Every Woman Can Be Queen
A debate on the controversial Kohinoor between my daughter and I sparked interest in the late Queen’s life and touched upon the rich history of the two nations — India and England.
In the first two weeks of September, just like millions of others, my daughter and I also spent hours online and offline, watching and reading about Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral arrangements.
As we sat together, out of the blue, my daughter asked, “Dad, now that the Queen is no more, shouldn’t we get the Kohinoor back?”
I was surprised that she was up to date with the subject of the controversial Kohinoor.
She then explained that they had disused the topic in school, and it was also trending on social media.
So, the debate began between father and daughter, one that shed light on the history of both the nations — India and England — and our interpretations of it.
“The Kohinoor is not all that the monarchy took from us. In terms of today’s wealth, the British appropriated almost 45 trillion pounds from India,” I continued.
Sahana was baffled by the figure and didn’t even know how many zeroes went into it till I wrote it down for her.
“Why then are we always taught how India flourished under the British Empire, when, in fact, we were looted!?” said my daughter with anger and surprise in her voice.
“It’s probably the educational system, especially the English medium schools that constantly sing praises of the British rule… The historians of yesteryears glorified their role in our culture,” I said.
India, though, was already an accomplished nation, both scientifically and culturally more than 1000 years ago,” I continued.
“We had the best schools, colleges, literature, art, music, and dance institutes.”
“Are you serious, Daddy?” asked Sahana.
“There is a lot of history that we are not aware of… Because the word history itself comes from “his” and “story”, it’s someone’s version of the story, and that story keeps changing depending on who’s in power at the time,” I explained.
“So what happened when the British entered India, what role did the Queen play then?” asked Sahana.
“We were one of the most flourishing countries in the world, and our trade routes were spread out across the world… Why do you think the British came here — because they loved India, or for our curry?”
My daughter smiled, knowing it was neither.
They were here for themselves, and to take everything India had to offer… To essentially make their coffers richer!
Sahana — “And how did they do that?”
Me — “First, they tampered with our spirituality and education systems. We were rich in both material and spiritual wealth. But when the British left, they ensured we became the poorest and most uneducated nations.”
“They systemically distorted our education systems, and by keeping us uneducated, the British knew they could control us… We would have no choice but to serve Her Majesty.”
“In school curricula, they played up British culture. That’s why most of us grew up not caring about our nation, and thinking our systems were ancient, not “modern”.”
“Only when you grow up, you value your country and its rich heritage.”
Baffled Sahana retorted — “But they gave us the railroads, one of the best in the world!”
To which I patiently answered — “Dear, the railroads were not for us. They were for them to transport goods first through the country to serve them, and then to take the goods out of India. Indians were not even allowed on the trains, and if they were, they had to sit in the third class compartments.”
Sahana — “Ok Dad, if the British Empire was so bad, why then does the world respect the Queen so much?”
Me — “What the Queen did may have been relevant during her times. It doesn’t make it right or wrong…she was merely doing her duty. In fact, the one thing I admired about her was that she was working till her last breath. She welcomed the new prime minister into office two days before she passed. She performed her dharma till her last breath. Her dharma was her karma, and she played it out until the end.”
“Moreover, despite the controversy surrounding her husband or children or even the death of Princess Diana, she always conducted herself gracefully, and that’s what made her a true Queen.”
Sahana — “But Dad is the monarchy relevant today?”
Me — “Times have changed, and we are all entering a new era. Every country will see its own evolution due to changing models of leadership, just like ours has. The current Prime Minister of India may have changed names of monuments and roads, but that’s because the British have left and those names are no longer relevant.”
“But so many still have a British hangover; they feel the British are ruling us, and that they are the superior race.”
Sahana — “Why is that so?”
Me — “There is not enough awareness about India’s many accomplishments and rich traditions. Today, India has overtaken Britain, and ranks as the fifth-largest economy in the world. Rishi Sunak, of Indian origin, is the current Prime Minister… the tables have indeed turned! It’s a proud moment for us all.”
Coming back to the topic of the Kohinoor, she asked me again, “So, do you think we should get the magnificent diamond back?
Me — “When I was in the UK the last time, I went for an event to the British Museum which houses all the items acquired from various countries during the colonial rule. These included artifacts from India. Due to my spiritual practices, I could sense a lot of pain in the place. It brought my energy down and I felt very uneasy there.”
“So, yes, perhaps giving what belongs to other countries back to them may be one way the British redeem themselves for all the atrocities carried out during the colonial era. We in turn will get closure on the topic.”
“I used to often go to the UK and love London, and say look at India, why can’t we become like them? Little did I know, so much of the wealth there is from India… They owe us a lot!”
“But there is no need to hold any resentment against them. We must forgive but not forget. Forgiveness has immense power.”
And so I concluded, “For now, Sahana, let’s forget about what each country owes the other. Let’s simply celebrate the life of a powerful woman, who triumphed against all odds and served her country till the very end.”
“It was indeed a glorious reign led by a strong and determined Queen, just like several queens in our country, the most popular being Jhansi ki Rani, who became known for her resilience in the fight against the British.”
“Closer home our mothers, wives, grandmothers, sisters and daughters are queens in their own right who have sacrificed so much to keep families and countries together.”
“As you grow and study more, you will decide for yourself what should and should not be done… Till then simply immerse yourself in these joyful years, and keep your mind curious and alive with questions and ideas… This way you will always be the queen of your life, with the crown or without!”
Sahana smiled. She may not have got clear answers from me, and will soon search her own… But the conversation definitely boosted her confidence to pursue her heart’s desires and achieve the impossible!
Every home is rife with debates of all kinds, and these need not always lead to arguments… They could, in fact, lead to the development of young questioning minds who go out and seek answers for themselves.
What do you and your child/children discuss often? What topics make it to the dinner table? SoulDads would love to know more about your interactions with your children on topical issues and how you conduct them.
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