Wednesday, September 19, 2012

HISTORY OF INDIA

HISTORY OF INDIA 1

Indian history and culture is full of richness and affluence, which undoubtedly has had a significant impact on the evolution of the current society. Home to the Indus Valley civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian history is identified with its commercial and cultural wealth over the past thousands of years. Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity arrived in the first millennium AD and mingled into the region's diverse culture. India became a modern nation-state in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by widespread nonviolent resistance. 

When I went to Google and typed History of India, the above are the first few lines from one of the several articles I found on the web. I was an ardent reader of History in my elementary and secondary school days. While many of my friends and classmates differed with me on the importance of studying history, I found reading history very interesting and purposeful

I was only wondering what our great grand children of our great grand children would read, say 200 years from now, God bless if life on earth does not come to an end in December, 2012 as predictions go around the world. 
Could it sound something like below:

200 years ago India was known to be ruled by many plunderers and looters of a different nature, different from somewhat similar clones that invaded India prior to the Britishers. Britishers occupied the lands for several years with the help several brokers across the country, who were prepared to 
sell their own country for few pennies.

There was an angry young man called Mohanlal Karamchand Gandhi. 
He studied law and moved out to South Africa to represent some Indian Muslim traders in Pretoria in a law suit. When he was traveling first class, which was meant only for the whites, and found so by a Britisher,
was told to get down at the next station. 
After all he was given a chance to correct himself. 
He could have just got down, moved out to a common man bogie and carried on with his journey and life. 
It is very difficult to guess what really went on in his mind. He refused to get down and naturally was thrown out of the compartment. 
Then also he had an option. To catch the next train and go home. 
He just didn't do that. He said 'I will protest, I will fight'. Against whom? 
Against a country which was ruling most part of the world with it's might. 
Many well wishers, told him to take it cool. He did not. 
He literally went crazy. 
He burnt the legal documents in public. He collected few tens of Indians and staged a protest. He was warned and thrashed nicely. 
Yet he did not succumb. 
He went on from one level to another and finally declared that  
'We want an Independent India'

To achieve this end, he created a new concept known at that time as  
"Non violent Non Cooperation Movement".   
He could afford to do that and yet live and see an Independent India. 
Because the rulers were Britishers. All those nukras he could do with the Britishers. No Indian could ever imagine to do later in an Independent India. 
You might be keen to know 'Why not?'.

It is because the Britishers though occupied and ruled several nations in Asia and the rest of the world, as a lot had their own level of decency. Few hundred years later India's own Indian rulers were not as cultured and civilized as their earlier rulers.Particularly when someone questions them for their wrong doings, they used to turn violent. Declare them as anti national. Charge them on criminal cases including that of sedition. This was in fact the worst period for the poor, illiterates and the farmers. The large middle class community was struggling between 'survival now' and the 'aspirations of their wards'
They were constantly looted of their land and other means of survival and no one ever dare take their sides. 

'Taxes' were paid in huge amount, including by the middle class men earning their livelihood with immense hard work. But the tax money became the biggest source for a big loot. 
Loot I say because, while a part of the 
taxes thus collected went into the development of the country. 
Most part was pocketed by the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and the businessmen providing support to both the others. This was done in very clever ways many of which we will study during the course of our curriculum.

                                                                                 Contd...........

3 comments:

Raji said...

very nice RS...Looking forward to read the rest of our country's history.

Venkat said...

Nice article sir. Waiting for more articles.

Zillion Dreams said...

very informative sir! made my elder one read it too..he says he's waiting for the next one..