HISTORY
A Modern View of Winston Churchill
Complex, imperfect, and deserving of our gratitude
On April 9th this year, Britain celebrated Winston Churchill Day — an annual affair to pay homage to the man who led the allies through the harrowing days of World War II. Having read Mein Kampf in its entirety, Churchill took Adolf Hitler at his word during a time when leaders were in a state of denial. Churchill’s refusal to concede to his many doubters, and forge ahead not only in leading the European response but in building a “Big-three” alliance with the U.S. and Russia, saved the free world.
Still, for some, celebrating Churchill yields complex emotions because along with his brilliance come challenging British aristocratic views. Imperialism and colonialism ran deep, especially in his treatment of India. Critics often cite Churchill’s lack of willingness to sufficiently engage during the Bengal Famine of 1943, where 3 million Indians died. While he did have a global war preoccupying him, it is hard to accept his diminished or non-existent support.
Similarly, Churchill was intolerant of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s spiritual leader who advocated for self-rule rather than remaining under British control. Churchill’s words were excessively harsh, even for the non-woke. Regarding Gandhi’s fasting, Churchill told…
