Egypt Expedition (1882), Frontier Wars (1882-92),
Burma War (1886), and Bhutan War (1863) added to
the Indian public debt a burden of about Rs. 100 crores.
In the time of Lord Wellesley we bore the expenditure
of expeditions to Ceylon, Moluccus, Singapore, Isle of
France, Cape Colony and Egypt; and to Java in Lord
Minto's time. We also bore the cost of the wars with
Nepal; of Burmese wars (1824-26 and 1852-53); of
Afghan wars; of wars with Persia and China (upto
1858). At our cost and with the blood of Indian sol-
diers Britain consolidated her imperial position in
Asia. We continued to be slaves in.peace and cannon
fodder in war. We have lived only so that Britain's
power may flourish. And the tragedy of it, the help
we gave to Britain was itself the instrument of our
subjection.
A comparative statement of proportion of the ex-
penditure on defence to the total public expenditure
(1927-28) is an illuminating commentary on British
trusteeship of India.
Japan 26.6
Italy 23.5
France 19.8
U.S.A. 16.1
U.S.S.R. 16.0
U.K. 14.7
Germany 7.2
Australia 6.5
India 45.3
OPPRESSIVE TAXATION
In India, for most people, there is little margin
over subsistence. Taxation has, therefore, to be judg-
ed not from absolute tax figures. What has to be con-
sidered is the proportion which is appropriated by the
public authorities from the net national income and
the incidence of this tax burden on individuals in dif-
22