The Colonial Era in India

A class is discussing how railways were laid across India under British rule. Ritu says this proves their aim was the good of Indians. Zaid says building the railways does not prove that. Who is right?

A British officer's diary records that the farmers of his district were content with their condition. Meenakshi says the diary is from that very time, so the statement is reliable. Arun says it does not settle the matter. Who is right?

A textbook mentions one British officer who built a hospital in his district. Sameer says this shows the British administration cared about Indians’ welfare. Ritika says one officer tells you nothing about the whole administration. Who is right?

In a debate someone argues that India was poor when the British left, so they must have been working to lift India out of poverty. Rukmini finds the argument weak. Where is it weak?

Deepa says colonial records are full of the schools and colleges the British opened, and there are few Indian papers complaining, so the education policy was clearly welcomed. Farhan says think about whose records survive. Who is right?

Two accounts of one famine survive. An official report says relief reached people adequately. A merchant's letter from the same district says grain kept being shipped out. Both are from that year. What follows from this?