These days I am getting an overdose of the “Goodness� of British rule in India, right from the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to CEOs of some BPOs and fellow bloggers.
Here are some samples
This was published in Indian Express by Jaithirth Rao:
“I, for one, am grateful to Macaulay. Without his gift to us, so many of us would be lesser individuals, not just different individuals. I use the word “lesser� quite deliberately. English is not just a medium or a means to an end; it is part of our very consciousness.�
This person has touched the nadir in showing the servile attitude to Gora Sahibs!
What our own PM was stating at Oxford University “Our judiciary, our legal system, our bureaucracy and our police are all great institutions, derived from British-Indian administration and they have served the country well.�
It is obvious he has forgotten the same police, judiciary and legal system when Jallianwallah Bagh happened and General Dyre was exonerated!
First these champions of British rule should be provided with some stats:
====================
The British Empire was the world’s first global power and history’s largest Empire; by 1921, it held sway over a population of 500–600 million people — roughly a quarter of the world’s population — and covered about 15.1 million square miles (nearly 37 million square kilometres), roughly 35% of the world’s total land area.
================
Now some questions have to be answered by these Bhura Sahibs:
The British implemented almost the same pattern of education, governance, law, judiciary, police…….wherever they ruled. Then why not Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Uganda, Brunei….. have the similar virtues of British Empire? Roughly this world’s 52 or 53 countries had been BLESSED BY BRITISH RULE. Why not inheritors of Great Governance of these nations are shining example of freedom of press, upholders of democracy, champion of secularism, a super power in IT industry? Why these places are not producing world class professionals, writers, artists, technicians despite having the same education system? The great English education system!
The world’s 35% of the land area was under golden rule of British Empire, then why only India has consistently maintained the rule of democracy? Freedom of press? Secular Principals? Why we escaped the clutches of military rule and marshal law? Why only we have somewhat world class professional institutions? Why we have world class scientists? Why are we considered 6th nuclear power in the world? Why only our country keeps on sending indigenous satellites? Why we had Green Revolution?
Who has the time to ponder and think? Who has the inclination to read history and find out a common pattern of our lives? NOW We belong to a generation of mediocre people. (That keeps on manifesting itself in remix songs. Those suckers can’t produce anything remotely good of their own so they keep on lifting golden lyrics from the past era!) So our thinking too has become mediocre too. Otherwise it’s quite plain that the difference doesn’t lie in British rule or their education system.
It’s WE THE PEOPLE who had made all the difference. We never had a history of offering poison to our Socrates! We never termed Gautam Buddha, Lord Mahavira or Guru Nanak as infidels. We Indians never shied away from embracing new ideas, technology, religion or culture. So whenever we read Montesquieu, Rousseau, Thomas Paine, Burke, Machiavelli, Marx or James Mill, we never felt threatened by their ideology or system. It never occurred to us that our Indian-ness was in danger or we will lose our identity!
So if the British rule seems good to some people, they should ponder a bit further and think why this system worked wonders for us and mostly failed in other countries.
Mohammad Iqbal has already put it succulently for us:
Kuch baat hai ki hasti mit-ti nahin hai hamari
Sadiyon raha hai dushman daur-re jahan hamara!
think of it this (politically incorrect) way:
they screwed us over and bought us english langauge..
now we got call centers / BPOs and slowly screwing their jobs!
I know I know.. this is a shallow statement which completely ignores the finer economics and politics but still.. if it helps you feel better.. 🙂
right said alka. they came here to make their own fortunes by destroying us. salute to great india and we the people who have thown them out and now showing them that we can conquer them by non violent ways 🙂
Hi,Is our PM praising the same institutions which resulted in pushing Gandhi out of railway compartment in the middle of a cold night just because he was an Indian?why do we reinterpret history for small things?
Anand sharma
An interesting post on Manmohan Singh’s lecture: http://www.lehigh.edu/~amsp/2005/07/pm-manmohan-singhs-address-at-oxford.html
as our freedom fighters were all educated in british,they made it sure that it worked here
uma
Alka thanks for stopping by.
