Why did Gandhi think that the British had colonized the mindset of the Indian elite?

Mahatma Gandhi believed that the British colonial rule not only imposed political and economic dominance over India but also had a profound impact on the mindset of the Indian elite. According to Gandhi, the British had successfully colonized the mental and cultural landscape of the Indian elite through various means, influencing their values, attitudes, and priorities. Several factors contributed to Gandhi's perspective on the colonization of the Indian elite's mindset.

One key element was the educational system introduced by the British in India. The English-medium education system propagated Western ideas, values, and perspectives, shaping the intellectual outlook of the Indian elite. Gandhi argued that this education instilled a sense of inferiority among Indians regarding their own culture and traditions while elevating Western ideals as superior. The curriculum focused on European literature, history, and science, neglecting indigenous knowledge and perspectives. This, in Gandhi's view, created a mental colonization where the Indian elite began to emulate Western thought, often at the expense of their own cultural heritage.

The British colonial administration also played a role in shaping the mindset of the Indian elite through a policy of selective inclusion. Some Indians were co-opted into the colonial bureaucracy, gaining positions of authority and privilege. Gandhi observed that this strategy created a class of individuals who identified more with British interests than with the aspirations of the broader Indian population. These "Anglicized" elites, as Gandhi termed them, often adopted the values and lifestyles of their British counterparts, leading to a cultural disconnect between them and the masses they were supposed to represent.

Furthermore, economic exploitation and the entrenchment of a landlord class exacerbated the mental colonization of the Indian elite. The British economic policies, including the imposition of heavy taxes and the conversion of traditional agricultural practices for the benefit of British industries, enriched a select group of Indians who collaborated with the colonial rulers. This economic privilege, according to Gandhi, not only created a sense of dependence on British favor but also fostered a detachment from the struggles of the majority of Indians, who were enduring economic hardships.

Gandhi also criticized the legal system introduced by the British, which he believed contributed to the colonization of the Indian mind. The legal system, modeled on British jurisprudence, often perpetuated injustice and reinforced the authority of the colonial rulers. The Indian elite, educated in Western legal traditions, sometimes internalized these values, further distancing themselves from traditional Indian concepts of justice and fairness. Gandhi advocated for a return to indigenous legal and moral principles as a way to decolonize the mindset and restore a sense of justice rooted in Indian values.

In essence, Gandhi's assertion that the British had colonized the mindset of the Indian elite stemmed from a holistic understanding of the multifaceted impact of colonial rule. The educational, economic, administrative, and legal systems all contributed to a mental colonization that shaped the perspectives and priorities of the Indian elite. Gandhi's call for Swadeshi (self-reliance) and the promotion of indigenous culture was, in part, a response to this perceived colonization, seeking to reclaim and rejuvenate the authentic identity of the Indian people. He believed that a true liberation from colonial rule required not only political independence but also the decolonization of the Indian mind.