Intelligence Squared

India at 75: Can Britain and India be friends?

Oct 23, 2022
Shashi Tharoor, an influential Indian politician and writer, joins Joe Johnson, a former British minister, to discuss the evolving friendship between Britain and India 75 years after independence. They dive into the lingering effects of colonialism, exploring how historical events like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre shape present-day relations. The duo also tackles contemporary challenges, including India's foreign policy amid the Ukraine conflict and the troubling rise of communal politics in the UK, raising vital questions about multiculturalism and collective memory.
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ANECDOTE

Nehru's Forgiveness

  • Winston Churchill asked Nehru how he could be friendly after British colonialism.
  • Nehru replied he was taught by Gandhi to never fear or hate.
INSIGHT

Potential for Friendship

  • India and Britain can be better friends.
  • Their friendship could be based on values, interests, and interdependence, but they fall short.
INSIGHT

Underperforming Relationship

  • The UK-India relationship has potential but underperforms economically.
  • The UK has slipped in trade importance for India, partly due to India's economic opening.
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