8 Very British Things In India Today

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Indian has a bitter-sweet relationship with the British. While we all are aware of the discrimination and draining effects that British colonialism had on our country, we have borrowed a lot from them. While the British drained our country of wealth, they also gave us modern education, transport and small parcels of their culture.

India has always been a melting point of cultures. And thus we look at the British things in India with nostalgia rather than spite. There are some very British things in India that have now become symbols of our patriotism and pride. We do not look at these things as British legacy any more.

Here are the 8 most peculiarly British things in India.

Indian Railways

Railway lines that connect out massive nation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari were laid by the British. You will surprised that very little of the Indian Railway lines have been changed or modified since the British left.

British English

The world at large may spell colour as 'color' and odour as 'odor' in American English but Indians are still struggling with Microsoft Word. We remain faithful to the original English spellings learned from our colonisers.

Gateway Of India

Built in the honour of King George IV, this monument is today no longer a British legacy. Today we see it as a place of nation's pride were people gather for candle marches and protests.

Names Of Places

Almost all the roads in India have been 'Indianised' and yet we continue to say that 'Rippon' street is the commercial hub of Kolkata and Marine Drive is the 'Queen's Necklace'.

Howrah Bridge

Officially, it may be the Rabindra Setu but for people in India it will always be the Howrah Bridge. This magnificent bridge that is a symbol of Kolkata is one of the most imperial British things in India.

Cafes

Did you know that all major British outpost in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata etc are littered with British cafes. You may have heard of the famous Cafe Churchill in Colaba, Mumbai. It still serves the favourite dishes of British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

Hill Stations

Most of the hill stations that we visit these days were conceptualised by the British. They couldn't bear the heat of the lowlands in summer and thus moved up to small places like Shimla, Ooty etc.

Cricket

Cricket is a game to which the Britishers introduced us some 200 years back. And today a cricket crazy nation has left the British people far behind in their love for the game. In India cricket is our religion and Sachin is our God!

These were the 7 British things that exist in India today. Can you think of any other thing that remind you of the British legacy?