Thread by @sankrant

Marco Polo's observation about India. From Venice, he travelled extensively in the Middle East and China. Of course, take accounts with a grain of salt.

But of India, likely Tanjore, "it is the richest and most splendid province in the world." This from the Court of Kublai Khan.

Also observed by other ancient travellers. That people in India do not drink alcohol. Another traveller (I forget which) said that this is considered "low" because it causes loss of awareness. At the same time sexual pleasure is not "sinful." (Sex as sin comes from Christianity).

This quote that led me to the book—in India dark skin is a sign of beauty. "God and saints are black, devils are all white."

He is using a Christian lens, but this is certainly true as deities go. Vishnu, Rama. Krishna, are all dark. White-preference happens after colonialism.

Of the yogis. 😏

All traveller accounts have to be taken as indicative of their understanding and colored by their own biases and culture. And they may not be accurately preserved either. But it does provide an interesting reading of what outsiders saw before colonialism.

All the ancient accounts, whether from Greeks or China, all the way to BC times are pretty clear about "India" and its territory.

Can you imagine the degree of brainwashing that led the Indian English #SlaveClass to parrot "The British created India." 🤣

The idea that "British created India" was taught in colonial history and academia, starting from the end of the 19th century.

I debunked this in my article about 20 years ago, but I still here "seculars" in India mouth these inanities. 😏

sankrant.org/2003/10/why-in…