Former BJP minister joins PM in lavishing praise on British Raj
Jul. 26, 2005
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has angered the BJP with his remarks at Oxford on the British empire, got support from unexpected quarters on Tuesday when former BJP minister Jagmohan complimented the British for their liberal approach saying this had helped India discover its own civilisation. Speaking about Britain’s contribution to Indian culture, he cited Lord Curzon’s ‘‘phenomenal achievement’’ in setting up an organisation for preserving ancient monuments in India and William Jones’ discovery of Kalidasa’s Shakuntala. Delivering a lecture on his book, Soul and Structure of Governance in India, here today, Jagmohan said it was British liberalism and humanism that had led to the translation of the Vedas and Upanishads ‘‘which helped us discover how great a civilisation India was’’. It wasn’t as if Jagmohan was not aware of the context in which his praise would be taken for he did briefly refer to Singh’s comments on the British. In doing so, he sought to give the other side of the coin by pointing out that the last years of British rule were ‘‘tragically inglorious’’. He said: “When the British became a little dishonest, they followed the policy of divide and rule and the ICS collapsed.” Criticising post-Independence India, Jagmohan said Indian leaders lacked vision. “The nation has paid a heavy price for this historic lapse... it’s the need of the hour to undo the lapse and make good the deficiency of the past 57 years.’’ Jagmohan said incorporating Vedanta in the Constitution could be a step in this direction. “Practical Vedanta is wholly compatible with the ideals of secularism and pluralism.’’ Jagmohan’s book on governance mirrors his views. One chapter looks at the infrastructure put in place by the British and cites the “great work” they did in researching J-K while the next one discusses the inglorious last years of the Raj.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has angered the BJP with his remarks at Oxford on the British empire, got support from unexpected quarters on Tuesday when former BJP minister Jagmohan complimented the British for their liberal approach saying this had helped India discover its own civilisation. Speaking about Britain’s contribution to Indian culture, he cited Lord Curzon’s ‘‘phenomenal achievement’’ in setting up an organisation for preserving ancient monuments in India and William Jones’ discovery of Kalidasa’s Shakuntala. Delivering a lecture on his book, Soul and Structure of Governance in India, here today, Jagmohan said it was British liberalism and humanism that had led to the translation of the Vedas and Upanishads ‘‘which helped us discover how great a civilisation India was’’. It wasn’t as if Jagmohan was not aware of the context in which his praise would be taken for he did briefly refer to Singh’s comments on the British. In doing so, he sought to give the other side of the coin by pointing out that the last years of British rule were ‘‘tragically inglorious’’. He said: “When the British became a little dishonest, they followed the policy of divide and rule and the ICS collapsed.” Criticising post-Independence India, Jagmohan said Indian leaders lacked vision. “The nation has paid a heavy price for this historic lapse... it’s the need of the hour to undo the lapse and make good the deficiency of the past 57 years.’’ Jagmohan said incorporating Vedanta in the Constitution could be a step in this direction. “Practical Vedanta is wholly compatible with the ideals of secularism and pluralism.’’ Jagmohan’s book on governance mirrors his views. One chapter looks at the infrastructure put in place by the British and cites the “great work” they did in researching J-K while the next one discusses the inglorious last years of the Raj.
Former BJP minister joins PM in lavishing praise on British Raj
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