Britain and India

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

Here is a video interview with an Indian MP (Shashi Tharoor). He has also written a book 'Inglorious Empire',  in which he writes about historical  aspects of 'Empire' and the current relationship between post brexit Britain and India.

https://www.channel4.com/news/mp-shashi-tharoor-on-the-consequences-of-britains-imperial-past

The video interview is fairly brief but interesting.

I have purposely not included this in the India thread...because that thread has a different emphasis.

Any views?

Cheers.

Sriram

[Harrowby Hall]

A couple of observations.

The interview is - to say the least - anodyne. It contains nothing about "British India" that has not already been openly discussed elsewhere. (There was a programme, for instance, a couple of weeks ago on BBC 4 - British History's Biggest Fibs devoted to the fabrications of Victorian politicians about Britain's behaviour in India).

Contrary to your understanding, we are not currently living in post Brexit Britain. Britain is still a full member of the EU and has not yet even made its application to leave the EU. One point that Mr Tharoor does make is the investment by Indian companies in Britain and the possibility of some relocating, possibly, to Ireland. I think the interview would have been more interesting if he had developed this possibility.

The interview - to me - just seemed to lack any teeth. it was clearly recorded and edited (possibly even "scripted" before transmission. As I said earlier, anodyne, clearly intended to no offence to anyone.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Look up "The Sword of Tippoo Sultan" volume 11, on YT, and you will see the Indian version of British India.

Anybody for "Whiteface"?

[Sriram]

Look up "The Sword of Tippoo Sultan" volume 11, on YT, and you will see the Indian version of British India.

Anybody for "Whiteface"?

You have seen nothing yet!    If you see some of the filmy versions of colonial Britishers or even current ones (over the decades), you will die laughing. 

We have our stereotypes of Britishers  just as you have your stereotypes of Indians.

[Robbie]

This has of course been discussed 'elsewhere' but 'elsewhere' is not on here.
Thansk sririam.  We caN laugh at ourselves.
(Used to work in Westminster and regularly saw a man in a suit with a bowler hat and umbrella taking parties of tourists around.)
PS Have you read, "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth?

[Sriram]

This has of course been discussed 'elsewhere' but 'elsewhere' is not on here.
Thansk sririam.  We caN laugh at ourselves.
(Used to work in Westminster and regularly saw a man in a suit with a bowler hat and umbrella taking parties of tourists around.)
PS Have you read, "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth?

No...I haven't read that book.

[ippy]

I can rember a painting of the, supposedly heroic Brits having just killed this Indian, ruler of some sort, with his body on the broken ramparts of some sort of protective wall.(they spelt his name as Tipo)?

No doubt it was anothr part of keeping the natives down and robbing them, allegedly all a part of holding Empire of course, these Empire types are still here in the U K, only they've got a lot better over the years at keeping a low profile.

ippy

[Robbie]

Marvellous book sririam, read it early 1990s. It is one book from which I still remember the names of the characters and the atmosphere Seth created was tangible. Anyway, moving on.

Ippy I agree there are still 'empire' types around, not sure they keep such a low profile. If they have a captive audience they will spout their BS - often in their own homes. Would be nice to think they're a dying breed but you get some stillyoung.