Shashi Tharoor interview: How British Colonialism 'destroyed' India

Channel 4 News

8 Mar 201705:50

Summary

TLDRIn this interview, Indian MP and former UN Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor discusses his book 'Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India'. Tharoor argues that the British Empire exploited India for its own benefit, with infrastructure like railways built for colonialists rather than Indians. He criticizes the UK's historical amnesia regarding its colonial past and suggests that in post-Brexit trade negotiations, the UK should consider India's demands, including immigration for students and workers. Tharoor emphasizes the importance of acknowledging history for future progress.

Takeaways

📚 Shashi Tharoor, an Indian MP and former UN Under-Secretary-General, has published a book titled 'Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India', critiquing the British colonial past.
🚂 Tharoor argues that the British Empire's infrastructure in India, like the rail system, primarily served British interests rather than benefiting Indian citizens.
🏛 He likens colonial practices in India to theft, which led to widespread death and destruction, and criticizes the lack of awareness and education about these historical injustices in Britain.
🌍 Post-Brexit, the UK is seeking trade opportunities with Commonwealth countries, with India being a significant potential partner, as highlighted by the upcoming Commonwealth trade ministers' meeting in London.
🤝 Tharoor suggests that in trade negotiations, the UK may need to consider allowing more Indian immigrants, including students and workers, which could be a point of discussion.
🏫 Indian students face challenges in obtaining visas to study in the UK, and Tharoor has raised concerns about their conditions and the need for practical experience opportunities post-study.
🤔 Tharoor is conscious of Brexit's implications, especially for Indian companies that had established a presence in the UK for access to the European market.
🤝 He envisions a potential free trade agreement that includes the free movement of people to some extent, acknowledging India's strengths in services and expertise, like IT and software.
💡 Tharoor emphasizes the importance of historical awareness, stating that understanding the past is crucial for appreciating the future, and this awareness should inform current relations and negotiations.
🏏 With a touch of humor, Tharoor refers to the UK's repeated defeats in cricket as a basis for a 'special relationship', underlining that trade negotiations are business matters and not driven by nostalgia.

Q & A

What is the main argument of Shashi Tharoor's book 'Inglorious Empire'?
-Shashi Tharoor argues in his book 'Inglorious Empire' that the British Empire was more about Britain's benefit than India's, and that it was conducted with deep racism and immoral cynicism, leading to India's impoverishment.
How does Shashi Tharoor view the symbols of the British Empire in India, such as the rail system?
-Tharoor believes that the symbols of the British Empire in India, including the rail system, were built primarily for the benefit of the British rather than for the Indian citizens.
What is Shashi Tharoor's stance on the historical amnesia regarding the British Empire's actions in India?
-Shashi Tharoor criticizes the lack of awareness and education about the British Empire's atrocities and its impact on India, suggesting that historical amnesia is a British problem.
How does Tharoor feel about the UK's approach to teaching colonial history?
-Tharoor expresses concern that colonial history, including the impact of the British Empire, is not sufficiently taught in UK schools, leading to a lack of awareness among the younger generation.
What is Tharoor's opinion on the relevance of the British Empire to modern India?
-Tharoor suggests that the British Empire does not hold much relevance for modern Indians, who are generally forgiving and have largely forgotten the past, but he emphasizes the importance of not forgetting history.
How does Shashi Tharoor view the potential for a free trade agreement between the UK and India post-Brexit?
-Tharoor believes that a significant free trade agreement is possible if there is a real give and take in negotiations, but it will not be based on nostalgia for the Empire.
What does Tharoor think about the issue of Indian immigration to the UK, especially concerning students and workers?
-Tharoor is concerned about the difficulties Indian students face in obtaining visas to study in the UK and the conditions for temporary work permits after their studies. He suggests that this issue needs to be addressed in trade negotiations.
How does Tharoor respond to the idea of a 'special relationship' between India and the UK?
-Tharoor humorously suggests that a 'special relationship' might be considered if the UK continues to lose at cricket to India, but he emphasizes that trade negotiations are business propositions and not based on such affinities.
What is Shashi Tharoor's advice to young people regarding the importance of history?
-Tharoor advises young people to be aware of history, stating that understanding where they have come from is essential to appreciating where they are going.
How does Tharoor view the impact of Brexit on Indian companies that have established themselves in the UK?
-Tharoor acknowledges that Brexit is a significant concern for Indian companies in the UK, as it may affect their access to the European market and could lead them to consider relocating to other countries like Ireland.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Colonial Impacts and Modern Trade Relations

In this segment, Shashi Tharoor, an Indian MP and former UN Under-Secretary-General, discusses the legacy of British colonialism in India. He criticizes the empire for looting and exploiting India, highlighting that infrastructure like the rail system was built for British benefit rather than for Indian citizens. Tharoor's latest book, 'Inglorious Empire,' argues that colonialism was akin to theft, leading to death and destruction. He suggests that in post-Brexit trade negotiations, the UK should consider India's demands, including allowing more Indian immigrants and students. Tharoor emphasizes the importance of historical awareness for India's future and the need for the UK to acknowledge its colonial past.

