British East India Company looted India with blessings of Britain. This fact is well known, but I never knew it was just the efforts of a small company in a dingy corner of London with a handful of employees that ran this looting outfit.
It is indeed very fascinating and every Indian should read this and this book should be translated into Indian languages for those who do not understand English. The story as it unfolds, is even more fascinating as how a commercial entity transformed itself into an entity that subjugated the whole subcontinent (by mere handful employees) for over 250 years. It is also the story that should make us hang our heads in shame even after all these intervening years. It is also the story of our country during those years governed by religious divides, the Hindu Kings and the Mughal (Muslim) Kings/Emperors. Is there a lesson for us going forward?
The life and work of Mahatma Gandhi is even more fascinating as he fought with all that he could muster to wrestle this country from the grips of Britain.
It seems highly justified that what a handful of employees achieved was undid by a single person's indomitable spirit and efforts.
The title of the book indicates that it was the British who ended the Mughal Empire? I do not know, not being an avid student of history as to what extent this is true. What about the efforts of Marattas, the Sikh and the many others who tried their best and shed their blood to oust the British?
William Dalrymple's book "The Anarchy: How a corporation replaced the Mughal Empire, 1756-1803" is not published yet but will be published next year by Bloomsbury and Knoff.
It is indeed very fascinating and every Indian should read this and this book should be translated into Indian languages for those who do not understand English. The story as it unfolds, is even more fascinating as how a commercial entity transformed itself into an entity that subjugated the whole subcontinent (by mere handful employees) for over 250 years. It is also the story that should make us hang our heads in shame even after all these intervening years. It is also the story of our country during those years governed by religious divides, the Hindu Kings and the Mughal (Muslim) Kings/Emperors. Is there a lesson for us going forward?
The life and work of Mahatma Gandhi is even more fascinating as he fought with all that he could muster to wrestle this country from the grips of Britain.
It seems highly justified that what a handful of employees achieved was undid by a single person's indomitable spirit and efforts.
The title of the book indicates that it was the British who ended the Mughal Empire? I do not know, not being an avid student of history as to what extent this is true. What about the efforts of Marattas, the Sikh and the many others who tried their best and shed their blood to oust the British?
William Dalrymple's book "The Anarchy: How a corporation replaced the Mughal Empire, 1756-1803" is not published yet but will be published next year by Bloomsbury and Knoff.
No comments:
Post a Comment