![]() ![]() ![]() Yet, strangely, in spite of their ruthlessness, their proud and sustained use of violence to coerce or convert, India’s Muslim rulers never attempted to take possession of the Indian mind: in faithful obedience to Koranic injunctions, they simply tried to stamp it out. I have only referred to the British occupation, not to the Muslim invasions, though they stretched over a much longer span of time and collided violently with Indian civilization. Historical Backgroundīut first, an aside. But it stands to reason that for an effective “decolonization” to take place-even in order to find out whether and how far it is desirable-we should first take a hard look at the effects of this colonization, what traces it has left on the Indian mind and psyche, and how deep. If anything, this introspection has only intensified in recent years, as Western culture (if it deserves this noble name) aggressively spreads around the globe. Having suffered the burden of two centuries of British occupation, India has, since Independence, tried to come to terms with the impact of that exotic presence perhaps diametrically opposed to her own temperament, culture and genius. ![]()
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