05:01

🌟 The Future of UK-India Relations Post-Brexit

The second paragraph continues the discussion on UK-India relations, focusing on the implications of Brexit. Tharoor acknowledges India's awareness of Brexit and its potential impact on Indian companies that have established a presence in the UK for access to the European market. He raises concerns about the future of Indian students and professionals in the UK, suggesting that any trade agreement should address immigration issues. Tharoor anticipates a hard-headed approach to trade negotiations, emphasizing the need for mutual benefits and not relying on nostalgia for the empire. He concludes with a light-hearted remark about the UK's cricket losses to India, suggesting that a 'special relationship' could be maintained if trade negotiations are successful and mutually beneficial.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Looting

Looting refers to the act of stealing goods, typically during a time of disorder or in the context of war. In the video, it is used to describe the British Empire's exploitation of India, suggesting that the wealth and resources were unlawfully taken, contributing to India's impoverishment.

💡Expropriation

Expropriation is the act of taking ownership of property, typically by a government, often with compensation. The script implies that during the British rule, there was a forced taking of Indian assets, which was part of the empire's strategy to consolidate power and wealth.

💡Theft

Theft is the act of stealing. The video uses this term to emphasize the illegal and immoral nature of the British Empire's actions in India, suggesting that the empire's wealth was built on the direct taking of resources and wealth from India.

💡Racism

Racism is discrimination or prejudice based on race. The script suggests that the British Empire's actions were racially motivated, indicating a belief in the superiority of the British and the inferiority of the Indian people, which justified their exploitation.

💡Cynicism

Cynicism is a general distrust of human motives or sincerity. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the British Empire's attitude towards India, implying a calculated and self-serving approach to governance that prioritized British interests over those of the Indian people.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. The video discusses how colonialism in India was akin to theft, leading to death and destruction, and was more about the benefit of the British than the Indian citizens.

💡British Empire

The British Empire refers to the historical empire of the United Kingdom, which at its height was the largest empire in history. The video critiques the empire's impact on India, arguing that it was more about Britain's benefit than India's, and that it led to long-term negative consequences for India.

💡Post-Brexit

Post-Brexit refers to the period after the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. The video discusses how, in a post-Brexit world, the UK is looking to countries like India for future trading opportunities, indicating a shift in economic strategy.

💡Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a political association of 54 member states, nearly all of which are former territories of the British Empire. The video mentions the Commonwealth as a significant entity for the UK's future trade relations, particularly with India.

💡Trade Negotiations

Trade negotiations are discussions between countries to establish the terms of trade, such as tariffs and market access. The video suggests that any future trade agreement between the UK and India would need to involve a balance of give and take, including potentially easing immigration restrictions for Indian students and workers.

💡Immigration

Immigration refers to the movement of people into a country to which they are not native. The video highlights the issue of Indian students and workers facing difficulties in obtaining visas to the UK, which could be a point of discussion in trade negotiations.

Highlights

Britain's colonial past in India involved looting, expropriation, and theft conducted with racism and immoral cynicism.

Shashi Tharoor, an Indian MP and former top diplomat, critiques the British Empire in his new book.

The book argues that the British Empire's impact on India was more about Britain's benefit than India's.

Colonial symbols in India, like the rail system, were built primarily for the British, not Indian citizens.

Colonialism in India is likened to theft, often resulting in death and destruction.

Post-Brexit, the UK seeks trade opportunities with Commonwealth countries, with India being a key partner.

The upcoming Commonwealth trade ministers' meeting in London signifies the UK's trade interests with India.

Tharoor suggests that in trade talks, the UK may need to consider allowing more Indian immigrants, including students and workers.

Empire as a concept holds little significance for modern Indians, who are described as forgiving and forgetful.

Tharoor believes that the British have historical amnesia regarding the empire's true nature and its impact on India.

Britain's Industrial Revolution and prosperity were financed through the exploitation of its colonies.

India's economy is now as large as the UK's, and Tharoor suggests a level playing field in trade negotiations.

India is very conscious of Brexit and its implications, especially for Indian companies established in the UK.

Indian students face challenges in obtaining visas to study in the UK, a concern raised in bilateral contacts.

A potential free trade agreement with Britain would need to address immigration, including student and work visas.

Tharoor emphasizes the importance of India's strengths in services and expertise, particularly in IT and software.

Trade negotiations require a balance of give and take, and cannot be based on nostalgia for the empire.

The special relationship between the UK and India is mentioned, with a focus on mutual interests rather than past colonial ties.

Trade negotiations are described as hard-headed business propositions, not to be rushed and dependent on mutual benefits.