I think Manmohanji was misunderstood atleast that TVR Shenoy says in his rediff article!!
Do keep visiting my blog also
Hi,Alka…that’s another thought-provoking post.Of course whatever systems were set up by the Brits,worked only because it was Indians at the helm..Why just that,look at the rest of the world today,everywhere, the most successful people,be it Dubai of USA, are Indians,are they not??So,why should any of our politicians be reverential towards any country is just not understandable.
yeah..Alka..I got the undercurrent you fixed in this post…nice one..
amazingly well said,,well we had governance when probably the britishes were living on trees. y we forget our harappa and mohenjadaro. Y we forget the science of ayurveda, geography and the maths in our scriptures??? Well the english ppl discovered that earth is round so late,,,and in our upnishads,,we have named geography as bhoogol,,,i.e. earth round..
we have just demeaned ourselves in our own eyes..
ultimate!…
thanks for such nice post…
i am feeling that i shud delete my post and give link to urs
keep it up
an eye opener . nice post girl
Manmohan was doing what he does best at home. Sonia worship, Gora worship!
Lucidly Awake, going by the same logic they screwed 1/4th of this earth’s population. Why not 1/4th of the population is today screwing their jobs? This might be politically correct or incorrect but thi is the fact.
Nilesh, exactlt that’s what I want to say.
Anand, you said it. And today Mr. Singh is getting sound bashing from major media for his utterings!
Uma, I agree with you fully.
Ganesh, Mr. Singh was not misunderstood at all. Its in our blood to feel prostrate in front of whites!
Amit, that shows our infeiority complex as a conquered race.
Gangadhar thank you very much for stopping by.
Ritu, that is an amazing response from you, I am still wondering, what you a boosting thing you have written.
Ankur, that’s interesting. I have not given much thought about Bhoogol. Even if today our past is not as glorious as ancient times, still we preserve the spirit to imbibe knowledge.
Soumya, there is a fiery debate going on in your comment box. 🙂 Don’t even think about deleting your post. 🙂
Sanguine, thank you.
Manish, that’s true.
Deepak, I have read Manish’s post and other’s too. :-). Yes, some of the posts of “intellectual” bloggers reek of infeiority complex mentality.
hey! did you leave a comment on my blog? It was a surprise that someone uses the same name as me! If you want you can write me an email to lavidadealka@hotmail.com. I’d like to write you but I didn’t find any email adress here… I’ll continue reading your blog. see you! 😉
oops! I have sawn that someone left you the same comment. I don’t know how to find this person.
Hi alka This is saba here. I came through Deepak’s page. I hope you don’t mind me ‘spamming ‘your comment box!!! Here is a little piece of information regarding an exciting new concept – blogging awards. You can visit my page for the curtain raiser .we require participation & inputs from all spheres of the blog world. Your participation would help us in providing variety as well as quality to our blogging awards – THE BLOGERRATTI . please visit my page and lend in your valuable support . http://levelhead.rediffblogs.com/
Alka I visited your blog but you write in some other language. 🙂 Probably Spanish! 🙂 Nice of you to visit my blog and posting a comment. I will write mail to you.
Unsui, you have said it all. The problem is not with framework, but with the people. So no matter what framework they have provided, if people are hellbent on destroying that, none of the framework will work. And they only implemented the framework they are familiar with, just as any conqueror does! Its WE who adopted that nurtured that imbibed that and considered it as our own. And we are doing it since time immemorial.
Shail, I agree with you. I don’t know when we will get rid of this colonial mentality and accept us as Indians. Please do leave your link at the end. This way its easier for me to visit your blog.
Saba, I keep reading your posts. And I remember you for leaving comment at my post “National Anthem” which I lost due to spamming.
Hi Alka, Taking the liberty of using ur comment box for self-advertisement, sorry for that!
I have started my most ambitious Dan-Brown-ish thriller The Independence Day
Would luv it if u wud come and read the story.
