The New Economic Menace to India

“The New Economic Menace to India,” authored by Bipan Chandra Pal, emerged during the early stages of transformative British economic policies in India. Initially published in 1920 in Madras, which is now a part of the Chennai district in Tamil Nadu, this 250-page volume comprises 32 chapters. These chapters delve into the ominous repercussions arising from the evolution of imperialist strategies in the post-war era. The book commences by providing a clear and enlightening overview of the economic and political imperialist policies adopted by the British and the detrimental impact they have had on colonized nations, with a specific focus on India. It goes on to shed light on the wartime maneuvers employed by the colonial power and exposes the inherent flaws in the concepts of ‘trustee-ship’ and ‘colonial self-government.’ To counteract this emerging economic threat, which is a direct consequence of post-war tactics, Bipan Chandra Pal advocates for forging an alliance with the British Labour Party and striving for wage and working hour parity. Towards the conclusion, Pal earnestly cautions readers about the perils of mimicking European practices. He wraps up the book with a chapter dedicated to the defense of India’s cultural heritage.