![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
On July 8, Oxford University awarded Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, with the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Civil Law. His acceptance speech can be found below. I had originally posted this entry (privately) on July 10. At the time I was very moved and considered it one of the greatest speeches of modern times.
Since then there has been public outcry (see links 1, 2, 3, 4) due to his comments on the bygone days of British rule. Bloggers like![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
savyasachi have also expressed their opinions.
About a month has passed since the whole controversy began. Yesterday, India celebrated yet another Independence Day since the British left our shores and perhaps the time is no more ripe than now to recall what set everything off.
Over the years, my views on British Rule have changed; especially since the times of trying to separate between the patriotic-emotional rhetoric and the facts. Till recently, I too may have reacted the same. To be sure however, Dr. Singh might have been too kind in what he said; but I reckon he overstated the truth to suit the audience. Nevertheless, the fact he was able to say what he did, and as a representative of the Indian people, is a great eye-opener.
We Indians are often accused of not being able to shirk off the past and move forward with the future. Here is our chance. Our Prime Minister has led the way. Dr. Singh is also proud of all that India has given the world and is not an apologist for British rule. Thanks to people like him, we have been able to change people's perceptions in the West.
Dear Sir, thank you for the service to the nation. I wish you a long and healthy reign at the helm.
( The Speech )
Since then there has been public outcry (see links 1, 2, 3, 4) due to his comments on the bygone days of British rule. Bloggers like
savyasachi have also expressed their opinions.About a month has passed since the whole controversy began. Yesterday, India celebrated yet another Independence Day since the British left our shores and perhaps the time is no more ripe than now to recall what set everything off.
Over the years, my views on British Rule have changed; especially since the times of trying to separate between the patriotic-emotional rhetoric and the facts. Till recently, I too may have reacted the same. To be sure however, Dr. Singh might have been too kind in what he said; but I reckon he overstated the truth to suit the audience. Nevertheless, the fact he was able to say what he did, and as a representative of the Indian people, is a great eye-opener.
We Indians are often accused of not being able to shirk off the past and move forward with the future. Here is our chance. Our Prime Minister has led the way. Dr. Singh is also proud of all that India has given the world and is not an apologist for British rule. Thanks to people like him, we have been able to change people's perceptions in the West.
Dear Sir, thank you for the service to the nation. I wish you a long and healthy reign at the helm.
( The Speech )
