The Making of India: The Untold Story of British Enterprise

When I was a young lad my sister received a letter through the post. “You must copy this letter and send it to 100 people by midnight tonight or you will have bad luck.” She was terrified and it was only the intervention of our mum who promised to deal with it (no doubt utilising a bin) that settled her. This caused me to reflect on those people who seek to influence and control the narrative - the most extreme examples of which we are living through today with little control over social media and internet portals and false news. In truth I knew very little about India; all I had heard were bad things about how the “English” behaved. Of course some of these things are true and we can only hold our hands up and admit to being less than perfect. It is Niall Ferguson’s question (from his wonderful book Empire) that needs answering however and this is: whether despite its flaws, was the presence and influence of the British as an overall checks and balances analysis (of course his words are more eloquent than mine!) of more benefit to India (and other countries) than if the British had not established the EIC all those years ago. This is where the author comes in to his own with a painstaking and really-really detailed exposition of the British actions and influences over a great many years. For sure it’s a fabulous read although one needs to persevere as it is very detailed.I was amazed not only by the scale of the work undertaken - this is India after all - but more so by the response. The vast array of leading edge machines, bridges, equipment etc etc that were crated up from factories up and down England and Scotland and then shipped to India. The response was not only detailed but also fear reaching and at all times it was pitched so that local producers could be set up and taught to produce what had previously been imported. More than this the services, the legal system, the language the railways, the shipbuilding, the clean water, the navigation and the amazing architecture that was also undertaken. This is before we even consider the excellence of the Indian Civil Service and the high casualties (half according to Ferguson) among those coming from England due to previously unencountered illnesses. The British went even further in the banning of horrendous practises such as the widow being expected to throw herself on funeral pyres and others - an impactful thought-provoking read as to what life was like before the British.Ultimately then I received from the book what I was hoping for - a detailed and balanced view. I feel much happier to discuss and comment on those, who still comprise the majority, who have accepted the tired old narrative of English barbarity when the truth (also of course including so many Scots) is very different and less one-sided. For sure lies are easy to peddle in empty minds and of course internet commentators rely on this to spread distrust and hatred and their own particular brand of - this letter must leave you by midnight. Read this and form your own views - it will not disappoint. I would even dare to venture that the history is one of which the English and Scottish can be very very proud.

Rigorous - to a fault. But, pulling back from the detail, the book provides an important perspective on how the economic drivers of the British presence in India played out on the ground. Not the exploititive imperial greed which characterised the approaches of many European powers to many of their colonies. But rather as a large new market for exploiting the technological developments which were coming out of Europe, and UK in particular. Beneficial to the UK, for sure - but also to India.It highlights the missed opportunity for organising a transition to Independence which could have launched India more quickly onto the path to economic giant - instead of the lost half century or so from which it is only now emerging.

Refreshing and interesting to read a book about India that tries to explain and comment on the history of British interests there. Written with great understanding of what Britain did and did not do to India and her population. There is no doubt that India has tried to rewrite it's recent history and sees itself has the poor underdog and denying the good influences the British had on the Indian sub continent. It has long been overdue that a book written by an Indian sets the record straight by pointing out the good as well as the bad. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the India of today and yesterday.

Having travelling extensively in India I continue to be astounded by the dislike so many Indians now have of the period of British rule. It is easy to start to believe this view put forward by so many Indians, particularly the young, who feel that the British did no more than rob and pillage India before abandoning it divided. It is unfortunate that much of the Indian media and political parties are happy to support and progress this view. Lalvani does a great service by providing a different and more balanced view of that period. The examples he uses to portray Britain's contributions to India are supported by facts and most of his examples continue to exist today. Given this, it is somewhat difficult to give credence to the current Indian held view that the British influence on India was so negative. It is no doubt true that the British Empire prospered very much from India, Lalvani however demonstrates here just how much was equally returned in investment in, for example, the railways, water systems, cities, industry and the legal and civil service systems. This book paints an astounding picture of how this was achieved. Unfortunately the book is likely to be read by many outside India who have a different and more positive view to that portrayed in India itself. India will find this book a difficult read, particularly the section on the wasted years and corruption following independence. It flies in the face of current anti-British thinking there and provides a much more balanced and informed view. But, as Professor Ram Jethmalani says in the introduction 'Many Indian patriots may not like to hear or read that an Indian, though today domiciled in the UK, should publicly confess that Indians should be grateful for some of the valuable, almost colossal, benefits that British rule bestowed on India' as Lalvani clearly does here. The Making of India then probably provides re-enforcement for those people who already share Lalvani's view but won't be read by those who already have a different, unsubstantiated opposing view. Which is more the pity.

Item well described; Excellent packing and fast shipping, recommended dealer!

Well written and thoroughly researched this book provides excellent insight into how the industry and ingenuity of the British Empire improved life in India and benefited the millions who live there. Plus, it is written by a native of India who knows first hand the benefits of the British influence on life there.

Excellent history, conveniently excluded from Indian history school books after 1947. Tells how many adventurous and intelligent Britishers singlehandedly built up modern industrial India. And they got along very well with the local Indians they worked with with mutual respect. History which every Indian should know to counter the Communist/ Leftist-Congress-Hindutva-Islamic fundamentalist lies about the British Empire, lies which have become "official history" today. Mr. Lalvani has done an excellent work in compiling all this information.

Excellent! An encyclopaedic and thoroughly referenced factual narrative of a balanced and dispassionate reflection on the Raj. Detailed, insightful, and instructive.

Good book that will make you think different in a better way. A must read if you want to know the making of India till 1947 and think about its decline after that.