How British colonialism resulted in 100 million Indian deaths over a 40-year period
India suffered terribly from 1880 to 1920 when Britain was at the height of its imperial authority. India saw an excess of deaths during this time of almost 50 million; this is a conservative estimate. According to research, under British control, India's extreme poverty rose from 23% in 1810 to more than 50% in the middle of the 20th century. During this time, life expectancy dropped from 26.7 to 21.9 years. Famines increased in frequency and severity throughout this time, while real wages fell to a low point in the 19th century. The height of British colonialism saw at least 100 million premature deaths, making it one of the biggest policy-induced mortality crises in human history. It surpasses the total number of deaths from all famines in the Soviet Union, Maoist China, North Korea, Pol Pot's Cambodia, and Mengistu's Ethiopia.
The colonial government essentially abolished Indian tariffs, allowing British products to flood the domestic market. It also instituted a system of hefty taxes and internal duties that made it impossible for Indians to sell fabric. During famines brought on by political decisions in the late 19th century, tens of millions of Indians died from starvation. Around 100 million excess deaths were the result of Britain's exploitation policies. The basis for reparations is clear-cut and has a long history in international law. Reparations can assist in addressing the legacy of poverty and injustice that colonization left behind.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/12/2/how-british-colonial-policy-killed-100-million-indians