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Readers on the royal visit to India: 'People are more indifferent now' Readers on the royal visit to India: 'People are more indifferent now'
(about 4 hours later)
‘My grandfather always tried to teach me to see both sides of the coin’‘My grandfather always tried to teach me to see both sides of the coin’
Arushi Pathak grew up in Delhi and her interest in the royal family stems from both an enthusiasm for British history as well as listening to her grandfather Turshan Pal Pathak’s stories when she was young. “It’s fascinating to learn about how events and advancements under the British empire affected the world at large, and how our Indian culture, judicial system, education system and day-to-day mannerisms have been influenced due to our shared past.”Arushi Pathak grew up in Delhi and her interest in the royal family stems from both an enthusiasm for British history as well as listening to her grandfather Turshan Pal Pathak’s stories when she was young. “It’s fascinating to learn about how events and advancements under the British empire affected the world at large, and how our Indian culture, judicial system, education system and day-to-day mannerisms have been influenced due to our shared past.”
Pathak’s grandfather was born when the Indian freedom struggle was in its last phases and, like many people from that generation, he remembered in vivid detail the experiences he had, as well as incidents that occurred during that time. “I lost him over a decade ago, but my interest in reading and world history was encouraged by him. Unlike most people of his generation, who tend to remember the British Raj only for the racism, forced slavery, conflict and violence inflicted towards Indians, he liked to remember it also for the positive industrial and infrastructural development and the administrative and judicial framework that was introduced during that time period. He always tried to teach me to see both sides of the coin, rather than judging an experience or a person either in black or white.”Pathak’s grandfather was born when the Indian freedom struggle was in its last phases and, like many people from that generation, he remembered in vivid detail the experiences he had, as well as incidents that occurred during that time. “I lost him over a decade ago, but my interest in reading and world history was encouraged by him. Unlike most people of his generation, who tend to remember the British Raj only for the racism, forced slavery, conflict and violence inflicted towards Indians, he liked to remember it also for the positive industrial and infrastructural development and the administrative and judicial framework that was introduced during that time period. He always tried to teach me to see both sides of the coin, rather than judging an experience or a person either in black or white.”
‘Older generations of my family are still sceptical of the British monarchy’‘Older generations of my family are still sceptical of the British monarchy’
Anupam Pandey is a student and freelance journalist from Bilaspur. He feels that, while people in south Asia have never forgotten the harsh years under British rule, many still take an interest in the royal family. “Older generations of my family are still sceptical of the British monarchy, finding it hard to forget a time when Indians were not allowed to stand up to the British empire, and when it significantly hindered the development of the country. They believe the British monarchy could have given India independence a lot earlier than it did.”Anupam Pandey is a student and freelance journalist from Bilaspur. He feels that, while people in south Asia have never forgotten the harsh years under British rule, many still take an interest in the royal family. “Older generations of my family are still sceptical of the British monarchy, finding it hard to forget a time when Indians were not allowed to stand up to the British empire, and when it significantly hindered the development of the country. They believe the British monarchy could have given India independence a lot earlier than it did.”
Pandey thinks the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have resurrected a waning interest in the royal family among India’s younger generation. “When the duke and duchess were married in 2011, people were glued to their television screens, watching the live broadcast of the lavish ceremony. People in my home town also hold the British royals in high regard for building very strong and historic infrastructure in our town about 100 years ago.”Pandey thinks the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have resurrected a waning interest in the royal family among India’s younger generation. “When the duke and duchess were married in 2011, people were glued to their television screens, watching the live broadcast of the lavish ceremony. People in my home town also hold the British royals in high regard for building very strong and historic infrastructure in our town about 100 years ago.”
‘Indians are more indifferent to the royals than they have been in the past’‘Indians are more indifferent to the royals than they have been in the past’
Souvik Bonnerjee is a technical consultant from Calcutta. He thinks it is a hard task to summarise the significance of the royal family in the whole of south Asia. “There are nearly 1.8 billion of us here after all. I think for working class people, the UK royal family has little significance. For the middle classes, I would break it into two camps: those who closely identify the royal family with the British Raj, and those who follow the goings-on in the royal family like the soap opera it can sometimes be.” Souvik Bonnerjee is a technology consultant from Calcutta. He thinks it is a hard task to summarise the significance of the royal family in the whole of south Asia. “There are nearly 1.8 billion of us here after all. I think for working class people, the UK royal family has little significance. For the middle classes, I would break it into two camps: those who closely identify the royal family with the British Raj, and those who follow the goings-on in the royal family like the soap opera it can sometimes be.”
Bonnerjee suggests Indians are becoming more insular and that significant change in the Indian media has played an important role in this. “Indian media has been underfunded in the past, when our news outlets relied on content from Associated Press and other western news organisations. Now that original content is being produced, naturally focusing more on India and its neighbouring areas, Indians are more indifferent to the royals than they have been in the past. The wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981, and her death in 1997, received far more coverage than more recent events, like the duke and duchess getting married in 2011.”Bonnerjee suggests Indians are becoming more insular and that significant change in the Indian media has played an important role in this. “Indian media has been underfunded in the past, when our news outlets relied on content from Associated Press and other western news organisations. Now that original content is being produced, naturally focusing more on India and its neighbouring areas, Indians are more indifferent to the royals than they have been in the past. The wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981, and her death in 1997, received far more coverage than more recent events, like the duke and duchess getting married in 2011.”
