Plain Tales from the Raj , a wonderful book edited by Charles Allen, (with Michael Mason) with association of BBC. The cover page of this book aptly describes it as “Images of British India in the twentieth Century”.
In the book, the experiences of the English men and women posted in India prior to 1947 have been recounted. Experiences of people from varied backgrounds, working in various capacities, have been touched, including those of the Mem-Sahibs (House wives).
This brings together varied viewpoints towards pre-independence India, its customs, traditions and its people. It also highlights certain practices of the Raj, which though already outdated in England continued to be followed in the Raj. The peculiarities of two different cultures along with their differences have been brought out without slightest snobbery.
I hasten to add that the book is far from a jingoistic narrative exalting the Raj. The aim of the book appears to present an interesting nostalgic narrative of the great, if slightly ridiculous British Raj in India. One is amused by the ridiculous practices being followed and appreciates the candid honesty in accepting certain not-so-illuminating aspects of the Raj. In the same way the book is also quite interesting about the general description of Indians from various backgrounds.
One of the touching aspects of the book is the relationship the English had with their subordinates, Ayahas, Sais, common soldiers etc. As an Indian, one needs to appreciate this aspect of English rule, while we are fed by jingoistic films made by Mumbai Film Industry criticizing the Raj.
The commendable part is that the narrative apart from being quite amusing, is also quite authentic. Various sources who actually lived during the Raj, have shared their first hand experience. As given in the book while researching and interviewing for this book, the author travelled the length and breadth of United Kingdom, taping more than 250 hours of recorded interviews. A glossary given at the end of the book describing various Hindi/Urdu language slangs commonly being used by the English pucca Sahibs & Mem-Sahibs is also quite amusing to read.
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This posting is an edited version of one of the reviews I wrote on the site mouthshut.com (user-id- adiagr). I plan to post those articles here along with a some new ones.
In the book, the experiences of the English men and women posted in India prior to 1947 have been recounted. Experiences of people from varied backgrounds, working in various capacities, have been touched, including those of the Mem-Sahibs (House wives).
This brings together varied viewpoints towards pre-independence India, its customs, traditions and its people. It also highlights certain practices of the Raj, which though already outdated in England continued to be followed in the Raj. The peculiarities of two different cultures along with their differences have been brought out without slightest snobbery.
I hasten to add that the book is far from a jingoistic narrative exalting the Raj. The aim of the book appears to present an interesting nostalgic narrative of the great, if slightly ridiculous British Raj in India. One is amused by the ridiculous practices being followed and appreciates the candid honesty in accepting certain not-so-illuminating aspects of the Raj. In the same way the book is also quite interesting about the general description of Indians from various backgrounds.
One of the touching aspects of the book is the relationship the English had with their subordinates, Ayahas, Sais, common soldiers etc. As an Indian, one needs to appreciate this aspect of English rule, while we are fed by jingoistic films made by Mumbai Film Industry criticizing the Raj.
The commendable part is that the narrative apart from being quite amusing, is also quite authentic. Various sources who actually lived during the Raj, have shared their first hand experience. As given in the book while researching and interviewing for this book, the author travelled the length and breadth of United Kingdom, taping more than 250 hours of recorded interviews. A glossary given at the end of the book describing various Hindi/Urdu language slangs commonly being used by the English pucca Sahibs & Mem-Sahibs is also quite amusing to read.
.............................................
This posting is an edited version of one of the reviews I wrote on the site mouthshut.com (user-id- adiagr). I plan to post those articles here along with a some new ones.
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