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Many "right wing" Indians have a sentimental attachment for certain countries - Russia, Japan, Germany
Despite the fact that we share so much more with the Anglosphere
There are several reasons for this
(Contd..)
Despite the fact that we share so much more with the Anglosphere
There are several reasons for this
(Contd..)
Firstly there is this real-politik - "enemy's enemy is my friend" mindset
So Britain was this big "enemy" for "nationalist" Indians in early 20th century. So this dislike extended to US - Britain's greatest ally
Countries like Germany, Japan had this romantic allure
So Britain was this big "enemy" for "nationalist" Indians in early 20th century. So this dislike extended to US - Britain's greatest ally
Countries like Germany, Japan had this romantic allure
First of all they were against Britain
Second, they had succeeded in becoming major powers without much recourse to the English language
Third, they were examples of "culturally rooted" countries - which had sort of done well, without "aping" British culture
Second, they had succeeded in becoming major powers without much recourse to the English language
Third, they were examples of "culturally rooted" countries - which had sort of done well, without "aping" British culture
So we have this paradox
Where many "nationalist" Indians speak excellently in the Queen's language, read British novelists, watch cricket, among other things, and yet profess a great admiration for relatively alien cultures like Germany, Russia, even Japan
Where many "nationalist" Indians speak excellently in the Queen's language, read British novelists, watch cricket, among other things, and yet profess a great admiration for relatively alien cultures like Germany, Russia, even Japan
And finally there is this "Ghar ki murgi, Dal barabar" tendency
The Brits were of course very evil, because we know them too well
The Germans, the Russians, were somehow finer people, in part because of their remoteness
The Brits were of course very evil, because we know them too well
The Germans, the Russians, were somehow finer people, in part because of their remoteness
Notwithstanding the great evils inflicted on the human race
in early-mid 20th century by regimes in Germany, Russia, Japan
Somehow all that seemed not as terrible as the English speakers made it seem
Surely Hitler or Stalin can't be that much worse than that evil man Churchill!
in early-mid 20th century by regimes in Germany, Russia, Japan
Somehow all that seemed not as terrible as the English speakers made it seem
Surely Hitler or Stalin can't be that much worse than that evil man Churchill!
This tendency continues to this day. And I dont think it will go away all that easily
The Anglosphere remains culturally proximate, yet a source of much angst for most Indians, both liberal and conservative
Particularly Indians on the Right.
The Anglosphere remains culturally proximate, yet a source of much angst for most Indians, both liberal and conservative
Particularly Indians on the Right.
A rare exception to this is someone like Rajaji - a major conservative voice, who was unequivocally pro-Anglosphere
Maybe also men like Nirad Chaudhari, Jadunath Sarkar
But these exceptions on the Right are few and far in between
Maybe also men like Nirad Chaudhari, Jadunath Sarkar
But these exceptions on the Right are few and far in between