‘My grandmother prefers the Queen’‘My grandmother prefers the Queen’
Nikita Mujumdar is an English literature student at St Xavier’s college in Mumbai. Her love for the royal family began with the latest wedding, and she writes actively about the royals, while also sending them letters for Christmas and birthdays. “There’s something about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in particular. It was their wedding that introduced me to the royal family, and watching their family grow, I feel quite lucky to have been allowed a glimpse into the lives of these seemingly ordinary people who are in fact part of a thousand-year history.”Nikita Mujumdar is an English literature student at St Xavier’s college in Mumbai. Her love for the royal family began with the latest wedding, and she writes actively about the royals, while also sending them letters for Christmas and birthdays. “There’s something about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in particular. It was their wedding that introduced me to the royal family, and watching their family grow, I feel quite lucky to have been allowed a glimpse into the lives of these seemingly ordinary people who are in fact part of a thousand-year history.”
Mujumdar shares her admiration for the royal family with her grandmother. “She’s one of the few people I know who genuinely takes an interest in their lives, although we have very different ideas about which royal is the best. She prefers the Queen.”Mujumdar shares her admiration for the royal family with her grandmother. “She’s one of the few people I know who genuinely takes an interest in their lives, although we have very different ideas about which royal is the best. She prefers the Queen.”
‘I grew up hearing innumerable times about how the Queen wears OUR Koh-i-Noor’‘I grew up hearing innumerable times about how the Queen wears OUR Koh-i-Noor’
Tushar is a doctor from Chandigarh. While growing up he remembers his grandparents being immensely sceptical of Britain and the royal family. “They were a symbol of all that was wrong with the British being in India. I grew up hearing innumerable times about how the Queen wears OUR Koh-i-Noor [diamond], as if it was a family heirloom.”Tushar is a doctor from Chandigarh. While growing up he remembers his grandparents being immensely sceptical of Britain and the royal family. “They were a symbol of all that was wrong with the British being in India. I grew up hearing innumerable times about how the Queen wears OUR Koh-i-Noor [diamond], as if it was a family heirloom.”
He feels that his generation is more laid back towards the royals. “We care about their spectacular weddings and there is still a lot of love for Diana here. The pomp and splendour surrounding royal weddings makes us believe in fairytales from time to time. On the other hand, the domestic sagas involving both Diana and Fergie are a reminder that fairytales don’t always have a happy ending and we’re not really that different after all.”He feels that his generation is more laid back towards the royals. “We care about their spectacular weddings and there is still a lot of love for Diana here. The pomp and splendour surrounding royal weddings makes us believe in fairytales from time to time. On the other hand, the domestic sagas involving both Diana and Fergie are a reminder that fairytales don’t always have a happy ending and we’re not really that different after all.”
‘I will be glued to the TV and so will the rest of India’‘I will be glued to the TV and so will the rest of India’
The royals are only seen in a positive light in Shivangi Singh’s family. “I’m a self-confessed royal watcher and I know everything about the royal family, both past and present. I haven’t met many people who share my enthusiasm, though everybody has heard of them. I really admire the work that they do, especially the younger royals with their involvement in various charities. The most popular royals are the Queen, Princess Diana and now the duchess. I will be glued to the TV and so will the rest of India.”The royals are only seen in a positive light in Shivangi Singh’s family. “I’m a self-confessed royal watcher and I know everything about the royal family, both past and present. I haven’t met many people who share my enthusiasm, though everybody has heard of them. I really admire the work that they do, especially the younger royals with their involvement in various charities. The most popular royals are the Queen, Princess Diana and now the duchess. I will be glued to the TV and so will the rest of India.”
Currently a student in Hyderabad, Singh is particularly excited about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paying a visit to the city where she was born. “The fact that they are visiting my birthplace, Agra, to see the Taj Mahal feels like it’s a holiday present just for me.”Currently a student in Hyderabad, Singh is particularly excited about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paying a visit to the city where she was born. “The fact that they are visiting my birthplace, Agra, to see the Taj Mahal feels like it’s a holiday present just for me.”
‘I hope their visit can lead to a greater awareness of the specific issues facing India’s poorer citizens’‘I hope their visit can lead to a greater awareness of the specific issues facing India’s poorer citizens’
The last time the royal family visited India, Jayanth watched the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh pay their respects at the Jallianwala Bagh monument in the city of Amritsar in 1997. “There is still a lot of mixed feelings with regards to the aristocratic class, but it’s great to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taking time to visit south Asia. Watching them represent their nation and spend time in activities that they are passionate about, such as the welfare of street children, makes us respect the UK royals [and] their commitment in aiding the developing world.”The last time the royal family visited India, Jayanth watched the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh pay their respects at the Jallianwala Bagh monument in the city of Amritsar in 1997. “There is still a lot of mixed feelings with regards to the aristocratic class, but it’s great to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taking time to visit south Asia. Watching them represent their nation and spend time in activities that they are passionate about, such as the welfare of street children, makes us respect the UK royals [and] their commitment in aiding the developing world.”
While Jayanth is happy the duke and duchess are visiting India and Bhutan, he hopes that more awareness can be raised for the less well-off in his country. “Many Indian people have an admiration for the Queen and her commitment to a better future with India. We see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge carry forth that message to today’s booming middle class and youth populations. But I also hope this visit can lead to greater awareness of specific issues facing India’s poorer citizens.”While Jayanth is happy the duke and duchess are visiting India and Bhutan, he hopes that more awareness can be raised for the less well-off in his country. “Many Indian people have an admiration for the Queen and her commitment to a better future with India. We see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge carry forth that message to today’s booming middle class and youth populations. But I also hope this visit can lead to greater awareness of specific issues facing India’s poorer citizens.”