Bibliograph

An era of darkness, the British empire In India, Shashi Tharoor

Type

Label

An era of darkness, the British empire In India, Shashi Tharoor

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 319-325) and index

Illustrations

illustrationsmaps

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

An era of darkness

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

964570078

Responsibility statement

Shashi Tharoor

Sub title

the British empire In India

Summary

"Shashi Tharoor reveals with acuity, impeccable research, and trademark wit, just how disastrous British rule was for India. Besides examining the many ways in which the colonizers exploited India, ranging from the drain of national resources to Britain, the destruction of the Indian textile, steel-making and shipping industries, and the negative transformation of agriculture, he demolishes the arguments of Western and Indian apologists for Empire on the supposed benefits of British rule, including democracy and political freedom, the rule of law, and the railways. The few unarguable benefits the English language, tea, and cricket were never actually intended for the benefit of the colonized but introduced to serve the interests of the colonizers. Brilliantly narrated and passionately argued, An Era of Darkness will serve to correct many misconceptions about one of the most contested periods of Indian history."--Publisher description

Table Of Contents

The looting of India -- Did the British give India political unity? -- Democracy, the press, the parliamentary system and the rule of law -- Divide et impera -- The myth of enlightened despotism -- The remaining case for empire -- The (im)balance sheet : a coda -- The messy afterlife of colonialism

Classification