History is something you cannot erase. What happened, happened and what ever may be the interpretation, you cannot wish it away - who were the villains or who were the receiving end is immaterial. We have no respect for history, that is a simple fact. Look at the european countries or U.K and see how they have preserved the old monuments or important historical sites. Those in the know of european history, should know that, most of them were sworn enemies of each other from Caesar's days in the 1st millenia B.C. Till the end of the 19th century, the european states had not even established themselves as political states that you see today. Vast multitudes of nationalities lived in an uneasy cauldron like the Austrian empire, despising each other. But, for all the european wars dating from the 1st century, they have managed to preserve their historical monuments, in a spectacular way, that, they are probably the tourist's first destination today. See this in contrast to our historical monuments. Tell me one monument, that is preserved impeccably. Not even the Red Fort, right in our national capital. We indians especially our political class just buffoon around regarding our glorious past. Neither they have respect for it nor the inclination to preserve it. The less said about the ASI (Archaelogical Survey of India), what ever allocation is made to them, goes off as salary, and travel bills. So, no money left for the monuments. WAKE UP GOVT - TIME TO WAKE UP NOW
RE:We have no respect for our Heritage
by kitty kumar on Jun 30, 2007 12:37 PM Permalink
I don't understand why indians worry so much about British, who insulted and robbed u for 200 years....where are the memorials of indians killed by them?????
RE:Root cause of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny
by KayBee on Jun 23, 2007 10:59 AM Permalink
Come on, you have referred to a website and then said something which simply goes agaisnt their "Terms and Conditions". Don't be bigot. Learn to respect every religion. By your attitude, you are simply playing into the hands of such extremists. If you too have the same opinion, how can you take the high moral ground.
India is a vast country. There is room for everyone. Why do people like you have to dictate to others - what is right or wrong. Every man has that much intelligence to decide for himself - what is good or bad for him. Don't need people like you or Khomeini or the Pope to tell us. LEAVE SUCH MATTERS TO INDIVIDUAL DISCRETION. Go about doing your job and this place will be a much more peaceful one instead of everyone spitting out religious hatred
RE:RE:Root cause of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny
by Indian on Jun 25, 2007 03:34 PM Permalink
Dear KayBee,
Unfortunately these Organised, Abrahamic religions can never ever be in the realm of the Individual! Good Catholics even call themselves Evagalical Catholics!! So their very fundamental belief is that THEIRS is the ONLY GOD and they have to influence others to follow their belief systems. They do not accept others beliefs.
And in a country like ours with so much poverty, how difficult is it to influence/lure/guile/torture the underpreviliged to convert? The xian missionaries are notorious for their exploitation of the needy and destroying indigenious cultures all over the world. It has happened in the last 2000 years and will go on in future too.
Notice that Indic religions are very different -thats why we have so many GODs and so much diversity in rituals and beliefs. Had it not been for its superiority, India would have long been converted totally like it happened in Africa and South America.
Bottom line is - Like it or not, there is an open war between religions and anybody who thinks religion is a private affair is either easily gullible or is living in a cave.
when troops of a regiment assasinates, overthrows the commander it is mutiny. it was our first war of indipendence, but as far as the british and military protocol is considered when subordinates turn against their commanders it is nothing less than mutiny and the only punishment is death.
RE:mutiny
by alok Misra on May 11, 2007 01:10 AM Permalink
All over the world the tyrant will call the freedom seeker as Mutinious or the rebel.When in the history of the world those who ruled by brute force call opponents any other name? Let us be straight- British were not here to give us Favours and themselves live like hermits.They were suckers outright. It is very good to talk of decipline and peace but do we realixe that This so called Mutiny inspired the Liberation in Bolovia,Latin America and inspired a whole continent to get freedom . I do not belive that British are right in calling it Mutiny. What would they call their own Upheavals?
RE:RE:mutiny
by kitty kumar on Jun 30, 2007 12:42 PM Permalink
U ARE RIGHT ??? i THINK U ARE THE FIRST PERSON WHO CAN THINK STRAIGHT...THEY BLAME HITLER BUT FORGET WHAT THEY DID IN INDIA....STILL THEY REFUSE TO RETURN OUR THINGS DISPLAYED IN THE MUSEUMS IN LONDON
RE:mutiny
by Antony George on May 11, 2007 08:09 AM Permalink
whai ii said is what is war for us is mutiny for them, one mans food is another mans poison. there were soldiers, brave. for an empire expansion of the empire is most important, when an empire does that there will be sections who will indeed fight back as we and many others did. remember at one time the british empire was the largest in the world may b rivaled only by thr roman empire, unfortunately both existed during different times, wished they existed during the same time, would have loved to see the romans kick the crap otta britan. as far as the british are concerned their officers were killed by their own troops.
Lets create some documentries about the reality and turn these sites into monunents. lets show the butchery of the british rule in India and the way they killed our innocent people. Like at Jalianwala Bagh and the way they treated the Indians after the Revolt.
