Lady Murasaki wrote:LordRaven wrote:Lady Murasaki wrote:MungoBrush wrote:Lady Murasaki wrote:
What do you think happens to a country when it’s been invaded and plundered?
Of course life for the average didn’t improve and those who had little ended up with even less.
The British Raj lasted less than 100 years
But it certainly didn't improve under the Mogul Empire which lasted more than 200 years.
Was British rule worse than Muslim rule for Indians?
I don't know the answer to that.
Certainly didn’t help improve things, except for a few fancy buildings and uptight Victorian values.
Oh I don't know, 5 warring divisions (sultanates I believe?)all at each others throats prior to the British is now the biggest democracy in the world and it is undoubtedly a wonderful example of a nation gaining world status.
The Victorian values you speak of have provided great education, law & order, civil liberties (in spite of the caste system), infrastructure --am I right in thinking Indian National Railways are biggest employer in the world (?) - etc etc etc to the point that India produces some of the most brilliant people on the planet.
It has surpassed the UK in just about everything and has its own Space Agency, nuclear capability -both Civilian and Military- and it is undoubtedly a world power with far more capability in wealth and military status to the old mother country, for we seem to be languishing and going backwards.
I have heard Indian people say that they are grateful to the British Raj, and I can well understand their saying so. India is far more powerful a force on the world scene than Britain without doubt.
And that is because, in my opinion, of the Indian people themselves.
Education has always been an important focus for Indians. Victorians brought beaurocracy so yeah, things are more organised, overly so in some areas. Indian people are polite about the history, plenty of it was tyrannical, oppressive and murderous. Indians were and are regarded as second class citizens in their own country, don’t kid yourself with romantic notions about the British Raj.
No offence but I hold naff all romantic notions about the British Raj in India, although I would say that the British Raj was a damned sight more benevolent to Indian peole than the East India Company who were in turn a right bunch of cunts.
Before you rant please tell me how a few thousand bureaucrats with British Officers and Indian troops managed to run the place? It seems quite extraordinary to me.
I am guessing all Indian peoples welcomed the demise of the 5 warring sultanates and they probably welcomed the schooling/education for all, law & order, the national railways, telegraphs, peace in their time and equal rights for all Indians - and bollox to the caste system - plus they probably took comfort in the Indian staffed bureaucracy that ran the whole thing etc etc.
Once Gandhi and Co, quite rightly, embarked on their protests it was inevitable that India would become a sovereign nation through seeking independence.
However LM I don't think India would have ever existed as such a large democracy had the British never got involved. The British created all the institutions and vehicles wherein it became possible.
Had the British not been in India I dread to think what the Sub Continent would look like today, because it would have continued with internal wars amongst its own peoples and the only way it would have become united would have been through war with the biggest baddest blood-thirstiest bastard of them all winning.
I agree that British involvement in India was at first bloody and shameful but it almost seems to me that, in a seeming apology for such bad behaviour, they then modernised the whole country and put in (then) modern infrastructure run by the Indian people themselves with gradually reducing British oversight that seemed to naturally steer India into its role as a thoroughly modern succesful nation that is also the largest democracy in the world.
The Jewel In The Crown has done well and long may it continue to do so as we head further into this century