Macaulay's intent was quite different from what has been propagated by Indian leaders and public intellectuals, who love to live in their own sectarian mental chambers.
During the lecture, architect Rajesh Luthra said the British built cantonments, hill stations, and clubs that did not reflect Indian sensibilities. But that changed after the 1857 revolt.
If the latest cohort of writers is anything to go by, it seems like colonisation continues to have an existential hold, particularly over British-Indian authors.
Presenting rich archival evidence and data on 16,000 indigenous schools in British India, historian Parimala V Rao asserted that education in traditional Indian schools was not oral, informal, and Brahmin-centric.
The launch of the book, Making Empire, was jointly organised by the Embassy of Ireland and the British High Commission – an unimaginable combination, perhaps even three decades ago.
‘Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore’s Interregnum (1760–1799)’ by Vikram Sampath opens a window to the life and times of one of the most debated figures from India’s history.
When the British construction of Delhi is discussed, it is an expression of imperial power. But this inference lacks nuance, said historian Swapna Liddle at a talk titled ‘Delhi: City of Cities’.
The underlying issue is that there hasn’t been enough of a structural change in the economy since the launch of reforms in 1990-91, despite per capita incomes multiplying nearly five-fold.
As Visakhapatnam readies a mega airport, the Andhra Pradesh government has revived its shelved Dagadarthi project, aiming to boost cargo and connectivity on the south coast.
Both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries are leaning on drones, but they’re also firing cruise and ballistic missiles, some of them relatively new and experimental.
UK, EFTA already in the bag and EU on the way, many members of RCEP except China signed up, and even restrictions on China being lifted, India has changed its mind on trade.
Shocking to see this kind of defence. Sure, propaganda relies on half-truths such as the quote about breaking the backbone of Bharatiya education. But it is hard to deny the overt supremacism in the British policy. You don’t need to ban traditional education outright to impose it – the economic genius lies in making it irrelevant, so there is always the illusion of choice even as the choice makes itself for reasons of pragmatism. That’s my one big complaint with “independent” Bharata as well – Bharatiya language medium education is irrelevant as an option if you eventually (for higher education or a job) must, at some point, switch to English. It is a choice, yes, but a choice no person would like to make rationally. Hence an imposition without imposition.
Also it is disappointing that the article treats Sanskrit and Arabic as equals throughout. The British might’ve opposed both, but let’s not forget that we were colonised by Arabic and Farsi first – a deeper colonisation that has left an indelible mark on many languages down to pronunciation and words that don’t represent our thought but have subtly replaced it.
(Also before anyone points out: Would’ve replied in Hindi or Sanskrit if the original were in that language.)
Typical Hindu trait !! Shame on this writer. shame on the The Print staff
Shocking to see this kind of defence. Sure, propaganda relies on half-truths such as the quote about breaking the backbone of Bharatiya education. But it is hard to deny the overt supremacism in the British policy. You don’t need to ban traditional education outright to impose it – the economic genius lies in making it irrelevant, so there is always the illusion of choice even as the choice makes itself for reasons of pragmatism. That’s my one big complaint with “independent” Bharata as well – Bharatiya language medium education is irrelevant as an option if you eventually (for higher education or a job) must, at some point, switch to English. It is a choice, yes, but a choice no person would like to make rationally. Hence an imposition without imposition.
Also it is disappointing that the article treats Sanskrit and Arabic as equals throughout. The British might’ve opposed both, but let’s not forget that we were colonised by Arabic and Farsi first – a deeper colonisation that has left an indelible mark on many languages down to pronunciation and words that don’t represent our thought but have subtly replaced it.
(Also before anyone points out: Would’ve replied in Hindi or Sanskrit if the original were in that language.)
Achha aadmi thaa. At least I owe a lot to him.
Puke-worthy socialism is the main culprit for India’s failures.