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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
informative
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I don't even know what to say.
This book was excellent. I know roughly of how the British ruined India, but I never knew the extent of it (because I'm a first-gen American). This book can be eye-opening for some in terms of revealing what the British stole from India, how their practices created so much poverty and illiteracy. Not only does it show in-depth how the British dismantled one of the most advanced countries (for example, by banning Indians, who were very good shipbuilders, from making ships) but it also shows how the British created the conditions that have resulted in the "third world" India we see today.
Reading this book is HARD. The especially difficult part, and this will always be painful, is seeing how the British created a great divide amongst Muslim and Hindus. That has led to so much suffering and so many deaths, and it will never not be heartbreaking to read about. It's also infuriating to read about what the British did (like the number of people who died from starvation because the British prevented Indians from helping themselves). And it's really insulting how British Empire apologists say Britian is the reason India has a democracy and a growing economy.
Um, India was one of the most advanced ancient civilizations. They were enlightened, learned, played a big factor in the global economy and would've been fine if the British hadn't literally taken away their means of livelihood.
The British mostly imparted bad values, like capitalism, stripping women of any autonomy and forcing people into rigid gender roles.
Reading this book, for me, was like THANK GOD THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. So that was nice.
I think everyone should read this book, not only to see what the British did to India (especially because there still are a lot of people who are nostalgic about colonialism), but also to see how colonialism has really hurt the current world. While colonialism may not be the only factor for the instability and inequality we see in many former colonies, it was certainly a large factor. (Thanks, capitalism). It also shows, probably on a larger scale, what happens when countries interfere with other governments for their own interests (*cough* *cough* U.S.)
The last paragraph of this book is why I think it's important we keep pushing the real history. These things are on the verge of being repeated, and thanks to empire apologists, people think the British empire did good. And therefore they miss those times. Without acknowledging the true history of what has happened, without realizing the damage that has been done, we are doomed to repeat the damage.
Now for the critical parts: I'm giving this five stars because for anyone who's not Indian or not a part of that world doesn't quite understand the reality of colonialism. I knew it was bad, but I never really looked into the details since I'm a first-gen American. I understand this book is opinion, but it's hard to argue with the opinion that everything the British did was for their own benefit and also that it ruined India. I thought this was a good look at how systematically it dismantled one of the most advanced civilizations, largely resulting in the India we see today. There were many examples divided by sections, which made it easier to see the impact.
This book was excellent. I know roughly of how the British ruined India, but I never knew the extent of it (because I'm a first-gen American). This book can be eye-opening for some in terms of revealing what the British stole from India, how their practices created so much poverty and illiteracy. Not only does it show in-depth how the British dismantled one of the most advanced countries (for example, by banning Indians, who were very good shipbuilders, from making ships) but it also shows how the British created the conditions that have resulted in the "third world" India we see today.
Reading this book is HARD. The especially difficult part, and this will always be painful, is seeing how the British created a great divide amongst Muslim and Hindus. That has led to so much suffering and so many deaths, and it will never not be heartbreaking to read about. It's also infuriating to read about what the British did (like the number of people who died from starvation because the British prevented Indians from helping themselves). And it's really insulting how British Empire apologists say Britian is the reason India has a democracy and a growing economy.
Um, India was one of the most advanced ancient civilizations. They were enlightened, learned, played a big factor in the global economy and would've been fine if the British hadn't literally taken away their means of livelihood.
The British mostly imparted bad values, like capitalism, stripping women of any autonomy and forcing people into rigid gender roles.
Reading this book, for me, was like THANK GOD THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. So that was nice.
I think everyone should read this book, not only to see what the British did to India (especially because there still are a lot of people who are nostalgic about colonialism), but also to see how colonialism has really hurt the current world. While colonialism may not be the only factor for the instability and inequality we see in many former colonies, it was certainly a large factor. (Thanks, capitalism). It also shows, probably on a larger scale, what happens when countries interfere with other governments for their own interests (*cough* *cough* U.S.)
