Advertisment

Why do we still love the Queen?

author-image
Shivaji Dasgupta
Updated On
New Update
Queen Elizabeth II

Logically, the reigning monarch of our tyrannical oppressors should be on the blacklist of every truthful Indian. But yet, on this platinum jubilee weekend of her tenure, many are itching to join the tea party, manicured sandwiches at al. 

Advertisment

Quite like Geoffrey Boycott on a seaming first day Leeds surface, the English turned out to be masterful leavers, of the cricket ball and colonies as well. Once the succession was sealed, usually to a bunch of charismatic double agents, the dodgy past was magically whitewashed, as if petty fiction. The dominant demographics were suitably divided, India a prime use case, and fresh foes were concocted with ferocious imagination. As a lovable outcome, the Commonwealth was forged, stolen wealth over centuries earnestly assuming the noble virtue of sharing. 

So much so, that the duly departed enjoyed their stature much after independence - significant social clubs were permitted to be Whites Only till the early 1960's. Many corporate entities retained their now-expatriate management pool and the benchmark for all matters progressive, continued to remain the Old Blighty, even as domestic institutions emerged steadily. But then, falsehood be flattened, this is the uncanny reality of British Governance, however much we may wish to deny it today. The India we thrive in, was honestly built on the sincere fundamentals of the conquerors, and it does not matter what Akshay Kumar has to say. 

It is true for the sciences as doctors, engineers, inventors and the sundry blessed emerged directly from the expert training of the Islands, able native acumen amplified by state of art erudition. Most remarkably, it is valid for our very own arts and culture, and do let me illustrate for clarification. Ravi Shankar, Uday Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Ali Akbar and indeed, the noble Tagore, were sincere citizens of British India, honing their craft under colonial patronage. The entire judicial system with legendary luminaries and clerical outpourings were once again clones of London, an undeniable replication occuring in the most glorious instance of the armed forces. Superstars including Arjan Singh, Cariappa, Maneckshaw, Subroto Mukherjee, Wellingkar jand many more were derivatives of Sandhurst and its select peers, thus ensuring a persuasive continuity of the seemingly superannuated. 

Advertisment

Now, not for a moment, should it be denied that the Englishman was indeed a sincere conqueror and not a friendly tourist, with dark destinations at the very soul. But then, the strategy for annihilation was indeed thoughtful integration, using education as the tool for assimilating the privileged upstream, while the dissenting masses could be willingly tortured. Unlike the demonic Nazis, the frightening Belgians, the shaky Dutch, the trigger happy Spaniards, the obsolete Portugese and the sadistic Japanese - who believed in the devastating extermination of every available local, unless a pleasing Quisling. 

As integral to the smartness agenda, the British have happily repositioned the Queen, from being a symbol of dacoity imperialism to, ahem, being the chief attraction of London Disneyworld, with Buckingham Palace surely a more accomplished Cinderella's Castle. Which is exactly why this rather decadent milestone, better defined as tombstone, is becoming the darling of global media, in dire want of happiness in a Putin universe. The past colonies are also celebrating, as this fabled institution was always the good cop in every domineering assault of the imperialists, a faux Vatican of sorts in professed credibility. 

The Queen, or the monarch, is indeed a triumph of astute marketing, an American ability mastered by, who else, but the past master. Queen Elizabeth II's 70th year on the ever diminishing throne is clearly a puny matter in a confused universe, but undeniably a very special dish of Fish and Chips, battered by beer. For it is a thread, however shallow or fiery, to a passage of time which defined the course of history, as we live it.

Advertisment
Subscribe