This offer is open to anyone else reading this comment. The link is there, click on the name below
Not to mention that you were long a strong nation that fostered most of the sceince and philosophy and so much while the Brits were still hunting and gathering. Why is the great societies and history of India forgotten?
As far as I understand the Brits did not come to do us any favors, they were just a by-product. I for one do not want to forget it.
Alka, I don’t have an English blog as of now ( mblog is closed). I ocassionally write in Hindi and the URL is http://abhivyakti.blogspot.com
तर�ण जी,
क�या स�न�दर तार�किक टिप�पणी है ।
अगर अलका जी यह लेख फिरंगी à¤à¤¾à¤·à¤¾ नें न लिखकर,, राषà¥?टà¥?रà¤à¤¾à¤·à¤¾ हिनà¥?दी या किसी अनà¥?य à¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤à¥€à¤¯ à¤à¤¾à¤·à¤¾ में लिखी होती तो मैं उनकी बातों से सहमत हो सकता था।
आप�न लोग को परवाह नहीं , आप�न लोग कथनी-करनी से हिन�द�स�तानी जो हू�।
Alka, can you tell me what you have written is from your heart or from your mind.
u can reply me at dwivedi_til@hotmail.com
Of course Brits did not come here to make India better place.. But they had to implement some system here for their own convenience. All give and take India and brits both got benefited by their rule.. I cannot imagine India would have otherwise been united (West ruled by Marathas, South by Nizams, North by Mougals and many more) and how we would have so many English speaking ppl..So I think our PM was right in praising brits…
The reference to Jallianwallah Bagh was unnecessary as Gordha/Gujrat proved it.. it still does happen here..
Deepak, I love reading your stories and visiting your blog. No need to remind me. 🙂 Maybe I always don’t leave comments. 🙂
Arunima, thank you. Hope your friend is fine.
Tarun, true, Nepal and Bhutan were never under British rule for a long time. They were friendly with British and kept their kingdoms safe for them.Prasing British to get doctorate degree is valid enough reason then what can I say to it? but if something has become a norm that doesn’t mean its right. And my logic is clear. All the other countries as I mentioned in my post has poor economic strata and English education. Why don’t they get these BPOS and jobs? And interpreting Mohammad Iqbal’s lines in such a cynical manner is quite sad at such an young age. Yes, the progress which have to be made is not done. But we always have to see it why? Do we play an active role as a citizen as they do in west? No, all we do is rant, rant and rant. And if you don’t believe in British raj or people then who has done all the work in my country? Alladdin ka Jin?
Premji, what a fantastic logic. Of course going by your standard your state’s Laluji, Rabariji, Shahabuddinji are greater patriots than Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Because he always writes in English and the jewels of your Bihar are Hindustani from kathani and karani. Please don’t read Swami Vivekananda. He too spoke in English in Chicago World Conference. He too is a tratior according to you. You guys really are something. And you don’t hesitate to go personal on the drop of a hat. I too take the liberty of being personal here. Don’t read Nehru, Gandhi, Krishnamurty, Subramaniyaum Bharti, Narayanan, Mulk Raj Anand,Vikram Seth,Rohinton Mistry………..I don’t have to tell who will be the loser.
Twilight Fairy I think I have answered your observations in my post. If we are totally seeped in their system, then we have chosen it by will. Because given other systems, it is still better.
Manoj, I have given stats and logic. Which of course comes from mind, not heart. 🙂
King Kong I hope you have read about Balkanization of India and partition of India in 1947. And why don’t you answer my question in the post. Brit ruled 1/4 of this earth. Then why only we adopted their system? I think its as thick as a chocolate that we the people saw the benefits of it. And yes, we were divided at that period, but when we were united during Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan, Arunzeb, they dared not mess with us.
O.K. Two wrongs doesn’t make a thing right. Jallianwallah Bagh was as henious as Gujarat. But that doesn’t mean we should STILL feel servile to Brits!
