Inglorious Empire

What the British Did to India

By: Shashi Tharoor

Narrated by: Shashi Tharoor

In the 18th century, India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947, after two centuries of British rule, it had decreased six-fold. Beyond conquest and deception, the Empire blew rebels from cannons, massacred unarmed protesters, entrenched institutionalized racism, and caused millions to die from starvation.

British imperialism justified itself as enlightened despotism for the benefit of the governed, but Shashi Tharoor takes on and demolishes this position, demonstrating how every supposed imperial "gift" - from the railways to the rule of law - was designed in Britain's interests alone. He goes on to show how Britain's Industrial Revolution was founded on India's deindustrialization and the destruction of its textile industry.

In this bold and incisive reassessment of colonialism, Tharoor exposes to devastating effect the inglorious reality of Britain's stained Indian legacy.

©2016 Shashi Tharoor (P)2018 Tantor

one of the best from Shashi Tharoor!

liked the narration, presentation of facts and a calculated, critical assessment of British Raj in India.

an excellent well-thought-out historical overview

the author of this book is clearly some kind of intellectual heavyweight. reading this book has changed a lot of my preconceived notions about Indian culture and people. I agree with the authors assertions although I did not before reading this book. England does a India symbolic representations including returning crown jewels and religious artifacts.

Startling in its scope, depth and research

Thank you Dr Tharoor, from the bottom of my heart. I spent the first 20 years of my life in India and went to some of the “best” public schools and universities and I has no idea how ignorant I was as regards to this heinous chapter of India’s tragic history instigated and perpetuated by the British “rape” of the sun-continent.
I am simply overcome by your service to revealing the truth and you’ve done so by quoting hundreds of original sources and I challenges anyone to prove you have been “selective”. To those I say, prove it or shut up.
Thank you again! You’ve done Indians and those open minded enough to accept the reality of history, a great service. Please use your influence to inculcate young Indian children with the truth rather than the nonsensical “whitewash” I was fated to receive which led to my ignorance. Thank you!

Healthy antidote to Raj romanticism

This book is a biting indictment of the two centuries of British rule in India. While the author makes the point that not all the ills of modern day India can be laid at the feet of the British, he is very clear on the problems that do owe something to the legacy of colonization, and particularly from the disordered and irresponsible way in which Great Britain shed India after the Second World War.
The arguments are cogent, the evidence appalling. They serve as a useful and powerful antidote to the sort of rose-colored romanticism that comes from works of British fiction around the end of the Raj, like Paul Scott's "Jewel in the Crown" tetralogy. In an era when the legacy of post-colonial troubles is front and center, it would be well to understand what actually went on in the empire on which the sun never set.

No Sugar court

a good narrative and lots of information about ways of the inglorious empire, and there total disregard for basic humanity when it came to the needs of the masses.
He did not sugar court at all

Eye Opening

This is a brilliant book. Loved the audiobook narrated by the actual author - kept my attention from start to finish. Should be required reading for people interested in British and Indian history

concise and informative

Shashi Tharoor knows his Indian history and presents an eloquent and academically rigorous while entertaining and enlightening series of lectures. As a narrator he is excellent.

Should be required listening

When the book first started, I had to double check who the narrator was. The author's voice is as wonderful to listen to as George Guidall and Simon Vance. He explained well India's history. This should be required listening. Five Stars!

💕 this book, heart breaking, revealing, beautiful

Shashi Tharoor exceeds himself in this wonderful telling of Modern India's making. It is a great record and view of history from a dedicated, scrupulous and passionate writer. The heroism of India's leaders at the time is awe inspiring. The thoughtless, the selfish, the awful are all there in view as well. The writer adds emotion to the writing that makes this audiobook a must listen.

very well written and read

The book does an excellent job with facts and numbers from the time to explain pros and cons of colonialism.