Happy Independence Day...

Raz · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:20

To my fellow Indians and Pakistanis, and of course the Bangladeshis. Ignoring the countless deaths, slavery, involment in two world wars which only really concerned one part of the world, being servants to foreign masters, having a less than ideal say in manufacturing and exporting ventures the British did leave us with a few things worth remembering:

The English language

Vaccinations

Stopping practises such as sati

The railway network (presumably it made it easier to transport slaves around such a vast area).

The Indian Army (who went to war with another part of India which became independent from them, Pakistan, which also went to war with another area that gained independence from Pakistan, Bangladesh).

Also created India and Pakistan as single nations. Before the English East India Company accidentally created an Empire the Subcontinent was a hotch potch of independent states (thanks PC).

The correct way to make tea.

This is slightly tongue in cheek, no offence intended.

I'll leave you with this

RoboCod · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:36

So are you British, Indian or Pakistani born?

Dis86 · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:37

Ah. 70 years since neighbours turned on neighbours. Friends on friends. Whole families butchered on both sides.

Raz · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:45

RoboCod said:
So are you British, Indian or Pakistani born?

I'm a man born in Lambeth, raised in Croydon. Indian by heritage.

Whatever happened, my dad taught me that we can learn from the mistakes and the suffering that happened, and that as British citizens we shouldn't obsess with the past but concentrate on building a better Britain for all.

Housey · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:48

Raz said:
I'm a man born in Lambeth, raised in Croydon. Indian by heritage.

Whatever happened, my dad taught me that we can learn from the mistakes and the suffering that happened, and that as British citizens we shouldn't obsess with the past but concentrate on building a better Britain for all.

Wise man your dad.

Raz · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:51

Housey said:
Wise man your dad.

Yes.

He also said, many years later, that immigrants were to blame for the problems with the NHS as they were putting too much strain on services

Dis86 · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:55

Raz said:
Yes.

He also said, many years later, that immigrants were to blame for the problems with the NHS as they were putting too much strain on services

Lol. Whilst it was responsible for the creation of 2(3) countries - what a mess it was. What an absolute mess.

Housey · 16 Aug 2017 at 21:55

Raz said:
Yes.

He also said, many years later, that immigrants were to blame for the problems with the NHS as they were putting too much strain on services

Ah yes, the good old days when it was just the West Indians. Now they are white like the rest of us so we needed to find some new ones

Yas786 · 17 Aug 2017 at 07:01

Dis86 said:
Ah. 70 years since neighbours turned on neighbours. Friends on friends. Whole families butchered on both sides.

No doubt helped by the so called great British empire

And before you start getting your knock knacks into a twist, it was a tongue in cheek comment.

Dis86 · 17 Aug 2017 at 09:18

Yas786 said:
No doubt helped by the so called great British empire

And before you start getting your knock knacks into a twist, it was a tongue in cheek comment.

Well what do you expect when the adults have to leave the playground?

Badaboom tish!

Rifte · 17 Aug 2017 at 09:24

I am a white British guy and I live and work in India for 75% of the year.

Independence day is a huge deal over here and the whole country effectively shuts down to celebrate it. I was literally at a school festival this morning that my son was in dancing and celebrating the anniversary of the country's freedom.

What is refreshing though is that despite some of the horrors that I am sure our ancestors did over here, my general perception is that Indians tend to only focus on the good that we did, and I have never experienced any element of racism or prejudice because of where I was born, the colour of my skin and my passport.

PlacidCasual · 17 Aug 2017 at 09:29

To add to your list Raz, created India and Pakistan as single nations. Before the English East India Company accidentally created an Empire the Subcontinent was a hotch potch of independent states.

Anyway happy 70th.

RoboCod · 17 Aug 2017 at 09:58

Rifte said:
I am a white British guy and I live and work in India for 75% of the year.

Independence day is a huge deal over here and the whole country effectively shuts down to celebrate it. I was literally at a school festival this morning that my son was in dancing and celebrating the anniversary of the country's freedom.

What is refreshing though is that despite some of the horrors that I am sure our ancestors did over here, my general perception is that Indians tend to only focus on the good that we did, and I have never experienced any element of racism or prejudice because of where I was born, the colour of my skin and my passport.

Crazy that people can be so logical isn't it? Too often people (whites in particular) are chastised for the actions of their ancestors and that is completely illogical. "Sorry but I'm not personally responsible for enslaving black people, so no I don't feel at all guilty about those heinous acts."

Raz · 17 Aug 2017 at 17:12

RoboCod said:
Crazy that people can be so logical isn't it? Too often people (whites in particular) are chastised for the actions of their ancestors and that is completely illogical. "Sorry but I'm not personally responsible for enslaving black people, so no I don't feel at all guilty about those heinous acts."

The only thing we can do is learn from history so we don't repeat the attrocities and oppression. Britain left some positive things that has helped India, much like the Romans did for others.

Dis86 · 17 Aug 2017 at 17:15

Raz said:
The only thing we can do is learn from history so we don't repeat the attrocities and oppression. Britain left some positive things that has helped India, much like the Romans did for others.

Trouble is us humans aren't too good with the learning from the past!

sigma · 17 Aug 2017 at 17:16

RoboCod said:
Crazy that people can be so logical isn't it? Too often people (whites in particular) are chastised for the actions of their ancestors and that is completely illogical. "Sorry but I'm not personally responsible for enslaving black people, so no I don't feel at all guilty about those heinous acts."

I don't want to drag it off topic but in the same vein muslims are chastised for the actions of terrorists...

StriderX · 17 Aug 2017 at 17:18

PlacidCasual said:
To add to your list Raz, created India and Pakistan as single nations. Before the ~~English~~ BRITISH East India Company accidentally created an Empire the Subcontinent was a hotch potch of independent states.

Anyway happy 70th.

Nought Tea.

Hagar · 17 Aug 2017 at 17:19

Raz said:
The only thing we can do is learn from history so we don't repeat the attrocities and oppression. Britain left some positive things that has helped India, much like the Romans did for others.

Gave them tea (smuggled out of China).

Junglist · 17 Aug 2017 at 17:23

Happy Independence

Malaysia's 60th is soon, I think. My ex is living in KL and saying they're already setting up for celebrations.

Schlong&Stable · 17 Aug 2017 at 17:29

Raz said:
Ignoring the countless deaths

There was no war, famine or murder before the British arrived? Oh right, just tossing widows onto funeral pyres.

slavery

Yes, the Indians were very fond of slavery. Those Mughals loved it. Luckily Britain outlawed it.

involment in two world wars which only really concerned one part of the world

Well those soldiers were paid to fight, so what is your complaint? Also, did you forget all about Imperial Japan?

being servants to foreign masters

People in both India and Pakistan are still servants of foreign masters.

having a less than ideal say in manufacturing and exporting ventures

Should have fought better to keep your independence I suppose.