Well though out post, as usual.
Someone said the other day..”If it weren’t for the British..we would still be seeing snake charmers on the streets!!” I was too shocked to reply. U shd have been there to punch him.
Kumar, It would have been nice if you had left a link to your blog. I find your thought interesting and different. Thanks for taking time out and penning your thoughts.
Ajay, 🙂 I am quite non-violent temperament wise.:-)
Well written, Alka. But I loved your last post about teachers… it simply reminded me of why I hold teachers in such high respect.
Where art thou , Alka ? Time for another refreshing post!
no new post in a while…
Congrats Alka for Vasudha! She is gorgeous! Best wishes for her.
ur blog rockss as usual….JAI HINDDDDDD
Tarun,you said,” but if something become norm then it’s better to follow” I always have a diffculty with this. This nature has given me a brain and I use that. And regarding people in west, they cherish their democracy because they didn’t get it on platter like us. They had shed so much blood and made so many sacrifices. women were granted eligibility to vote so late in west. Just read their history. They haven’t borrowed democracy like us from some foreign system. We were fortunate that Nehru didn’t think twice for our system of governance.
Prem Ji! What happened to your Hindustanipana? Just in second comment you have reverted to English? And you have not written fearlessly but foolishly. According to you, just because I have written in English, I ‘m not Hindustani from kathani and karani. I think, according to you, Daud Ibrahim is the greatest Hindustani, surviving on this earth. You have started “regional fight” by certifying yourself “Hindustani” and now you have reverted to Rajenrda Prasad and what not.He is from Hindi speaking area, so he spoke Hindi. Abdul Kalam is not.As far as I am concerened, not language but deeds of people matter and make them Hindustani.And all the best, learn every hindustani language and dialect to read original work.But that doesn’t make others who neither have the time nor inclination to learn so many languages a lesser Hindustani. 🙂 Rest assured, I will continue reading your blogs. I am not so narrow minded to halt my own mental “khurak” because you write well. So I am the one who keep benefitted from reading your posts.
Sudipta, Thank you very much for taking time out and reading my posts.
Manish, I will write another post soon, just let me regain my health. Thanks for finding out about Vasudha. 🙂
Jay,how are you and what about Delhi? Now have you started liking this city?
Soumya thank you very much. 🙂
My comment ->
http://utkarshkhare.blogspot.com/2005/10/truly-indian_05.html
Very well said Aika, obviously british role was disastrous but not for oxford thinkers. Even today they accept white man burden theory.
Could you please let me know why my previous post was deleted? Was it not upto the standard?
well, Brits for one thing, they never sought to uplift the society in their colonies, they always tried to opress them so that they can rule easily for longer period of time. Sure there were advancements, but not as such & not something that the Brits wanted. Had they known that Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru etc. were gonna become freedom fighters, I doubt they’d have allowed them to go & study in England. The Brits trupeted that the law is equal for all, but it was never meant to be taken seriously when comparing the colonials & the whitemen, b’coz the colonials always scored lower than whitemen.
the reason for the difference of law & order in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brunei is that they’re ruled by Islamic fundamentalists(read fanatics), psychopaths rule Myanmar, Uganda, Fiji etc., Bhutan is a buddhist country and Nepal is torn between the influence of Maoists & a King who wants to rule medieval style(& I don’t think Nepal was a colony). India has escaped much of this madness due to the democratic model adapted at its freedom & due to vastness of its size(population which is not easy to control with a mixture of many religions/faiths) and due to politicians who believe in eating together(चोर चोर मौसेरे à¤à¤¾à¤ˆ). had India been of on religion/faith(like Pakistan etc) it too would’ve succumbed to this madness that’s around it.
so there are a lot of factors that have kept some sense here & yes, people have a lot of contribution in it, but like everything, people also have a big contribution in eroding the system here(or letting it rust) with their ignorance.
well, Socrates was greek philosopher who was poisoned by Greeks, so don’t know why its mentioned with Brits.