The colonial experience differed depending on the motives of each conqueror, but most countries underwent extreme change to their daily life and fundamental culture. In Vietnam, the French changed the education structure so that students learned French history over Vietnamese history. Many conquering countries applied drastic changes to the language, such as Japan who outlawed Korean and changed the official language to Japanese during their occupation. Koreans were forced to adopt Japanese names and only speak in Japanese during their colonization. Those who refused were often imprisoned and punished. In the case of India, Britain came in and completely turned their cultural dynamic upside down. Once in power, Britain controlled almost every aspect of Indian daily life. They put the Indians out of business and shifted their social pyramid by enslaving the Indians. This culminated to severe poverty and unemployment.
It is really interesting that the Japanese outlawed the Korean language! I can see where the Japanese may do so because if they are trying to colonize and dictate, it is easier if there is a single language. As bad as it may sound, the Japanese are doing what they need to do in order to colonize. It is wrong, yes, but in history there have been many instances where there is, in fact, violent imperialism. Violent imperialism is a way the world works and countries form!
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