The Brits used to (and still do) capture indian mindshare and had them as their largest customer base - it didn't turn out well for indian national interest though.
Are you saying Indians chose to be "customers" of the British? I've heard a lot of interesting characterizations of the colonization and subsequent exploitation that was the bedrock of British India, but this one's new.
> Are you saying Indians chose to be "customers" of the British?
No.
India has a large domestic demand but it would be awful to allow non rupee denominated assets to supply that demand.
Imagine tomorrow India got rid of its strong tariff regime.
India's inflation is under control through making it punitive to buy foreign goods which India has a strong demand for.
The idea ever since Gandhi is to use domestic capabilities to provide services India demands. Domestic tariffs are also a form of coercion - but in this case it serves India's national interest.
With the Brits the main source of oppression was through preferential trade that tilted everything in their favour - either through hard power of soft ( like they still do today ).
