Why didn’t Mughal kings like Jahangir or Aurangzeb send India’s wealth to their actual country like the British Empire did? The Mughal Empire and the British Empire were distinct in their organizational structures, motivations, and approaches to governance, which influenced their handling of wealth and resources within the territories they controlled.

Differences in Governance and Objectives:

• The Mughal Empire was a centralized state with a system of governance that allowed significant autonomy to regional governors and princely states. The Mughal emperors sought to consolidate power within the Indian subcontinent and establish a stable and prosperous empire.
• On the other hand, the British Empire was a colonial power with a different objective. The British sought to extract resources and wealth from their colonies, including India, to benefit the British Isles and fund their industrialization and expansion.

Economic Exploitation:

• The British colonialists exploited India’s resources, including natural resources and labor, to fuel the industrial revolution in Britain. They imposed heavy taxes, tariffs, and trade policies that favored British interests and drained wealth from India to Britain.

Revenue Collection and Economic Policies:

• Mughal emperors collected revenue primarily to fund the administration of their empire, maintain their army, and undertake public works. Their economic policies were aimed at strengthening the empire and ensuring its stability and prosperity.
• The British, in contrast, enforced economic policies that were designed to benefit the colonial power, often at the expense of the Indian economy. They levied heavy taxes and imposed trade restrictions that stifled economic growth in India and funneled wealth to Britain.

Integration and Centralization:

• The Mughal emperors sought to integrate various regions and cultures within the subcontinent under a unified rule. Their focus was on consolidating power and establishing a cohesive empire.
• The British, however, established a system of direct colonial rule over India, enabling them to exert significant control over the administration, economy, and resources, which facilitated the extraction of wealth for the benefit of Britain.

In summary, the motivations, governance structures, economic policies, and objectives of the Mughal Empire and the British Empire were fundamentally different. The Mughal emperors aimed to consolidate power within the Indian subcontinent and maintain stability, whereas the British colonialists sought to exploit India’s wealth and resources for the benefit of the British Empire.