The Colonial Roots of Modern Bangalore: A Study of British Influence on Commerce

Abstract

Modern Bangalore, now known as Bengaluru, stands as India’s leading commercial and technological hub. However, its transformation from a small cantonment town to a vibrant economic center was deeply rooted in its colonial past. The British influence on Bangalore’s commercial structure, urban planning, and institutional development fundamentally reshaped its socio-economic landscape. This paper explores the evolution of commerce in Bangalore under British rule, focusing on how colonial policies, infrastructural expansion, and trade networks laid the foundation for the city’s modern economy. Drawing upon historical archives, government records, and existing scholarship, the study examines how the British cantonment became the nucleus of urban and economic development. The paper concludes that colonial-era economic reforms, though exploitative in intent, inadvertently laid the groundwork for Bangalore’s later industrial and technological growth.