Shashi Tharoor interview: How British Colonialism 'destroyed' India
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
📚 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.
🌟 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
💡Expropriation
💡Theft
💡Racism
💡Cynicism
💡Colonialism
💡British Empire
💡Post-Brexit
💡Commonwealth
💡Trade Negotiations
💡Immigration
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.
Transcripts
[Music]
Britain destroyed India through looting
expropriation and outright theft all
conducted in a spirit of deep racism and
immoral cynicism a blistering critique
of our colonialist past by a man who was
once one of the world's leading
diplomats Shashi Tero now an Indian MP
he's just published his latest book on
the iniquities of the British Empire and
its themes have Echoes today shashido is
one of India's most outspoken
politicians he's an MP and has been both
an ambassador and an under General of
the United Nations in his latest book in
glorious Empire what the British did to
India Tero argues that the British
Empire was more about Britain than about
India the great symbols of empire in
India such as the country's rail system
were built for the benefit of the
British rather than for Indian citizens
he argues too that colonialism in India
was more akin to theft often leading to
death and destruction in a post brexit
world the UK is looking to commonwealth
countries with whom we have had deep
historic ties for future trading
opportunities India prime amongst them
next week's inaugural meeting of
Commonwealth trade ministers being held
in London is Testament to that in any
case teror judges that in trade talks
the UK will have to be open to
discussing allowing more Indian
immigrants in both students and
workers Shashi TR joined us now now I
mean Empire does it mean anything to
Indians anymore not really John I think
um people have largely forgotten it and
Indians are very good at forgiving and
forgetting so they're forgotten as well
which is what I object to let them
forgive but let them not forget well of
course it it still has some resonance
here in that lots and lots of people
wear lots of medals which have the word
empire in them is that in any way
offensive to you oh no I think you know
that's part of your history you're
entitled to it so is it a British
problem or an Indian problem no I think
it is a British problem first of all
because there is so much historical
Amnesia about what the empire really
entailed the fact that you don't really
teach Colonial history in your schools
uh children doing a levels in history
don't learn a line of colonial history
there's no real awareness of the
atrocities the fact that Britain
financed its Industrial Revolution and
its Prosperity from the depredations of
Empire the fact that Britain came to one
of the richest countries in the world in
the early uh 18th century and reduced it
after 200 years of of plunder to one of
the poorest all of that is really not
known anymore this is difficult stuff
because we're just about to try and do a
big deal with you uh we need your trade
uh are you going to hold this against us
not at all I don't really think this is
about today's relations which are
between two Sovereign equal countries
John I mean we our economy is as big as
yours now uh and as far as we're
concerned I think we don't need to have
a chip on our shoulder when dealing with
you but I think we do need to be aware
of History because as I often say to
young people if you don't know where
you've come from how will you appreciate
where you're going to what extent do you
think India is even cons conscious of
brexit and its implications oh we're
very conscious of it and not least
because a lot of Indian companies who
established themselves in Britain not
just for the UK Market but because it
gave them easy access to Europe while
being in an in a comfortable english-
speaking environment so there's some
real questions going on will they up
sticks and move off to Ireland or
somewhere instead uh are some of these
issues are very much there will there
now be the possible free trade uh
agreement with Britain well what about
immigration because Indians feel very
strongly about that not least the fact
that Indian students have a real problem
getting here to University and we've
raised that issue I believe in our
bilateral contacts um for some time now
we're very concerned about conditions
for Indian students as well as the
temporary work permits that many of them
require after their studies to be able
to gain some practical experience I
think I see the kind of um deal which
would have to be struck which would be
presumably one which would talk about
movement free movement of people to some
extent well I mean the the real issue is
exactly if if you don't really want a
lot of foreigners in this country what
exactly are you going to give India in
return for uh selling your goods to the
Indian market I think you will need to
accept that India's strengths are in
providing services in providing people
in providing exper expertise in in areas
like it and software which is amongst
our strengths and where where you can
use all of this but that does mean U uh
opening up to to human beings coming in
here visas students
I mean uh is is a significant deal
possible I think only if there's real
give and take in a negotiation it's just
not going to happen automatically and
certainly not because of Any Nostalgia
for Empire John really I mean surely we
have a special relationship as Mr Trump
would put it if you keep losing to us at
Cricket we probably will consider that a
good special relationship worth
maintaining but no jokes apart I think
there are obvious affinities which will
continue and which are there but they're
not enough trade negotiations are
hard-headed realistic business
propositions and there will have to be
some give and presumably not done
overnight no and that probably can't
even start officially until the EU
brexit is done which is still some time
away isn't it it certainly is well
Shashi too thank you very much indeed
for coming in to talk to us uh the book
sounds a a pretty heavy read in the
sense oh no it's it's light and
impassioned I promise you your readers
will enjoy it sounds positively blood
curdling
thanks very
much
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
Why Secular Hindus Are The BIGGEST DANGER To Hinduism
INDIAN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION किसके वजह से हो पाया? | Industrial Revolution in India
Does the UK Owe India $45 Trillion?
What is Indian Pharmacopoeia | Editions of Pharmacopoeia | Indian Pharmacopoeia in Hindi | Punit Sir
Important Acts of India|| You Must know|| Static GK Series🌝
British empire killed 165 million Indians in 40 years: How colonialism inspired fascism
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)