Dear JC, While that (Labour govt & INC) may be true, the seed was planted by the Japanese "co-prosperity sphere" ideas, mentioned in the programme and also told to me by the barrister Mauricio Gomes (eldest brother of the anthropologist Dr. Alberto Gomes), who lived in Malaya during the Japanese occupation. Mauricio also told me that the Goans in Malaya were held in high regard by the Japanese due to their Portuguese connection. Another documentary relating to Subhas Chandra Bose and other Asian issues a few years ago, again on SBS, made me realise the true issues behind the rush to give India independence was because of the Indians (and Asians) realised that the Brits could be defeated and now that the Indian loyalty could no longer be trusted, as Indian captive troops of the British Indian Army had willingly cooperated and joined with their German and Japanese "conquerers" to fight the Brits during WWII, the Royal Indian Navy mutiny of Feb 1946 was the final straw for the total British withdrawal from India.
"Although Britain had made, at the time of the Cripps' mission in 1942, a commitment [17] to grant dominion status [18] to India after the war; these events and views held in 1946 by the administrations of the Raj would suggest to the reader that, contrary to the usual narrative of India's independence struggle, (which generally focuses on Congress and Mahatma Gandhi), the INA and the revolts, mutinies, and public resentment it germinated were an important factor in the complete withdrawal of the Raj from India." - Wikipedia "Royal Indian Navy mutiny". Regards, Gabriel >________________________________ > From: "J. Colaco < jc>" <[email protected]> >To: Gabriel de Figueiredo <[email protected]>; "Goa's premiere >mailing list, estb. 1994!" <[email protected]> >Sent: Saturday, 11 February 2012 12:02 AM >Subject: Re: [Goanet] Singapore 1942 - End of Empire > > >On 10 February 2012 05:53, Gabriel de Figueiredo wrote: "At that time, my >personal belief was that the Brits gave independence to India not because of >Gandhi or Nehru, but because they could no longer trust the loyalty of the >British Indian Army. The following program (part 1), which I just finished >watching, reinforces that belief. > >http://www.sbs.com.au/documentary/program/868/ > > >COMMENT: > >My dear Gabriel, > >While what is in the documentary (I have not yet seen it) may have some merit, >it might be worth revisiting the political scene in the UK in 1946. > >This is from my reading of several years ago: I believe that the Conservatives >were defeated at the polls and Labour (which, according to its actions, was >far more leftist than New Labour) was swept into power. > >Labour reportedly had a close relationship with the INC. > >jc > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
