Why Do Indian's Celebrate The End Of British Rule, When They Chose To Live Under British Rule, Here In The Uk?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.hsleicestershire.co.uk/indias-independence-day-celebrations-in-leicester/

And talking about statues?

[andy-hughes]

Choosing to come and live in a democracy is not the same as living under an empire.

India under the British was not a democracy, Britain is, and Indian citizens have a say in its government, which was denied them in in their own country.

[anotheoldgit]

Then they could have chosen to stay in India, then surely they would have enjoyed the best off both worlds, their beloved country, free of the British along with a chance to vote for their own rulers?

[jim360]

Or perhaps they felt that the Britain of today is a land full of opportunity, while also being able to celebrate liberation from the Britain of yesteryear?

[dannyk13]

They were escaping a conflict between the different religions.

[douglas9401]

Some might say that a certain number of Indians have had a wee look around at home and thought 'hmmm, not all Taj Mahal and tiffin here these days, let's head for the land of the oppressor and make him pay'.

This, of course is not a mindset exclusive to the sub-continent but seems to cross international boundaries, especially where it's very hot and dusty.

Independence is a great aspiration but seldom exists in a vacuum, requiring many years of backhanders, also known as reparations and aid, to ease transition from a developing country noted for annoying call centre operatives with British names and a space programme, all paid while the mother country/great satan (delete as appropriate) continues a downward spiral of failing infrastructure, economic power and international prestige to a level found at the beginning of empire.

We'll see the same soon enough when we sever ties with continental Europe and may indeed find our enormous call centre and foreign car assembly plant no longer holds the same attractions to former colonials as reality bites and they look elsewhere for somebody to soak.

[woofgang]

You would have to ask every individual immigrant (or at least a representative sample) to get a meaningful answer to that question

[New Judge]

If you speak to a few older people still living in India (that is, old enough to either remember living under British rule or whose parents did so) you will find that a large number of them will say that india pre-1947 was a nicer place to live than it has been since.

[Jennykenny]

To a certain extent we celebrate the defeat of the Spanish Armada (certainly presented that way in our history books) but doesn't stop 300,000 Brits 'living under Spanish rule'??

[trt]

If you have lived in India, or visited some of the poor lower caste areas, you cant blame them, especially when they have heard that the UK has benefits for housing, children, unemployment, and free NHS etc!

There was an interesting tv programme on last night, about the Delhi police force, if you could call it that!

[sp1814]

AOG

Because there is a difference between Britain of 1947 and now?

Do you think that might be the case?

[Guilbert53]

While there are indeed thousands of millionaires in India (more than in the UK) the vast majority of people in India are very poor, far poorer than the poor in the UK.

Do you think they give generous child benefit to people in India?

Do you think they give housing benefit to people in India?

Do you think they give all sorts of other benefits to people in India?

Do you think disabled people get special benefits and possibly a mobility car in India?

People who come here from "poor" countries probably cant believe their luck when they arrive and see how much the government give them.

You can imagine the conversation in new immigrant homes "Do you mean they will give me money for each child I have. Really !"

Compared to India, for many people this must be the land of Milk and Honey.

No wonder so many want to come here, legally or illegally.

[sp1814]

I wonder why no-one ever asks the same if Americans living in the U.K.?

"Why do you lot come here, when you celebrate Independence Day every year?"

Strange isn't it?

AOG - why do you think this is?

[dannyk13]

If you really want to know why many fled to the UK read this:-
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/29/the-great-divide-books-dalrymple

[sp1814]

AOG

Just thought of something that might answer your question.

The Indians who are celebrating Independence might very well be born after the event (1947), and may very well have been born here.

My team at work are all based in Bangalore, and we have a sizeable number who come over to our office in London. They are all (every single one) really great people...hard-working and focussed on bettering themselves.

I'm sure you will join with me in acknowledging that Anglo-Indians are a credit to our country, right?

[Peter Pedant]

// India under the British was not a democracy, Britain is, and Indian citizens have a say in its government, which was denied them in in their own country...... and have over the last seventy years voted democratically for corruption graft and bribery which were not features previously and for the hereditary nature succession of power in the Gandhi family.

[Peter Pedant]

why has the Beeb been celebrating it ?

Indians massacring a million other indians is hardly a subject for rejoicing and self congratulation in London

[Peter Pedant]

//I'm sure you will join with me in acknowledging that Anglo-Indians are a credit to our country, right?//

oh for chrissakes - my mother was born in Bombay ( British Raj) and was often asked 'why arent you brown?'

In 1990 I mentioned my mother was born in er Bombay and heard, "Oh! you must be Anglo-Indian !"
No - I am English - the anglo-indians had one parent Indian and one British ( please note Sp) and were rejected and oppressed by both nationalities. Employment was reserved in the Indian Railways ( and still may be) so they didnt starve.

so unless you are running a railway company Sp - you wont have met many ango-indians ......

[sp1814]

PP

Did your mother explain to those who asked her why she wasn't brown, that they might very well be morons?

[sp1814]

PP

There is more than one definition of Anglo-Indian.

Your definition is 100% correct, but not the only one. There are Indian mates that I have who define themselves as British, but others, who were born in India and have lived in Britain for a long time, who use the term Anglo-India.

Both of our definitions are correct.

[hereIam]

Good post at 14:51 Guilbert.