The last paragraph of this book is why I think it's important we keep pushing the real history. These things are on the verge of being repeated, and thanks to empire apologists, people think the British empire did good. And therefore they miss those times. Without acknowledging the true history of what has happened, without realizing the damage that has been done, we are doomed to repeat the damage.
Now for the critical parts: I'm giving this five stars because for anyone who's not Indian or not a part of that world doesn't quite understand the reality of colonialism. I knew it was bad, but I never really looked into the details since I'm a first-gen American. I understand this book is opinion, but it's hard to argue with the opinion that everything the British did was for their own benefit and also that it ruined India. I thought this was a good look at how systematically it dismantled one of the most advanced civilizations, largely resulting in the India we see today. There were many examples divided by sections, which made it easier to see the impact.
I found this book an enthralling read and only withheld the fifth star because it is an avowedly one-sided perspective. Much of the economic material was unfamiliar and I became increasingly aware that I am woefully lacking in knowledge about India, during and after the Raj. It certainly gave me much to think about and my rather Kipling-esque view of the British in India has received a significant corrective! Highly recommended.
Excellent topic, excellent assessment of the British Raj, something everyone should be aware of.
Could’ve been shorter and more accessible(unnecessarily difficult English!). I understand the author is an Indian politician but the anti Pakistan vitriolic was a little excessive... (and unnecessary), bringing my score down to 3.5.
Could’ve been shorter and more accessible(unnecessarily difficult English!). I understand the author is an Indian politician but the anti Pakistan vitriolic was a little excessive... (and unnecessary), bringing my score down to 3.5.
...but as an Indian, I find it far easier to forgive than to forget.
This book was most definitely jinxed. I thought this would be a swift read, done in two days. Not so much, every time I started listening to this audiobook, someone would interrupt me. It's slightly unreal! I feel like this really impacted not only my enjoyment of the book, but also the flow of the narrative and what I actually remember of the book.
This wasn't an easy book for me to follow and I'm not sure whether that was because of the already mentioned issues or my inexperience with the theme. Even though this book is fairly introductory it goes by themes, expecting that you already have some sort of a frame idea - and I feel like I should have this frame idea, but... I just really don't...
The next contributing factor is the richness of thought this book offers - I regularly caught myself wondering about some thought that was long gone from the narrative, wandering in completely different lines. This isn't exactly the book's fault and it wouldn't be an issue if I was reading this physically, but... All of this made this a really frustrating read for me and reminded me that this is definitely area I need to educate myself in more!
History belongs in the past; but understanding it is the duty of the present.
Some more theme-specific thoughts:
1. The audio is narrated by the author, which I am a sucker for. Kudos for that!
2. The economic discussion was a little sickening. Like... it's one of the things that isn't really surprising in theory, but when you hear about it in reality it's just... a little unbelievable.
3. The casual inclusion of some of the feminist topics was nice and the same goes for LGBTQ+ issues. I was especially touched by the mention of transness in pre-colonial Indian culture. (I guess the casual transphobia is so common here that when there are casual allies instead, it makes me disproportionally emotional.)
4. Probably the only factual criticism I have is that Tharoor implies in one place that racism is a colonial import to India. I wouldn't say this is untrue, but it's imprecise (from what I know). Colorism was already present in India (pale skin was seen as more attractive/valuable than darker skin), but the colonial influence definitely added its own perks and multiplied the issue.
5. Another topic that caught my interes was the creation of Pakistan. I have to admit, lot of it went straight over my head, but still... I didn't really know anything about this before (we really need to change school curriculums...). What especially fascinates me, is looking at it from current popular lenses of islamophobia, like... Euroamerika is really excellent in creating future issues for herself, like...
6. I also have to admit that I ridiculously enjoyed the mixing of serious themes with the (seemingly) less serious ones - like criquet. And just the humour with which Tharoor commented on some of the issues.
There were honestly more things that caught my attention, but I have a train to catch. I might add some of them later. This definitely is a book I would recommend!
