Prince Charles is a national guest and needed to be treated well. But how can we forget the history of our country during the British rule, a constant reminder of the arrogance, high-headedness, as they plundered our land for decades and inflicted pain and suffering.
In my opinion, the ageing prince simply doesn’t deserve the kind of hospitality being bestowed upon him. Why should he be treated like a distinguished visitor when all he is doing is enjoying the wealth that he never made, but what his family gathered from other countries? I often wonder why our education curriculum never has extensive chapters that speak of the atrocities carried out by the British Invaders. India’s industrial prowess in manufacturing and the potential in agricultural production were wiped out to aid the Industrial Revolution in England.
Bengal is a classic example of the extent a place that was splintered. The undivided Bengal was the real ignition of the late 18th century Industrial Revolution in Britain. So how did the British work out their dubious plans?
From the early 17th Century India has a superior Cotton Manufacturing Industry. The English silk and wool weavers felt threatened by the Indian cotton and by the year 1757, Britain banned Indian textile products fearing stiff completion.
After the battle of Plassey, in which British defeated the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj – Ud- Daulah, the money that was looted out of the Nawab’s treasury was used to fuel the Industrial Revolution in Britain.
Contrary to the popular beliefs, India had a prosperous textile Industry and remarkably efficient indigenous methods in making metal products and ship building.
British were jealous of this Indian strength and knew that the teak wood vessels made in India were far superior to their own ships. This industry along with the flourishing paper, spices and handicraft sectors were made to suffer and ultimately got decayed with unfair trade practices and rules.
The writer is a musician baÂsÂed in Kochi
