Author(s): Jyotiba Ashok
Paper Details: Volume 4, Issue 4
Citation: IJLSSS 4(4) 11
Page No: 103 – 105
Tharoor, a prominent Indian scholar and well-known active politician in India. S. Tharoor has written many scholarly works, and this book is one of them. The cover of the book features an artwork by Mark Churms. The artwork depicts a man riding a horse and wearing a red-colored military uniform. He holds a sword over another man who has fallen to the ground. The artwork depicts a scene from the first Anglo-Sikh War, held from 1845 to 1846. The central theme of the book is the brutality of British colonial rule. The author’s discussion of the British policy of ‘loot’ from India to Britain is presented across eight chapters, spanning 333 pages. The first edition was published in 2016 by Aleph Book Company, New Delhi, priced at Indian rupees 799.
In his Oxford Union speech on 28 May 2015, the author delivered a widely acclaimed 15-minute address on the motion, “Britain Owes Reparations to Her Former Colonies”. Referring to the speech, the then Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India, Sumitra Mahajan, described it as “the right thing at the right place”. This speech served as the inspiration for the book.
In this book, the author examines the loss of India’s socio-economic foundations and attempts to estimate the losses incurred under 200 years of British rule. He evaluates British activities in colonial India. The author appraises the enforcement of British laws and other political machinery. S. Tharoor states in his work that the British policies towards Colonial India were a myth. Further, he argues that the establishment of various institutions in the name of serving Indians was merely a means of strengthening the British empire, nothing more. He claims that the British intervened in the social structure of colonial India. Along with this, he explores the heart-rending practice of the “breast tax” imposed on women. The discussion even moves when the author argues that, in colonial India, only upper-caste women had the right to wear clothing that covers their breasts. One particularly noteworthy term in the Book is “nabob,” which carries significant historical and etymological importance. However, etymologically, a single word describes the whole story of extortion by British company members who returned to Britain. Nabob is the altered word of the “Nawab”. Among the many observations presented in the book, one statement deserves particular attention. It will be useful for every reader or critical thinker, as quoted by Mr. Tharoor: “For me, it is far easier to forgive than to forget”. However, in the last sentence of the preface, S. Tharoor suggests the word “brutish” in place of “British”.
STRENGTHS OF THE BOOK
The comprehensive writing reflects British rule in colonial India on the global platform. The synopsis of the book is very detailed and presented in minute detail. An annexure of principal events in chronological order from 1600 to 1947 makes the book more scholarly. All eight chapters begin with the same single portrait. At the Centre of the battlefield, a woman holds a raised sword in one hand and a shield in the other while wearing a long, flowing gown. Her hair is blowing in the wind. Many dead traditional soldiers fall around her, and she stands in a victorious position from the left side. Behind her, the British soldiers stab dead bodies with bayonets at gunpoint. This artwork was created by Sir John Tenniel, with the title Justice in the magazine Punch on 12 September 1872. However, from the Indian perspective, it represents the brutality of the British even after the dead. This suggests that all chapters bear witness to the British colonial mentality. The book covers India’s struggle for freedom and freedom fighters, such as Gandhi, Ambedkar, and many others. The author covers various diagrams of colonial India and examines the British arguments. S. Tharoor assures that even if it was accepted that it was a “dark era”, Indians were not responsible for it.
At the end of the book, the author acknowledges the contribution of many people. After that, the author provides many notes and references. These references are arranged chapter-wise, which makes the book more reliable. Further, S. Tharoor lists numerous book references under the heading of bibliography, most of which are written by British authors.
LIMITATIONS OF THE BOOK
The author represents strong Nationalist perspectives through his writing. While reading this book, the reader encounters strong arguments against the British polity within India. The book provides space for the revolt of 1837 but does not provide a descriptive analysis of tribes’ socio-economic mechanisms. The condition of unprivileged peoples and the influence of British laws are discussed only briefly. Women receive attention; however, the social transformation of women could have been more in his writing. S. Tharoor admitted that his book, “An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India,” argues against the emergence of an Anglo-positivist perspective in India. The book remains silent on the administrative system of Indian kings or nawabs. He critiques Macaulay’s perspective; however, the book does not discuss the shortcomings of Indian society. The book presents many arguments, while overlooking several contemporary social issues such as social inequalities, social discrimination, and related concerns.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
As the author, the book is not free from mistakes, nor is it a conclusion of the colonial period. Despite its limitations, the book remains a valuable resource for readers interested in colonial Indian history. It should be read at least once by every researcher, especially those whose research relates to the colonial period. Several arguments presented in the book deserve to be kept in higher education and academic discourse. After analysing this book, we can better understand the British colonial polity of the eighteenth century. The book raises important questions concerning British attitudes towards India, the process of conquest, and the nature of colonial governance. In what manner did they extract natural resources and extort Indian wealth, and why was India more important to British rule than its other colonies?
In the concluding part of this review, I would like to quote two prominent sentences from the book that effectively capture the author’s central messages.
- History is neither for excuses nor for revenge.
- Compensation should be paid to the victims, not to their grandchildren.