The world must know our story and now what these goons tell the world. Read bbc.co.uk and it says that a few dozens of Indians revolted against them --- what a joke....
But our Government is spineless so we wont see this happen in India... Sometimes I hate that why are we so docile bunch of people.
But still I am proud to be an Indian. On top of that rediff calls them "mutiny"
RE:lets prject the reality
by KayBee on Jun 23, 2007 10:37 AM Permalink
Have your ever seen photos of British putting down the varioius pre-independence agitations with an iron hand. Have you noticed something VERY CLEARLY SEEN IF YOU HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAILS. It is that, very rarely you see a british man swinging a lathi or firing. One should see the enthusiasm of the indian lackeys in beating to pulp their own countrymen just to please their white agrez masters. Yes the dirty work was always done by the indians. They were the ones who broke many a bone of our beloved freedom fighters - whether it Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru or any ordinary freedom fighters. This boot licking indian lackeys who were either policemen or administrators - they were the ones who haunted our public day in and day out just to promote their standing. When India gained independence, the same lot simply changed allegiance and started serving their new masters. To understand why the bureacracy or police is what it is today, you need to read a little and you will know their psyche has been fine tuned by years of sychophancy, who the master is unimportant, as long as they benefit.
The British get land for their dead too... (What more... they get an Indian watchman to watch their graves even after 150 years after their death).. There is a reason why they are called Great Britain
Where as 60% of Indian citizens living in India do not have their own land. The only place that has a statue of the freedom fighter who started it all 'Mangal Pande' is called VICTORIA park. What self-respect and self-esteem are we left with...and there is no watchman there. What should we be calling ourselves?
Indian freedom fighters killing innocent British civilians was never taught in school. This is a great article reminding that history depends on which side tells the story. OFficials should make this as a tourist spots in Meerut so that the maintenance of this cemetry can be self-funded.
RE:Walk in the memory lane
by Kris on May 10, 2007 12:35 AM Permalink
Excellent thoughts Mr.Balu We should ask foreigners to come back and rule us again - then we we will get to see the other side telling the story. Keep it up. You rock.
RE:Walk in the memory lane
by Its ME on May 10, 2007 01:25 AM Permalink
Innocent British...??? This is the height of innocence you idiot... I wonder what your side of the story is... Ohh let me guess "Your great grand fathers and mothers used to suck up the British 150 years ago"
RE:Walk in the memory lane
by Indian Guy on May 10, 2007 01:23 AM Permalink
WHAT THE HELL???
WHO THE REDIFF DARES TO CALL THIS A MUTINY....
I HATED THE BRITISH MUSEAMS WHEN I VISITED UK FOR CALLING THIS A MUTINY...............
MUTINY IS WHEN YOU DO IT AMONG YOUR OWN PEOPLE OR AGAINST YOUR OUR COUNTRY ---- BRITISH WAS A FOREIGN RULE THAT WE STILL HATE........
DID THEY EVER TEACH MORONS IN SCHOOL THAT BRITISH MILLIONS OF INDIANS TO TEACH US A LESSON. THEY DIDN'T SPARE EVEN THE CHILDREN AND WOMEN.
I HATE REDIFF WHEN THEY SPEAK THE BRITISH TONE AND PUT DEROGATORY COMMENTS ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS.
ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW I AM FROM LUCKNOW --- THE PLACE WHERE WE FOUGHT AND DEFEATED THESE GORAS AND WE SAW HUGE MASSACERES BY THESE BRITISH AND WE KNOW THE REALITY OF THESE GUYS.
RE:Walk in the memory lane
by eagle on May 10, 2007 12:29 AM Permalink
Great Bala! you have said soemthing very correct which 90% of the mass not only in india all over the world need to understand.
I just hope the commenters and readers in rediff just understand that.
Keep it up bro you are on the right road to bring India up.
Why are you so ashamed of your past? That you want to remove things.
Then you will have to remove all the graves that are of thieves, dacoits and others to get more land.
Stop wasting your time and do something worthwhile with your life. Stop this.
If i'm right some idiot will go with a huge gang of self professed patroits and try to destroy this graveyard.
Everything seems to be wrong in the eyes of the youth now. Forget the past. The brits were clever enough to use the indians against each other becouse of their selfish nature and blindly believing what leaders told them to do.
If you still do the same thing the politicians are going to use your pea brain to run you for their selfish errands to kill people.
RE:Great! Now youth of India are haunting the dead
by Abhi Bhat on May 10, 2007 12:18 AM Permalink
mr. robert eagle robinson, are you a part time lecturer?
now that bad blood of british is no more in the soil i wonder if the land is cultivable/ gardenable still. If not then i request all indians to go and shit there daily until the land gets fertile. We should create more such graves of new Britishers at least to promote tourism. Long live the british soldiers in their graves.
Hi Rediff, There are so many countless Indians who killed by british . Try to focus on that part rather than how many british men killed . Focus on Indians who sacrified their life for freedom struggle.
