[voletti]

Must say, there seems to be something about the Brits. They left their colonies in decent enough shape to become successful democracies following the rule of law. Contrast that with ex-spanish, Dutch or worse, French colonies.....and you'll know what I'm talking about.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

This was one of the worst debacles in British history. Read "Freedom at Midnight" for a well-documented history of this tragedy.

[marmar]

Happy Birthday.........to a nation who is smart enough to understand the USA........thanx........

[minus_273]

dotn forget the contribution of Hitler and the rest of germany. Had there been no world wars India would likely have been like Autralia or Canada (not to say thats bad).
And who forget the Indian Natioanl army which allied with Hitler and Japan against the US and her allies.

now as for the colonies, France tried to reclaim indo china after losing it to Japan.. damn frogs.

[mikeIII]

Listening to the recent talk by the India PM to Congress, I am convinced India has come of age, and is well on its way to be a power to take note of. The next few years of alliance with India should interesting.

[Blzbba]

Happy Birthday, India!!! Here's some American jobs!

Yours,

George W. Bush

[Guenevere]

bttt

[DM1]

An Indian woman who works for said that she wishes the British would come back.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Happy Birthday, India. (She turns 58 today)

She doesn't look a day over 50. ;-)

[Gengis Khan]

Before Britain came along, people in India were divided by ridiculous numbers of languages,

 

We still have as many as 814 languages and dialects. After Britain what?

 

, had no experience of democracy

Yeah. While the Brits were there we had none at all.

 

and thought it was OK to light the old wife on fire if her husband happened to kick the bucket

 

Sorry to break it to you but the Brits did nothing to stop it. They perpetuated it until the social reformers from within the Hindu fold pressurised the British gov to put an end to it.

 

We gave you English, railways, experience with Democracy..

 

English.....yes.

Railways.......yes. (In anycase we had to rebuild it when we switched over to meter guage).

Democracy........nope!

 

You would not be where you are without us. You would not be who you are without us.

 

Oh we will erect a monument  in your name.

 

Sheesh!

 

Remember that before you spout off arrogant bullshit. Because you wouldn't be able to understand what the hell is being said on here without Britain having been in India.

 

Wont have mattered much. I dont think Indians willingly embraced slavery for your exalted "English".

 

that is effing rich coming from a country that sided with the Soviet Union during the Cold War

 

Dont forget YOUR country embraced Pakistan before we "sided with the Soviet Union".

 

and is harbouring more Muslims than Pakistan

 

Muslims ....yes. (The world's second largest Muslim country).

Dhimmis ......none.

 

I'll take that kind of comment seriously when you apologise to the world for Indira Gandhi.

 

Indira Gandhi did some pretty horrible things but ........remember Bangladesh? She was dead right on that one.

 

And I'll take your kind of comments seriously when you apologise to the world for the crimes of the Raj.

[Peter vE]

I hope this is the right thread to add "Happy Birthday" wishes to Pakistan as well.

I would hope that the recent moves at reconciliation between the two neightbors lead to a real peace down the road.

[AzSteven]

I was going to make a birthday cake, and then I remembered just how many folks there are in India - I didn't want to start any arguments over who got a bigger piece and all that, so I dropped the idea...

[familyop]

The phrase, "gunboat diplomacy" originated with the actions of the British in one of their colonies. British gunboats cruised up and down a river, blasting villages as a punitive measure.

Ghandi raised an impressive amount of support in India by peaceful means, and Britain was facing the impending support aroused there. India has come far since her independence but not before.

My ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War would also have disagreed with your comments.

France didn't do any worse than Britain with her many Muslim colonies. In fact, in at least one British colony in a Muslim territory, the Arabs beheaded a who city of British men, women and children. Their heads were piked all around the city.

Western Europe is western Europe--not one of those countries much better than another.

[familyop]

Happy Birthday to India, though! It's quickly becoming a great country without the help of any "empire!"

[isom35]

happy birthday India, now can someone there please reset my netscape email password?

[Srirangan]

Photo Essay: Independence Day Celebrations Prime Minister's Independence Day Speech