سفرنامہ "سیر پنجاب" میں برطانوی استعمار کی عکاسی

A Reflection of British Imperialism in Travelogue “Sair e Punjab”

Abstract

The economic policies of British imperialism transformed colonies into suppliers of raw materials and captive markets for British goods. In India, this strategy led to the decline of indigenous industries, agrarian exploitation, and the development of infrastructures such as mining and monumental buildings that outwardly symbolized progress but in reality, served Britain’s enrichment. Artisans and peasants were forced into poverty, taxation, and unemployment, while colonial elites and British officials thrived. Dadabhai Naoroji exposed this ceaseless transfer of wealth through his “Drain Theory”, a vivid testimony to India’s economic decline under colonial exploitation. It was this injustice and cultural domination that ultimately inspired the nationalist movement and fueled the struggle for freedom against imperial rule. The study focuses on the reflection of such imperialism in Travelogue “Sair e Punjab” by Maharaja Sir Kishin Parshad.