Has independence been worth it?

A seriously wonder if independence has been worth it. Has it made the life of the average Indian better than what it would have been otherwise? That is the ONLY criterion. Pride and nationalism have nothing to do with it. We should be proud of our rulers if our average brothers and sisters get a better life and for no other reason. As a matter of fact, our expectations from leaders who are our own kin should be higher than expectation from foreign rulers. And remember, despite all the romance attached to the concept of self-rule, there are always people who rule you. No man is an island.
From how my grandparents used to talk about the lot of the common man during the British raj and what I see today, the common man was better off under the British. Period. Whatever improvements have taken place since then are due to natural evolution, despite the government and not due to it.
And no, I am not ashamed of saying so.Those who should be ashamed are not. I am only commenting on the state of affairs. Don't shoot the messenger.