The Case of India: A Perspective book written on the state of India around 1930.

The Case of India: A Perspective book written on the state of India around 1930.

William James Duran an American writer, historian and philosopher is very much known for his work story of Civilization written in 11 volumes with the help of his wife Ariel Durant. His work on philosophy is so excellent that his book story of philosophy has been described as groundbreaking work to popularize the philosophy to common persons.  This young American historian and philosopher travelled around the world with his wife to write about the Story of civilization. In 1930, he came to India to study ancient India and to write about Indian civilization. During his visit, he saw how British bled India year after year to the point of death.  According to Durant, there was no major famine in India before the arrival of British rule. It was only during the British rule, Millions of Indians died every year from famine. Therefore, he kept his work aside and understood the Indian situation in 1930 and wrote a fantastic book titled “The Case for India”.

From Yogesh Gogwekar

Will Durant arrived in India in 1930 when Indian freedom struggle was at its peak and Mahatma Gandhi was leading a freedom movement. British were exploring India and Indians by destroying the Indian industry and forcing Indians or India to accept the vast market for British machine-made goods. It was always said that English has brought railways for the benefit of Indians but actually used for British Army and British trade. Similarly, they ruined Indian Shipping industry and all Indian goods were to be carried by British ships. There was a big drain of revenue through payment of salaries and pensions to British officials. British were not ready to give the proper education system to Indians. In 1911, G K Gokhale introduced the compulsory primary education bill but this bill was defeated and due this illiteracy rate increased to 93%.  After seeing these reasons for devastating poverty and starvation, he took his time off from his work of civilization and started advocating the Indian independence movement and became supportive of Mahatma Gandhi.

The book Case for India has been divided into four parts. In the first part, he mentioned how India has been exploited under British rule. In the second part, he praised Mahatma Gandhi and his methods of challenging British rules. He said that every English person was frightened about policies of Mahatma Gandhi and always felt as a threat to the Empire. In the third part, he started explaining the revolutions of 1921 and 1930. He stated that many Indian after educating abroad started participating in the freedom movement. In the last part, he asked England to speak for herself through her own capable defenders. This is the short book of 150 pages but a classic book which is a profoundly empathetic work of compassion. In this book, Durant said that,” English are the best gentlemen on earth; the British are the worst of all imperialists. Not one Englishmen was convinced of murder in India in 150 years in spite of many instances where they committed murders of their servants and other people of India. Court verdicts always favoured Englishmen against Indians”.

This is an excellent book with beautiful narration written from a neutral mindset and considering the actual events which have been witnessed during the British rule.  After reading this book, Indian poet, writer, music composer and painter Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore,  wrote to Will Durant and said that, “Will Durant has taken trouble in this book [The Case For India], trouble to know. The miserable conditions of the country he has seen with his own eyes, but, what is rare with most tourists, he has explored the history of our misfortune. Will Durant treated us with respect due to human beings. I noticed in his book a poignant note of pain at the suffering and indignity of the people who are not his kindred, an indignant desire to be just to the defeated race. I know that the author will have small chance to reward his popularity from his readers but he, I am sure, has his noble compensation in upholding the best tradition of the West in its championship of freedom and fair play”.

Thus, Will Durant has given some interesting information about brutality under British Rule. Therefore,  I felt that this book should be read by every Indian  to know the truth about India before British rule. During British rule and how British looted Indians and killed Indian’s bodies and minds. This book was written by an author without any help of Indian.

Mumbai

19/06/2020