special article.

Democracys death wishBlame Class, Not Mass!rajinder puriWinston Churchill was reluctant to surrender the British Empire. He had little love for Indias political leaders. Arguing against giving India independence he reportedly said: Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles. A day would come when even air and water... would be taxed in India .This statement by him has been widely quoted and vilified. But a careful reading of it suggests that Churchill was not blaming the mass of Indian people as much as the class that ruled them. His reference to the plight of the public that might be taxed even for air and water indicates that. Churchill acquired his view of the Indian elite through Britains interaction with Indias political leaders during the freedom struggle.All societies have masses and classes that rule them. What criterion creates the ruling class might differ from one …