BRed at Radical Reading: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/22355801-buddy-read-november-december-2022-british-imperialism
informative
inspiring
reflective
(Reading in Reverse ... But the must have been a plan in such an order...)
As I should have known that it was a kind of the critical response to Niall Ferguson's 'Empire'.
Or rather to the vast portion of that book - relating to India. (Hopefully other voices from different parts of the ... Inglorious Empire will follow. I'd be most courious about the African ones ...)
Sometimes a truly painful read - Amritsar massacre, Bengal Famine. So many times I had scenes from Attenborough's 'Ghandi' in my head.
Surprisingly - despite all those huge and various differences - I found so many similarities between tha fates of people of India and those of Poland. Rise - decline - rise again ....
Excellent book.
As I should have known that it was a kind of the critical response to Niall Ferguson's 'Empire'.
Or rather to the vast portion of that book - relating to India. (Hopefully other voices from different parts of the ... Inglorious Empire will follow. I'd be most courious about the African ones ...)
Sometimes a truly painful read - Amritsar massacre, Bengal Famine. So many times I had scenes from Attenborough's 'Ghandi' in my head.
Surprisingly - despite all those huge and various differences - I found so many similarities between tha fates of people of India and those of Poland. Rise - decline - rise again ....
Excellent book.
It is appalling that British school children continue to learn how aqueducts were built by the Romans, long halls by the Anglo Saxons, or ships by the Vikings, why and how Henry VIII got rid of his wives, but are taught absolutely nothing about how Britain built the largest empire the world has ever witnessed. How knowledge of Viking boat building helps to understand modern multi-cultural Britain is beyond me.
For the Brit whose vision of colonial India is the land of Rudyard Kipling and Far Pavillions, to who Britain lovingly gifted railways, English and cricket, Thashi Sharoor (Indian diplomat, politician and novelist) serves them an unsavoury wake-up call. This is a passionate and well researched account of how the British repressed, exploited and looted a country of millions.
Tharoor sometimes ignores obvious contradictions (Britain’s economy benefiting from the Industrial Revolution) and forgets to look in his rear-view mirror at times. He also seems to let India’s post-colonial leaders off the hook for their failure to end corruption and inequality, after more than 70 years of independence. But this pales when weighed against the volume of evidence he stacks against what the British did to India.
After the atrocities undertaken by the British, it is perhaps surprising that the enduring and affectionate relationship between Brits and Indians should be reciprocal. But, as Sharoor points out: “The fact that, despite all these wrongs and injustices, Indians readily forgave the British when they left, retaining with them a ‘special connection’ says more about India than it does about any supposed benefits of the British Raj”.
Highly recommendable, I learnt a lot more about the forming of modern Britain from Thashi Sharoor than I did from Anglo-Saxon architecture.
For the Brit whose vision of colonial India is the land of Rudyard Kipling and Far Pavillions, to who Britain lovingly gifted railways, English and cricket, Thashi Sharoor (Indian diplomat, politician and novelist) serves them an unsavoury wake-up call. This is a passionate and well researched account of how the British repressed, exploited and looted a country of millions.
Tharoor sometimes ignores obvious contradictions (Britain’s economy benefiting from the Industrial Revolution) and forgets to look in his rear-view mirror at times. He also seems to let India’s post-colonial leaders off the hook for their failure to end corruption and inequality, after more than 70 years of independence. But this pales when weighed against the volume of evidence he stacks against what the British did to India.
After the atrocities undertaken by the British, it is perhaps surprising that the enduring and affectionate relationship between Brits and Indians should be reciprocal. But, as Sharoor points out: “The fact that, despite all these wrongs and injustices, Indians readily forgave the British when they left, retaining with them a ‘special connection’ says more about India than it does about any supposed benefits of the British Raj”.
Highly recommendable, I learnt a lot more about the forming of modern Britain from Thashi Sharoor than I did from Anglo-Saxon architecture.