On Saturday 14 Jul 2012 11:35:38 am John Sundman wrote: > So I wonder: What do Silklisters (especially Indians or members of the > Indian diaspora) make of the Just So Stories? > > Do you find them innocent & lyrical & funny & potent as I do, or do you > find them obnoxious and all of the same cloth as his other "white man's > burden" imperialist writings?
I never found Kipling offensive. By definition, an Indian who learned English the way it was taught by Britons would not find any English literature offensive. More often the literature helped develop Indian attitudes to become clones of British attitudes, so what was funny or seriously engaging in English literature was enjoyed for what it was - for the humor or entertainment it presented rather than any racial undetones. The racial undertones can only be recognized with some insight and analysis of conflicting attitudes held by Indians about the "west" in general and about India and other Indians. shiv
