Ramachandra Guha QUOTES

181 " The election campaign of 1951–2 was conducted through large public meetings, door-to-door canvassing, and the use of visual media. ‘At the height of election fever’, wrote a British observer, ‘posters and emblems were profuse everywhere – on walls, at street corners, even decorating the statues in New Delhi and defying the dignity of a former generation of Viceroys’. A novel method of advertising was on display in Calcutta, where stray cows had ‘Vote Congress’ written on their backs in Bengali. "

― Ramachandra Guha , India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

182 " On 1 June 1910, the four Colonies of Natal, Transvaal, the Cape and the Orange Free State – previously autonomous if not independent – became constituents of a larger entity, known officially as the Union of South Africa. There would be a new, whites-only parliament, with a Prime Minister and cabinet working under the (nominal) supervision of a Governor-General sent out from London. Superficially, the Union in South Africa followed the pattern laid down by other British dominions. In 1867 the different provinces of Canada came together and formed a central parliament. In 1900 the Australian colonies did likewise. The South African case, however, differed in one crucial respect from its predecessors. At the time of the Union, the white settlers were very far from being a majority in a land they claimed as their own. "

― Ramachandra Guha , Gandhi Before India

183 " From his home in New Delhi, Atal Behari Vajpayee spoke by satellite to tribals in Kashipur, whose kinsmen had died after eating mango kernel because their crops had failed. ‘It is extremely unfortunate that in today’s world people die by eating poisonous material’, said the head of a government that could speak to its citizens by videophone, yet not supply them with wholesome food. "

― Ramachandra Guha , India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

184 " remarkable achievement’, then went on to say that ‘both Union and democracy are under increasing strain these days, with the future of both in doubt’.66 However, most Indians were by now comfortable with the diversity within. They could see what bound the varied religions, races and regions: "

― Ramachandra Guha , India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

185 " The Fights 1962: US vs Russia in General / China vs Formosa over possession / India vs China over border territory / India vs Pakistan over possession Kashmir – Religious / India vs Portugal over possession Goa / India vs Nagas over Independence / Egypt vs Israel over possession of territory and Religion / E. Germany vs W. Germany sovereignty / Cuba vs USA – Ideas / N. Korea vs So. Korea – Sovereignty / Indonesia vs Holland – Territory / France vs Algeria – Territory / Negroes vs whites – US / Katanga vs Leopoldville / Russian Stalinists vs Russian Kruschevists / Peru APRA vs Peru Military / Argentine Military versus Argentine Bourgeois / Navajo Peyotists vs Navajo Tribal Council – Tribal / W. Irian? / Kurds vs Iraq / Negro vs Whites – So. Africa – Race / US Senegal vs Red Mali – Territory / Ghana vs Togo – Territory / Ruanda Watusi vs Ruanda Bahutu – Tribe power / Kenya Kadu vs Kenya Kana – Tribe power / Somali vs Aethopia, Kenya, French Somali / Tibet Lamas vs Chinese Tibetan secularists / India vs E. Pak – Assam Bengal over Border & Tripura / Algeria vs Morocco over Sahara. "

― Ramachandra Guha , India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

186 " promoting concord in the place of discord, "

― Ramachandra Guha , India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

187 " History is really a record of every interruption of the even working of love or of the soul. "

― Ramachandra Guha , Gandhi Before India

188 " Millions of refugees from East and West Pakistan had to be found homes and gainful employment. An undeclared war was taking place in Kashmir. A new constitution had to be decided upon. Elections had to be scheduled, economic policies framed and executed. "

― Ramachandra Guha , India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

189 " India incorporates a greater variety of religions (whether born in its soil or imported) than any other nation in human history. "

― Ramachandra Guha , The Enemies of the Idea of India

190 " By 1888 the British were so solidly established in India that they could anticipate, if not a thousand-year Raj, at least a rule that extended well beyond their own lifetimes. "

― Ramachandra Guha , India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

191 " தமிழர்கள் எல்லா எதிர்பார்ப்புகளையும் விஞ்சிவிட்டார்கள். அவர்களது தலைவர்கள் எல்லோரும் இப்போது சிறையில் இருக்கிறார்கள்.’ பார்ஸிகளும் பாராட்டுக்குரியவர்களே. எண்ணிக்கையில் குறைந்தவர்களாக இருந்தாலும் இந்திய அரசியல் களத்துக்குப் பெரிய அளவில் பங்களிப்பு செய்திருக்கிறார்கள். தென்னாப்பிரிக்காவிலும்கூட, ‘அரசாங்கத்தின் புத்தியற்ற சட்டத்துக்குக் கட்டுப்படும் ஒரு பார்ஸியைக்கூட நாம் காண முடிவதில்லை.’ ‘இஸ்லாமியர்களும் குஜராத்தி இந்துக்களும் தமிழர்களுக்கும் பார்ஸிகளுக்கும் முன்னாள் தலைகுனிந்து நிற்கவேண்டும்’ என்று காந்தி கருதினார். 47 டிசம்பர் "

― Ramachandra Guha , Gandhi Before India