London had an underground railway in 1863. The first electric underground railway was built in 1891.
Under-freaking-ground. In 1891.
Gandhi (later Nehru and all freedom-fighting stalwarts) studied in London during that era.
Surely they would have seen this underground railway but it’s surprising none of them said we should have a culture that builds this kind of thing in India when it’s free.
Like how do you see an underground freaking railway in 18 freaking 91 and not get mesmerized by grand miracles of industrialization ?
The one thing driving London during that era was industrialization. And yet they didn’t connect the two ? Japanese got that. You didn’t ?
Like what was the grand plan ? Let’s free this country and turn it into a massive village ?
That the country should have crooked, unplanned roads in cities 100 years after independence ? That the might of train engines should never be produced, and that no modern train engine, car engine or any modern industrial design should come out of the country ever ?
To import every single thing from a neighbor that got to industrialization on its own despite not having any London-educated founding members ?
Honestly what even was their vision for the country ?
The masses are uneducated I get that. But the leaders didn’t have eyes ? They were right there in London! What was the option - to not be industrialized ? Rural economy forever ? Shitty cities ?
Questions are rhetorical.
In 2003, after a thorough study of the Mahabharata, Giampaolo Thomasetti began work on a large-scale project dedicated to it. After 12 years, he completed his collection of over 20 majestic paintings depicting the main moments of this great spiritual epic. 👇
- The Tricolour replaced the Union Jack
- Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram replaced God Save the King
- Ashoka Stambha in place of the Royal Coat of Arms
- The navy now has the Ashoka Chakra & Shivaji's seal in place of St George's cross
- Rajpath and Raj Bhavan have become Kartavya Path and Lok Bhavan, and the PMO is now Seva Teerth.
- Parliament now has the Chola Sengol
- How much longer for the judiciary to proudly flaunt a more appropriate dress code?
- Symbolism is important to change mindsets and cherish Indianness
- But also, at a more fundamental level, it must be horribly uncomfortable in those heavy robes and wigs!