It seems to me that the author is not fully versed about the history of India. The Hindus had defeated the core of the Islamic rule – the last Moghul ?emporer? was a pensioner of the Maratha Confederacy. It was mere time when the Islamic rule throughout India was done away with. The intervention of the British opened another front for the Hindus to fight, and they could not do so effectively because they were exhausted after the centuries of struggle.
I do not accept an argument of accidental redeeming value as a justification for someone'sactions. The author talks about Dr Radhakrishnan and Dr Homi Bhaba. Who created Shivaji, and other great heroes? If the British were really benevolent, why did they not show the same behaviour in other colonies? Because of the sustained Hindu resistance, the British had to mellow down their programmes.
Of course, all this is history, and this need not necessarily affect the realtionships between India and Britain today. However, a genuine relationship, based on equal partners, can be built only when the history is properly stated, and not hidden under the carpet.
Subject: Think It Over?Another view of the British
By M.S.N. Menon
