So all the death and carnage that happened during the Partition was simply "committed" by the British - with no agency at all within the local populace?
Seems to be a rather dehumanizing and belittling view of the latter.
Seems to be a rather dehumanizing and belittling view of the latter.
The Bengal famine primarily happened because the British directed food stocks to be held back for their war efforts. The actions of local businesses were ultimately directed by the British government preferences. If the British wanted they could have had the food distributed to relieve the population. Once again this happened because they held racist views about Indians.
Nearly every tragedy that took place in the Raj was ultimately caused by the British. Because they were the sovereign. And they looked at the governed population like we were subhuman.
I understand the Brits of today want nothing to do with the decisions their ancestors took in India. And this is right. You weren’t around back then. But because you want to look back at the imperial project with pride, you want to engage in victim blaming when it comes to the atrocities that happened in the Raj.
This might pass in the UK, but as Indians we can’t indulge you in your delusions. The British were to blame. They were in control of the state. They had a responsibility to the governed. And in many cases they neglected or actively worked against their duty.
... not part of the Partition, and occurred decades before in fact.
The Bengal famine
... had nothing to do with the Partition either, last we checked.
But because you want to look back at the imperial project with pride .... This might pass in the UK, but as Indians we can’t indulge you in your delusions
And now you're pretending to "know" what country I'm from, and to "know" also that I therefore hold a certain stereotypical set of views that you believe people from that country typically have.
I wish I could engage you further, but there's simply no logic at all in your response.
As for the stereotypes, I took an educated guess. But then it's not just the British who look back at the imperial times with fondness. Plenty of Europeans do the same. Even many Americans, which is ironic considering the USA embraced capitalism (or at least sincerely tried to) and abhorred colonialism. Whereas most European projects were mercantilist in nature. Because they couldn't compete.
I didn't "pretend" about anything. In fact even now I'm unconvinced you don't hold these views. The only thing in doubt is that you are from the UK. Sorry if you don't believe in those things.
Then they had nothing to do with my post. But you went on and on about them anyway.
In fact even now I'm unconvinced you don't hold these views.
If you prefer to live in a world of speculation, imputing views to people they simply don't have - that's up to you.
I just found it to be a strange choice of wording.