Question

In the sentence “It opened (or re-opened) India to the world and the world to India”, why do you think we added ‘re-opened’?

Answer 1

The word “re-opened” was used because India was already connected with the rest of the world through trade, culture, and philosophy long before colonial rule. India played an important role in trade through the Silk Route and had well-developed sea ports and trading networks. It exported goods such as spices, gems, cotton, indigo, and many other products. Indian religions and ideas, including Buddhism and Hinduism, had also spread to many parts of the world. Therefore, the British did not connect India with the world for the first time; they re-established and strengthened connections that already existed.