The Anarchy - by William Dalrymple

I knew it will be a painful read the moment I picked up this book in the library. This one is about how the East India Company came to India for trade and paved the way for the British to rule the country till 1947.

Every Indian knows the history - or at least a part of it. But you are too young to be affected by it during your school days. It all happened in the past. For most of us who were born into the 70s and beyond, our parents wouldn't even have known about the British Raj. Sure, the grandparents would have lived through the era. But unless they had taken part in the freedom struggle, that wouldn't have come up during the conversation during the summer holidays. It didn't, at least for me and my brother.

So, it came as a surprise that the company's office in England was so unassuming that passersby wouldn't have believed it if anyone had told them that it belonged to the East India Company. It came as a surprise that the company failed in its initial attempts to set shop here. I recall pausing during my reading to wonder how different India's destiny would have been if the British had given up and left. It was amusing to read that the original map of Mumbai was lost during the sea voyage of the Portuguese princess in whose wedding the islands had passed into the British hands. I chuckled when I read that there was much confusion about the exact location of India in Britain of that time and some Englishman actually believed that it was somewhere near Brazil. 

But my surprise and amusement didn't last long as I read about the company solidifying its base and implementing its 'Divide and Rule' policy. I read in horror and disbelief as the Indians turned against their own, displaying the basest side of humanity - hatred, greed and selfishness. If only all of us had banded together. If only - 2 words that could have changed history but could not. 

I had to skip reading entire chapters as it was too much to read about betrayals, murders and looting. As a Maharashtrian, it was especially painful to read about the Marathas setting cities on fire and raping women. 

At one point, I seriously thought about returning the book. But didn't. My returning the book was not going to change the history. Nothing that anyone does now, can. All that we can do is learn from it and make sure not to repeat the mistakes.

But as I look at what is happening around me these days, I think a snowflake will have a better chance in hell. We are, as a nation, perhaps doomed to repeat our history. The only difference is that we ended up being ruled by the outsiders back then.