The Case for India

The Case for India by Will Durant

If you ever want to get a view of India as it existed in the early 1900’s this is the book. Its especially good because its not written by an Indian or an Englishman but by an American who has given a fairly neutral view. You will learn several things about India that you would not have read in history books. I absolutely loved the book. A neutral view on how exploited we were & how much of our wealth was looted, how all the money earned by the government made it out of the country is a real eye opener.  

The book was published in the late 1920’s & I think its only now (I could be wrong here) easily available here.

The author wonders what would happen to the people if India were to be given independence then (in the 1920’s) & goes on to say that India might find it very difficult to handle given the wretched state that the English had reduced this country to. The fact that we did get Independence (a bit 20 yrs later) & did survive is something quite amazing.

It’s a fairly small book (about 150 pages) & a must read.