Thinking Activity, Shashi Tharoor works

Hello Readers,

 Today  I am going to discuss in politic leader and writer of Shashi Tharoor and his works. So let's start..

Shashi Tharoor is a member of the Indian Parliament and also a columnist, author, human rights activist, and a former UN envoy. He served in the UN for 29 years. He is passionate about politics and has been writing for newspapers, like Washington Post, The Times of India, New York Times, The Hindu and many more. He has also written fiction and non fictions, which have also been translated into many languages. He is known as a compelling speaker and has won many awards.

There are some videos related with this topics under below.

1. Speech at Oxford Union.

2. Looking back at the British Raj in India: The University of  Edinburgh.

3. Exclusive interview by Karan Thapar On His book  "An Era of Darkness."

4. About British Colonialism in India in His New Book ' An Era of Darkness'.

                  

                     

                      

              

1) Write on key arguments in Shashi Tharoor's book - An Era of Darkness.

 Shashi Tharoor recounts this story with painstaking detail, with statistical backing, and with a mirror in hand, one which he calls a rear view mirror, to take the British to the time of their atrocities and to the Indians, to remind them what is the price of their freedom.Shashi Tharoor's ‘An Era of Darkness’ in eight chapters initiated as a debate held in Oxford where the distinguished Indian speaker made a case for why Britain owed a reparation to India. The amount that Tharoor asked for was not in the form of a percentage of Britain’s GDP, or a large chunk of pounds, but what he asked for was one pound a year for the next two hundred years and a simple apology. He said that the apology would go a long way. So this  video went viral, because it was by an Indian, on British soil, in one of the most renowned institutions in the world, reminding the British of what they had done and why they shouldn’t be proud about it.

Shashi Tharoor Say's  an era of darkness for India, throughout which it suffered several manmade famines, wars, racism, maladministration, deportation of its people to distant lands and economic exploitation on an unprecedented scale. An indignant Tharoor even demands a token restitution and public apology from the British for all the harm they had caused India. This is something, as his debate established, wildly popular in India. 

That British rule in India

 Tharoor tells us, perfected a policy of divide and rule, breaking treaties at will and making war and looting with impunity. His views regarding the plunder and pillaging caused by the British rule are accurate He has done thorough research supported by statistics. He gives us a true insight about the dark side of the East India company. And that India would have emerged united, strong, modern and literate without British help and that claims to the contrary are false and made by apologists for British rule.

2) Write critique on both the films with reference to postcolonial insights.

“The Black Prince"

The true story of Duleep Singh, The last Sikh prince of Punjab is placed on the throne at five, but when India is annexed to the British, he is sent to England and never allowed to return to his home. “The Black Prince,” written and directed by Mr. Raz, never finds a rhythm. Worse, Duleep (Satinder Sartaaj) remains a handsome cipher, brooding in the shadows of his own story until, upon occasion, someone thinks to ask, “What troubles you?”

His troubles are many: He was forcibly taken from Punjab as a boy and has lived in exile in England, where he has become a Christian like his guardians. And though Queen Victoria (Amanda Root, wasted) has taken him under her wing, Duleep wants to see his mother again. And he wants to be a Sikh. And he wants to rule Punjab.

Victoria & Abdul

In her latter years, Victoria, the Queen of England and Empress of India (Judi Dench), found solace in the company of an Indian clerk Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), who went on to become her Urdu teacher, spiritual adviser and closest confidant. Based on Shrabani Basu’s book on this extraordinary true story, Ali Fazal, also worthy of accolades and awards, for his superb performance as Indian servant Abdul Karim. His performance is actually rather captivating, The Queen was taken under his spell and as a viewer so was I. Such an intriguing, fascinating character, probably unlike any other man she'd ever encountered. Superb production values throughout, the film was visually dazzling, sumptuous settings, jaw dropping costumes, this was a treat for the senses. A film is meant to move, and allow for escapism, when it can educate as well.

The narrative reduces Abdul to being a mere spectator and that’s its biggest flaw. Also, the film falters as it abruptly changes gear and transforms into a tedious tragedy from a cross-cultural comedy.

3)  Summarise Ngugi Wa Thiongo's views in 'Introduction: Towards the Universal Language of Struggle' - from 'Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature'. 

Ngugi Wa Thiongo who was an African Writer & Professor of English Literature and language in Africa. Ngũgĩ dedicated Decolonising the Mind "to all those who write in African languages, and to all those who over the years have maintained the dignity of the literature, culture, philosophy, and other treasures carried by African languages."Ngũgĩ describes the book as “a summary of some of the issues in which I have been passionately involved for the last twenty years of my practice in fiction, theater, criticism, and in teaching of literature…” Decolonizing the Mind is split into four essays: “The Language of African Literature,” “The Language of African Theater,” “The Language of African Fiction,” and “The Quest for Relevance.” In this material here has a new context and the ideas a new focus. This leading African writer presents the arguments for using African language and forms.

Thanks.