This blog is a part of my academic activity which was given to us by professor in a paper of Post-colonial study. Click Here for task link.
Recently on 18th December, 2019, Sahitya Akadami released a press note announcing its annual Sahitya Akadami Award in 23 languages.
Shashi Tharror - a well known Indian politician, writer and congress party member is among 23 writers who will be won a Sahitya Akadami Award for his creative non-fiction English language work "An Era of Darkness". After this annoncement when Shashi Tharoor received aplently cogratulation messages, he repied on twitter to journalist Tanveer Singh, where he displayed his firmness about accepting Sahitya Akadami Award.
Let's have a look on his Sahitya Akadami Award winning work, "An Era of Darkness".
An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India
“An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India” is a book by Shashi Tharoor which brings out the ugly truth of India during British Raj.The book portrays the atrocities and wrongdoings which were enacted in the Indian sub-continent during the British Raj.
In his
speech he ponders upon how Britishers ruled over India and exploited life of
Indian people. As a postcolonial critic, in this book he was asking for reparation
from British with some logical point of
view. As we all are familiar with that, Britishers came into India only for
free trading business. On name of free trading, they had done enormous damages
in our country. In this book, Shashi Tharoor
depicts about how the demolition was done in India by Britisher’s
strategies. Here are some points about how Britishers destroyed India.
Economical
harm because of Industry
Before the
coming of Britishers India was considered as ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’, a metaphor
which showcases the wealthiness and royalty of India. On the name of free trade British ruler
started their business on gun point and started to spread their industry in
India. The establishment of textile industry ruined the handmade business of Indian people. Because
of rapid growth of industry, there was no any medium for earning was left for
poor people of India. At that time India was also known for their business of
cloths, Britishers exported raw cloths material and gold at law price and than
imported same goods at higher prize. Because of it ultimately the profit was
gone to the British country. Shahshi Tharoor mentions about it by saying that,
British is wealthy due to India. On the name of free trade, Indian treasure was
entirely looted by British rulers. Tharoor tries to prove it with evidential record
of GDP. Britishers had done damages in India and they should give reparation
for it.
Poverty
and starvation due to British tax system
During
British Raj tax system was done a damage into the society. Before the coming of
Britishers, India had a tax system but it was not rigid like British tax
system. If there was any harm done by natural calamities, people got relaxation
from tax but it was not allowed during British Raj. Tax was compulsory for
people and left them for starvation.They also used to do a violence and
tortures on Indians.
Railway
system
Shashi
Tharoor mentioned about Railway system and Robert Clave who was Indian Railway
pioneer. The basic agenda behind ivented railway was their loot agenda. It was
invented to serve British people rather than to Indian people. They used
railway for their transportation purpose. In a way all the inventions by
Britisher was only done for their selfish purpose.
Rascism
A kind of
Psychological damage was also done by Britishers. They started to hate Indians
because of their black skin color. They conditioned the mind of Indians as they
were inferior because of their black skin color. Britishers were considered as superior
because of their white skin. This belief consciously or unconsciously still
remains in the mind of Indians who considers white as superior at present time
also. India had already caste system but Britisher also imposed rigidity of
racism.
Besides that
Britishers were also responsible for India’s partition and created binaries
among Hindu and Muslim. In a way they colonized over India from trade to
education in every possible way. Because of this loot British is now considered
one of the richest country. In such way, Shashi Tharoor presented his views
about British Raj and admits that there should be a reparation to India for whatever
harm they done in India.
Critique on films with reference to Postcolonial insights
The BlackPrince
‘The Black
Prince’ is an international historical drama film directed by Kavi Raz which
was published in 2017 and casts Satindar Sartaj as a protagonist Duldeep Singh.
The film is based on the mighty kingdom of
Punjab, Duldeep Singh, the last Maharaja of Shikh Empire and his
relation with queen Victoria. He was placed on throne at the age of five but was replaced by a British Resident.
The entire film
rests on Duleep Singh’s longing and liberation.
Everyone
have that great pride for their native country, for their identity and for
their region language . Do there anything leave to live if one can take away all these?
The movie
highlights this postcolonial idea through the protagonist character Duldeep
Singh. He was born in India but was exiled from his own country and was raised
in British.
That very
idea of superiority and inferiority is reflected through the title of the
movie.The title of movie is “The Black Prince” which itself provides a lens(idea
of rascism fostered by Britishers) through which they used to see Indians as
inferior because of their black skin color. In reality Duldeep was the king of
Punjab but he was considered as prince by Queen Victoria.
Even his
region was seized from him, in England he was baptized a Christian and lost his
own identity as Shikh as well as which kept him away from his mother. Almost he
lost his identity as Shikh but as soon as he turned into 20s , he was haunted
by the violence of his childhood which leaded him to meet his mother at India.
She reminded him about his own Shikh identity but after knowing all reality,
How far it
was possible or easy for Duldeep Singh to be the king of Punjab?
There were
many obstacles which came into his path. Firstly his mind was entirely colonized it
was not easy for him to give fight against Britishers. But as he did it, they
started intrigue against him. They never allowed him to be the king of Punjab.
How far the
idea of colonization, can be done psychological damage to person is presented
in the movie.
'He was
neither be entirely Shikh nor Christain, neither be entirely King nor Prince, neither be entirely British nor Indian still his death in Paris'.
We can see Duldeep
Singh who constantly seems to live with dilemma of identity. Though he was a
free but not able to think independently. No doubt he started rebel against
British Empire but
Do we find a consideration for his voice?
He was a
king of Punjab than even on the other land he was voiceless, he was subaltern who
did not allow to raise his voice against authority.
Victoria& Abdul
“Victoria & Abdul” is a British Biographical film comedy drama film written by Stephen Frears and written by Lee Hall. The movie based on the book of same name written by Shrabani Basu and was published in 2017. It presents the real life relation between Queen Victoria of the UK and her Indian Muslim servant Abdul Karim.
From surface it looks like that it is a movie
of the queen’s unlikely friendship with an Indian servant, but it has dipper
meaning that it. She used him only as a tool for enhancing her own empire in
India. In the trailer of the film, mango is symbolically very well used.
Generally mango is known as king of fruit, but ones it spoils that it has not
that value which earlier has. At one scene when servant served a mango to the
queen she reacted as, “This Mango is off”. This dialogue may be connected with
the idea of British Raj on India. They ruled over India when it was wealthy in
every manner. But they left or neglected the India as it became poor.
Summarize
Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s views
Decolonising
the Mind: the politics of Language in African Literature is a collection of
essays about language and its constructive role in national culture,history and
identity written by Kenyan novelist and post colonial theorist Ngugi Wa Thiongo.
In this book he ponders on the role of language in African literature. In this book he discuss about colonial history
through which English was substituted for indigenous Kenyan language and impact
of colonization and imperialism on the language.
"The choice of language and the use to which language is put is central to people's definition of themselves in relation to their natural and social environment,indeed in relation to entire universe"
By stating this, he talks about choice of language and its significance. The language has its own significance in every field. He talks about how colonial history in a way British colonialism who destroyed their tradition and has direct effect on the role of played by theater in Kenya .
Refrences:
Very Well written in elaborated way with references
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