No Sir Sachin please, we are Indians

HONOUR AMONG EQUALS: Bharat Ratna or knighthood, experts say the honour is a reciprocity between equals.

        

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Keywords: English, Sachin Tendulkar

While discussing the importance of English language, the panelists also debated on whether those who have studied entirely in India get the same footing with those educated abroad, say in Oxford or Cambridge or maybe in America.

“The issue probably is not about colonial hangover anymore, but it is much more about a wider Western hangover, if you want to call it that,” Miller said.

While Guha said that it is true that Indians suffer from an inferiority complex to an extent “but we should recognise that no relationship between a former empire and a former colony has been as harmonious as ours with Britain. I mean the French and the Algerians detest each other or the Japanese and the Koreans.”

Then why is it that we still persist with the club culture like the Gymkhana?

Agreeing that there are aberrations and certain obnoxious elements of colonial rule Guha believes that the larger picture is one of harmony.

“By and large both the nations have benefited. Like British cuisine has been immeasurably enriched by Indian food. Likewise in Indian dresses there has been a British influence. The larger story is one of harmonious and beneficial interaction,” he said.

“The importance of English may have begun something as colonial but today the language is linked to economic advancement and opportunity. And that is something which is very practical,” Dasgupta said and concluded the discussion.

Final results of the question of the day:

Yes – 29 per cent

No – 71 per cent

CNN-IBN Editorial:

We like things foreign, not necessarily British, and hence, colonial. We are still in many parts of India, a feudal society, quite happy with 'colonial' recognition as well. However, we are not any longer defined by things left over by the British Raj. We have transcended that. Now, India is being recognised, rather than just a few Indians. After all, how many Tendulkars will Britain knight?