03-12-2008, 11:37 PM
I thought we had a thread on colonial looting of India. Will park it here for now..
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Apologists for British rule
Shridhar Pant
In his article, "The British bled us, but we always forget that" (March 3), Mr Dina Nath Mishra has referred to Will Durant's book, analysing how the British destroyed India's industry, farming and education. Ironically, there are many Hindus who praise the British for their 'benevolent' rule.
Hindus have suffered the tyranny of both Muslim and British rulers. The basic difference between the two was that while loot, forced conversion and massacre were the chief concerns of Muslim rulers, the British looked for economic exploitation and colonisation. The only similarity between the two was that they were attracted to India because of its wealth.
Swiss writer Bejoran Landstorm in his book, The Discovery of India, writes, "<b>There were many routes and means but the objective always was only one -- to reach the famous India that was overflowing with gold, silver, valuable pearls and stones, pleasant eatables, spices, clothes.</b>" Lord Clive, as reproduced by Lala Lajpat Rai in, England's Debt to India, had once observed: "<b>India is the unparalleled store of wealth, the country that will rule India will become the richest country of the world.</b>" In 1842, by when Indian industry was declining, Captain J Kampwell wrote, "<b>Even the best iron of England did not compare with the inferior quality iron of India.</b>"
Brooks Adams in his book, Law of Civilisation and Decay, writes, "<b>The wealth stocked for centuries by crores of people was taken away to London by the British, like the wealth of the Greek and Pontius was usurped by the Romans.</b>" He quotes Lord Macaulay, "<b>After the Plassey war (1757) over 900 boats were used to transfer the gold and silver coins from Murshidabad to Calcutta.</b>" Obviously this treasure finally landed in Britain. It is this capital that helped Britain develop its industry.
The apologists for British rule claim that it brought peace and order to India. One must remember Mahatma Gandhi's comment on the issue: "<b>The peace established by the British in India is worse then warfare.</b>"
The colonial rule in India ended in 1947, but with Jawaharlal Nehru at the helm, a nexus between Macaulayian and Marxist academia perpetuated the English domination. With the advent of globalisation, our distrust for traditional culture continues.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.dailypio neer.com/ indexn12. asp?main_ variable= EDITS&file_name=edit4% 2Etxt&counter_img= 4Â
Apologists for British rule
Shridhar Pant
In his article, "The British bled us, but we always forget that" (March 3), Mr Dina Nath Mishra has referred to Will Durant's book, analysing how the British destroyed India's industry, farming and education. Ironically, there are many Hindus who praise the British for their 'benevolent' rule.
Hindus have suffered the tyranny of both Muslim and British rulers. The basic difference between the two was that while loot, forced conversion and massacre were the chief concerns of Muslim rulers, the British looked for economic exploitation and colonisation. The only similarity between the two was that they were attracted to India because of its wealth.
Swiss writer Bejoran Landstorm in his book, The Discovery of India, writes, "<b>There were many routes and means but the objective always was only one -- to reach the famous India that was overflowing with gold, silver, valuable pearls and stones, pleasant eatables, spices, clothes.</b>" Lord Clive, as reproduced by Lala Lajpat Rai in, England's Debt to India, had once observed: "<b>India is the unparalleled store of wealth, the country that will rule India will become the richest country of the world.</b>" In 1842, by when Indian industry was declining, Captain J Kampwell wrote, "<b>Even the best iron of England did not compare with the inferior quality iron of India.</b>"
Brooks Adams in his book, Law of Civilisation and Decay, writes, "<b>The wealth stocked for centuries by crores of people was taken away to London by the British, like the wealth of the Greek and Pontius was usurped by the Romans.</b>" He quotes Lord Macaulay, "<b>After the Plassey war (1757) over 900 boats were used to transfer the gold and silver coins from Murshidabad to Calcutta.</b>" Obviously this treasure finally landed in Britain. It is this capital that helped Britain develop its industry.
The apologists for British rule claim that it brought peace and order to India. One must remember Mahatma Gandhi's comment on the issue: "<b>The peace established by the British in India is worse then warfare.</b>"
The colonial rule in India ended in 1947, but with Jawaharlal Nehru at the helm, a nexus between Macaulayian and Marxist academia perpetuated the English domination. With the advent of globalisation, our distrust for traditional culture continues.
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