SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
The British colonised India some 164 years back and ruled us until we got our independence in the year 1947. India struggled to build its economy on its own after that and 75 years later, it has left behind the UK to become the fifth biggest world economy, while the UK stands at the sixth position globally, according to a report released by Bloomberg UK.
While reporting this news, the prestigious media house of the UK apparently couldn’t find a better word to describe India and settled with calling it a ‘former British colony’. In a tweet, it wrote, “Britain drops behind India to become the world’s sixth largest economy.
It further wrote, “The former British colony jumped past the UK in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth-biggest economy.”
Britain drops behind India to become the world’s sixth largest economy
The former British colony jumped past the UK in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth-biggest economy ⬇️ https://t.co/HT2xeFoIbr
— Bloomberg UK (@BloombergUK) September 2, 2022
Was it because after all these years, the UK still sees India as its former colony and nothing else or was it to draw the comparison of the two country’s financial positions, we are not sure. However, the choice of words didn’t sit well with the Indians who gave it back to the media saying that it should be rephrased.
Here is how they responded.
Fixed it.
India overtakes the UK to become the world’s fifth largest economy
India jumped past former colonizer in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth-biggest economy pic.twitter.com/alP6mrXync
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 3, 2022
Oh, the burn. These @BloombergUK butlers can’t describe India without marking it out as a former British colony – how’s that of any note or consequence, you twits?
Do you describe Britain as “The former Roman, Nordic, or Saxon colony”? WDTT https://t.co/EHglrUs1hY
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) September 2, 2022
Actually UK was that high because of loot stolen from its “former colony” anyway.
It’s time for it to start making reparations for the $45 trillion in wealth it stole. https://t.co/jjkHvZ7KCv
— Sankrant Sanu सानु संक्रान्त ਸੰਕ੍ਰਾਂਤ ਸਾਨੁ (@sankrant) September 3, 2022
No you are wrong! British Colony, My foot…. it’s Britain who came to India as beggars and looted innocent people….
— Nationalist Indian (@ravihkg99) September 2, 2022
UK didn’t slip behind.
India simply crushed ’em.
The former Nordic Colony will now follow India till eternity.
— Himadri Sinha (@himadrisinha) September 2, 2022
“Colony” 😁😁! Is that the best you guys could come up with? #India
— Sudhish (@iamsudhish) September 3, 2022
Somewhere between 75 years and 245 years there is a threshold where it is no longer appropriate to refer to a nation as “a former colony”. Apparently.
— Doug Miller (@dgmlr) September 3, 2022
“Former British colony”? Really? That’s the most relevant identity and credential you could find for a massive country that’s developing by leaps and bounds? Or is this just another way of warning the people of this “former colony” to know their place?!
— Shaoni Kar (@shaonikar) September 2, 2022
Many also mentioned that this is how UK media, especially Bloomberg UK has always been referring to India as, in their reports.
For those wondering, “Former British Colony” is the standard way Bloomberg refers to India. https://t.co/I6xtodbhIO
— Pranay Manocha (@PranMan) September 2, 2022
The report suggests that the Indian economy is forecast to grow more than 7% this year. It also states that a decade ago India stood at the 11th position while the UK was at fifth, according to the report. It’s really a proud moment as an Indian for all of us.
