What do Indians think of the UK and the British?

Question

I am keeping this question general because I am wanting alot of opinions and answers... And I want to know about what people really think without any guidance

And it is interesting that the first thing that is mentioned is the UK colonial occupation... In the UK (Non Indians) wouldn'thave mentioned that (I don't think)
history lessons in the UK tend to gloss over our colonial past.


I'm alsointerested in knowing what Indians think about MODERN Britain. What is the opinion of modern British culture?? Is there a strong relationship to the UK because of the number of Indians living there?
Do you feel closer to the UK than say USA because of the British influence on India. What is the relationship like between Indians living in the UK and Indian in India?

Answer 1

Generally speaking: Its a country which used to rule over India and many other countries in the world, had to leave in the end because second world war weakenned its position a great deal.

You said it was interesting that the first thing that is mentioned is the UK colonial occupation......

Off course it comes in the mind of Indians for various reasons. Britain shamelessly exploited India... Its industrial revoltuion was basically financed by India, Manchester flourished by starving Bengal........ The Queen still thinks its appropriate to wear Kohinoor in her crown, which British snatched from a 13 year old kid (heir of Ranjeet Singh).

It ruined Indian school system to introduce its own, Industries....Ayurveda books in Kerala were literally burned to fascilitate British medicine system by missioneries.....
Bengal famine and "hungry bengali" (Bhukha bangali) term is still used sometimes....Greatest man made famine sponsered by Britain..... Calcutta , the symbol of poverty today , is Biritish creation. If it would have been a slum then , British would not have come here........ the list is too long .....

Many believe that British also fuelled partition demand and Pakistan is its brain child. It certainly showed inclinatiion towards it since start. On its side Britain said , Pakistan knew how to sell itself and Indian politicians were stupid , trying to sell Nehru. (I read it in an autobiography of an international journlist).

Somebody above mentioned Railway... That is such a joke. Thailand was not under Britain, but got railways.... Is it rational to say if Britain would not been here, we would not have got it ?
Britain rather wasted best quality coal of Indian mines by unsystematic burning in those railway engines. It could have used lower quality for that,.... but since the resources were not its own, they did not care......

But NO , we do not dwell on it in today. If its not on topic, nobody will mention it.

Past is Past. We are not going to forget it, but are not going to hold on it just for the sake of it either. We are trying to pick up what was left, and built our nation for future.

Most Indians still speak British English......i.e. use British spellings, drive on left side......... US style is entering more n more as US holds media today.

Modern British culture? If one does not have many relatives there , he does not know much about it. That generation which dwelled on RAJ, is almost gone.

Relationship to the UK because of the number of Indians living there?.... Not really. Mostly they are from Punjab, Gujarat or south..... Indians live in many other countries too.... I personally dont think much about it.

I dont feel closer to the UK than USA because of the British influence on India. Though I think (Hope?) British may have a bit better idea about India than their US counterparts. ....Hmm, may be I feel a bit closer to Britain than USA.

UK is like a retired father, who sits in back ground and let the heir/son (USA) run the show. And backs up his son whenever needed. What was the last time Britain had separate stand on an important issue? It just follows USA. USA, and UK are seen as more or less same thing.

Answer 2

Like yet another poster reported, it relies upon on while the baby grew to become into born. If it grew to become into born earlier 1983 (i've got confidence it particularly is the impressive year) interior the united kingdom, then the baby is rapidly a British citizen. If born after, then one be sure must be a British citizen, or have ILR on the time of the childs delivery to ensure that the baby to be a British citizen.

Answer 3

I am an Indian living in US and I respect British. I don't feel any hatred towards a person who has an English accent. But again, British were ruling and exploiting India long before my time and even before my grandfather's time. India's older generation might still have hatred towards UK and its people.
In my opinion, along with exploiting India's natural resources Britain brought in some good thigs like Railways.

Answer 4

The past is the past.. sure they exploited India like a bat out of hell. Turned us from one of the richest countries in the world into the poorest. But hey forgive and forget, live and let live...Gandhi wanted us to be on friendly terms with the British after we kicked them out anyway. Don't forget the Muslim Moguls were once foreign invaders too but they integrated so well with the country that Hindu rebels in the 1857 Mutiny or War of Independence chose the Mogul Emperor as their leader. If the British had ruled India with a view to benefiting the country instead of robbing us blind and destroying our 'inferior' culture we would have probably ended up like Australia and NZ (the UK Queen is their Head of State)

Answer 5

I am british and from my experience they (the Indians I met in trains, buses, on the street, at tourist attractions) liked the British and appeared to share no ill feeling towards the past.
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Answer 6

They got nothing to be grateful about