant from each other. Under British rule: Households had strong emotional connections.

17. Now: People move far away for work, breaking family ties. Under British rule: Families lived close together and supported each other.

18. Now: Women often do most of the housework alone. Under British rule: Families shared household responsibilities.

19. Now: Festivals and family rituals are ignored or rushed. Under British rule: Celebrations brought families together and strengthened bonds.

20. Now: Children often lack guidance and learning from elders. Under British rule: Life skills were passed naturally through families and communities.

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Social Life

21. Now: People don’t trust or help their neighbors. Under British rule: Villagers and townspeople helped each other and stayed close.

22. Now: Social gatherings are often about showing off or competing. Under British rule: People met for stories, work, and enjoyment.

23. Now: Communities feel disconnected. Under British rule: People worked and lived closely, supporting each other.

24. Now: People are less polite in public. Under British rule: Manners and respect were part of everyday life.

25. Now: Young people feel pressure from peers and society. Under British rule: Life expectations were simpler and clearer.

26. Now: Social divisions are bigger. Under British rule: People, though in classes or castes, worked together locally.

27. Now: Friends and neighbors don’t help each other much. Under British rule: People relied on each other for support.

28. Now: Conflicts take a long time to resolve. Under British rule: Local councils and officials managed disputes faster.

29. Now: Streets and public places feel unsafe. Under British rule: Law and order were maintained, and people felt secure.

30. Now: People rarely feel responsible for the community. Under British rule: Everyone followed rules and respected public order.

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Cultural Life

31. Now: Festivals and rituals are often done carelessly. Under British rule: Celebrations had meaning and brought everyone together.

32. Now: Traditional arts and crafts are disappearing. Under British rule: Culture and local skills were valued and passed down.

33. Now: People don’t respect elders and teachers as much. Under British rule: Elders and teachers had clear authority and respect.

34. Now: People often cheat or act selfishly. Under British rule: Social pressure encouraged honesty and fairness.

35. Now: Everyone wants more things and money. Under British rule: People were simple, content, and self-sufficient.

36. Now: Religious or spiritual practices are shallow. Under British rule: Practices guided morals and brought communities together.

37. Now: People forget local history and stories. Under British rule: Legends and history were taught and remembered in communities.

38. Now: People feel less pride in their town or village. Under British rule: Community pride was strong through shared work and festivals.

39. Now: People do not always act bravely or responsibly. Under British rule: Communities enforced courage, honesty, and fairness.

40. Now: Life feels complicated and stressful. Under British rule: Daily routines gave clarity and purpose.

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Economic Life

41. Now: Jobs are risky and temporary. Under British rule: Work was hard but steady and reliable.

42. Now: Farmers owe a lot of money and struggle with markets. Under British rule: Farmers had clear systems for taxes and predictable crops.

43. Now: Rich people and poor people are very unequal. Under British rule: Life was unfair, but most people could survive with basics.

44. Now: Things cost more than what people earn. Under British rule: Life was simpler, and basic needs were affordable.

45. Now: Small local businesses are failing. Under British rule: Local crafts and trades were respected and sustainable.

46. Now: Prices keep rising. Under British rule: Costs were more predictable and manageable.

47. Now: People depend on far-away markets. Under British rule: Local goods and farming were reliable.

48. Now: Work often takes people far from home. Under British rule: People worked near families and communities.

49. Now: Bribes and corruption make life harder. Under British rule: Administration worked with clear rules, even if unfair politically.

50. Now: Work is stressful and harms health. Under British rule: Hard work was balanced and predictable.

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Political and Administrative Life

51. Now: Government is often slow and corrupt. Under British rule: Rules were enforced consistently, even if unfair.

52. Now: Going to court takes too long and costs too much. Under British rule: Law was strict but faster and more predictable.

53. Now: Leaders favor friends and family over merit. Under British rule: Officials followed clear rules for appointments.

54. Now: People feel powerless in politics. Under British rule: Local officials enforced rules, giving people structure.

55. Now: People do not take care of their towns. Under British rule: Communities followed rules and kept public spaces clean.

56. Now: Officials often do not enforce laws properly. Under British rule: Local administration worked in an orderly way.

57. Now: Local leaders misuse power. Under British rule: Village councils and officers maintained authority and fairness.

58. Now: Complaints rarely get resolved. Under British rule: People could use official channels and get answers.

59. Now: Rules are not followed consistently. Under British rule: Administration followed a clear system of rules.

60. Now: Citizens feel helpless. Under British rule: People knew the system and could act within it.

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Environmental and Daily Life

61. Now: Air and water are polluted. Under British rule: Natural resources were cleaner and safer.

62. Now: Soil and forests are being destroyed. Under British rule: Nature supported daily life and farming.

63. Now: Cities are crowded and dirty. Under British rule: Towns were smaller, orderly, and manageable.

64. Now: Floods, storms, and droughts are worse because of poor planning. Under British rule: Communities adapted and managed natural risks.

65. Now: Noise and chaos make life stressful. Under British rule: Life was quieter and calmer.

66. Now: Streets and markets are unsafe. Under British rule: Public areas were well-kept and safe.

67. Now: Roads are dangerous. Under British rule: Streets were smaller but safer and well-managed.

68. Now: Nature is disappearing from daily life. Under British rule: People lived close to land, rivers, and forests.

69. Now: Slums and overcrowding make life hard. Under British rule: Housing was modest but stable and sufficient.

70. Now: Life feels complicated and uncertain. Under British rule: Daily life had clear routines and stability.

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Epilogue

After examining these 70 comparisons, the picture is stark. Modern life, for all its technology and “freedoms,” often delivers anxiety, isolation, and chaos. The comforts we take pride in—urban living, digital connections, material abundance—cannot replace the stability, simplicity, and social cohesion that shaped daily life before.

This reflection is not an indictment of progress, nor a call to return to colonial rule. It is a wake-up call: to rethink our priorities, restore human connections, preserve culture, respect elders, care for our environment, and create communities where life can be simpler, safer, and meaningful again.

If we ignore these lessons, we risk forgetting that convenience alone does not equal happiness, and that the march of “progress” may have left us worse off in the things that truly matter.

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