'The making of India' by dr Kartar Lalvani is the most welcome initiative to put on record what was gained by both Britain and India since the east India company reached Indian shores in 1607. We must all try to recollect or learn what India was going through at the end of the 16th century.
Economically it is beyond doubt that the wealth as well as the educational and cultural achievements of India was the prime attraction for all European powers beginning with Portuguese, Dutch, French etc. But so was the case historically for the marauding hordes from Central Asia of the centuries.
Politically foreigners long dominated India. The brutal rule of a few over many was the fact of life. Hundreds of kingdoms were fighting among themselves, thousands of monuments of our heritage was destroyed and even the spirit of the people was crushed to the level of submission by an average Indian. India to be fair was not a single political entity as it was before.
The book illustrates also how the British united India, built all round infrastructure, helped the Indian renaissance of culture, language, art and history. The British administration of the east India company earlier and then the British crown was successful in suppressing several social degradation, like sati, pindaras, and to me the British rule indirectly helped Indians to regain pride in their own past. After all the British were able to give a rule of law, which was absent for several centuries.
Ramesh Patel
Wembley
