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Inglorious Empire

What the British Did to India

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Inglorious Empire

By: Shashi Tharoor
Narrated by: Shashi Tharoor
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Inglorious Empire written and read by Shashi Tharoor.

In the eighteenth century, India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947, after two centuries of British rule, it had decreased six-fold. The Empire blew rebels from cannon, massacred unarmed protesters, entrenched institutionalised racism, and caused millions to die from starvation.

British imperialism justified itself as enlightened despotism for the benefit of the governed, but Shashi Tharoor takes demolishes this position, demonstrating how every supposed imperial 'gift' - from the railways to the rule of law - was designed in Britain's interests alone. He goes on to show how Britain's Industrial Revolution was founded on India's deindustrialisation, and the destruction of its textile industry.

In this bold and incisive reassessment of colonialism, Tharoor exposes to devastating effect the inglorious reality of Britain's stained Indian legacy.

©2018 Shashi Tharoor (P)2018 Penguin Audio Asia Colonialism & Post-Colonialism Europe Great Britain India Politics & Government South Asia Colonial Period Imperialism Self-Determination Thought-Provoking England Hinduism

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Critic reviews

Tharoor convincingly demolishes some of the more persistent myths about Britain's supposedly civilising mission in India ... [he] charts the destruction of pre-colonial systems of government by the British and their ubiquitous ledgers and rule books ... The statistics are worth repeating. (Victor Mallet)
Remarkable ... The book is savagely critical of 200 years of the British in India. It makes very uncomfortable reading for Brits (Matt Ridley)
Tharoor's impassioned polemic slices straight to the heart of the darkness that drives all empires. Forceful, persuasive and blunt, he demolishes Raj nostalgia, laying bare the grim, and high, cost of the British Empire for its former subjects. An essential read (Niljana Roy)
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The argument is predictable but it is laid out in an interesting manner which I at least find persuasive. Even should one ultimately disagree with the central arguement it is one that is worthwhile hearing out.

Informative and thought-provoking

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Tharoor expertly analyses the impact of Empire on India and explains many of the tragic consequences from it. It really is astonishing the impact and the lasting damage colonialism has had on India and many other countries around the world. From this work a reader understands the harsh reality of this period.

This is a thought provoking book and one that many more in the UK need to be aware of.

Harsh reality

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An excellent audiobook read by Shashi Tharoor himself. Essential listening for anyone piecing together Indian History.

Essential Listening

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I was looking for such an informative book about British periods in sub continent. Very informative and made me understand the actual facts and situations of that time.

A must read for Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi

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I found this book very interesting from start to finish. The statements Shashi Tharoor makes about the British Empire are backed up by quotes, events, statistics and are not just opinions. It is obvious he has a very high opinion of India (and why not) which at time might sound a little biased, but on the whole this book is very illuminating on what the Empire did in and to India and the consequences on people through the decades and still now.

Very interesting

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I really enjoyed listening to this informative audiobook. I bought the hard back but didn't manage to get very far. I was thrilled when the audiobook was produced. Shashi Tharoor narrates the book well. I feel I have gained a better understanding of the impact of British rule in India.

An informative and entertaining audiobook.

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Loved it. After reading The Great Indian Story, a political satire by Shashi Tharoor, this Inglorious Empire is his second book in my hands. I am going to read more of him in coming days & months. Shashi has penned a masterpiece expanding on his speech in Oxford Union on topic "Britain owes reparations to its colonies". I had first heard a YouTube clip of his speech around a year ago and I must say this book more than lives up to the punch of that short YouTube clip. Shashi's homework comes out solid as layer-by-layer his data driven deductive reasoning as well as emotions driven indian culture reasoning decimate all the self-aggrandazing arguments put forth by Britain portraying it as a godsend to India's subjects, polity, industry and over-all well-being... all utterly shameless farce. Hope the statistics presented are pure research based and scientific estimates and not mere guestimates. The book gives a balanced view of the key drivers of Indian politics and freedom struggle irrespective of author's personal allegiance to present day Congress Party. I would wish to see some detailing of the INA formation, it's leaders, philosophy, struggles and the threat it posed to British occupation of India in 1930s &1940s, now that moratorium on INA papers is lifted. Shashi being a narrator of this book brings authenticity to the subject albeit his voice over isn't as good as his felicity with the english language. But overall this book is seriously enjoyable.

Penetrating insights into British Loot of India

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Narration is great, and the contents of the book well-researched. However the author’s political bias is clear in his critique of Pakistan throughout the book, whilst barely being able to critique the failure of India post colonialism especially in the years under the leadership of his own party, except for throwing most of the blame - rightly or wrongly - at the opposition (the BJP). Overall, great listen, just be conscious of the author’s bias.

Great critique of colonialism though somewhat biased

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An interesting alternative to Niall, Fergusons Empire, How Britain made the modern world, which I thought was a great listen, until I listened to this alternative view of Britain and Empire. A recommended listen.

A great listen

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The cruel and amoral exploitation of British Colonialism exposed in a rigorous academic and fluent publication.

Compulsory reading!

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