British India History

[skb]

I can't figure out where to place this. I have a question on India's reaction to QEII. I haven't watched any TV, just the other forum I am on (primetimer.com) which has followed all the steps of mourning and given a lot of history of the Monarch I am not aware of.

I have to admit I cried when the Queen's piper left the building, very moving. I just saw an article where India is repeating its claim to the Koh-i-nor. I don't know any of the history of this, but wasn't that the crown on her coffin? Sorry if this is out of line, but so much history has been thrown out in favor of the Crown, I just wonder what the backstory is.

OK. So here goes.

To begin, I want to write 2 things which are often said about history and generally people do believe these to be true.
1) History is a set of lies agreed upon
2) History is written by the victorious (so almost 50% of it is not true)

The British first came into India in the year 1600 as traders, because the Portuguese had preceded them and they knew that this vast land held a lot of value/s. The earliest entities were individuals and were acting in that capacity. Soon the crown (monarchy) got wind of it and merged all private interests into a company called The East India Co. First began acquisition and trading of goods, and a few tracts of land here and there.

At the time India was largely ruled by Mughal kings in the North, and a few princely families across the territory. The British started to exert influence and buying more and more land by funding these royal families. They were mostly restricted to the Eastern Indian parts and Calcutta was their HQ.

In 1857 a mutiny broke out, initially started by Muslim soldiers in their employment, but soon many others joined in. This rebellion was crushed with extreme force and more than a million Indians were butchered. That is when they imprisoned the last Mughal King and jailed him in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar). From there on, officially the British "ruled" India till 1947, though they were ruling most parts of it even earlier, for almost 200 years.

The Kohinoor or the largest diamond in the world, adorned the Mughal Emperor's Crown once upon a time, and now sits on the British Monarch's head. Apart from that, the total British theft from India, of artefacts, and valuable goods is estimated at $ 45 trillion. This is something most economists (Indian and European) agree upon. If it wasn't for this, Britain would not have been able to fight WWII and would have crumbled. Even today, much of their prosperity rests upon the global loot that they indulged in, colonizing many parts of Asia, Africa and Australia.

Since, according to them, we were primitive people, we had to be "educated" in their ways. And, as mentioned, History is written by the victors, so Indians were taught that they were worthless and the fair skinned conquerors were far too superior. When India became "independent" in 1947, it was partitioned, and it was actually a transfer of power to their cronies, rather than independence. Since then we have been studying all subjects from a British perspective.

Gradually, the Indian economy is shaping up and is now the 5th largest economy in the world. The Indian diaspora has done very well for themselves and the country, and happen to be placed in the top corporate and political spots all across the globe, especially the places that matter. We are beginning to assert ourselves and it is only right that we ask back for our stolen goods.

However, at the time of the Queen's death, this demand must have been made by some private individuals and not by the State. We declared a day of National mourning and sent our President to attend her funeral. Here's a News item that may be of interest to you. 

These facts are of more importance to an Indian rather than any other citizenry, but even so, if you need any more details, please do let me know.       

[bigskygal]

Thanks skb! I really appreciate your reply. I am still working on digesting all the history involved and goodness knows there is so much of it!!

[skb]

Dr. Shashi Tharoor an articulate Indian MP made this speech in Oxford. Do listen

[bigskygal]

I will later tonight. Thanks!