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  • Inglorious Empire

  • What the British Did to India
  • Written by: Shashi Tharoor
  • Narrated by: Shashi Tharoor
  • Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,169 ratings)

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Inglorious Empire

Written by: Shashi Tharoor
Narrated by: Shashi Tharoor
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Publisher's Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Inglorious Empire written and read by Shashi Tharoor.

In the eighteenth century, India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947, after two centuries of British rule, it had decreased six-fold. The Empire blew rebels from cannon, massacred unarmed protesters, entrenched institutionalised racism, and caused millions to die from starvation.

British imperialism justified itself as enlightened despotism for the benefit of the governed, but Shashi Tharoor takes demolishes this position, demonstrating how every supposed imperial 'gift' - from the railways to the rule of law - was designed in Britain's interests alone. He goes on to show how Britain's Industrial Revolution was founded on India's deindustrialisation, and the destruction of its textile industry.

In this bold and incisive reassessment of colonialism, Tharoor exposes to devastating effect the inglorious reality of Britain's stained Indian legacy.

©2018 Shashi Tharoor (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

Tharoor convincingly demolishes some of the more persistent myths about Britain's supposedly civilising mission in India ... [he] charts the destruction of pre-colonial systems of government by the British and their ubiquitous ledgers and rule books ... The statistics are worth repeating. (Victor Mallet)
Remarkable ... The book is savagely critical of 200 years of the British in India. It makes very uncomfortable reading for Brits (Matt Ridley)
Tharoor's impassioned polemic slices straight to the heart of the darkness that drives all empires. Forceful, persuasive and blunt, he demolishes Raj nostalgia, laying bare the grim, and high, cost of the British Empire for its former subjects. An essential read (Niljana Roy)

What listeners say about Inglorious Empire

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book.

Amazing book, depicting atrocities of colonial rule in India. Book aptly Covers the ill effects caused by colonialism in all the sectors and political and geographical influence. Pros and cons and relevance of Gandhian ideology covered in the last chapter was delicious. Overall great book. Thanks

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Stupendous!

Loved it. Listening to Indian history in the voice of Mr. Tharoor is a fan moment.

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Antique piece of history

Well narrated by socialist Shashi Tharoor. As Mr Tharoor concluded he must have joined CPIM not INC.

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India's Pre independence history

Eloquent and informs the struggle India went through and that it still hunts it wounds so deep that still imped her growth.

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A part of history I never knew.

Amazing narration, and perfect speed, a detailed count of the British exploitation of India, her resources, and their divide & rule policy, explained beautifully by Mr Tharoor. This book must be read by all Indians.

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Excellent book

Beautifully written and narrated, a great learning experience. Very thoroughly researched.
Must read for every Indian.

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Well-researched, written & narrated

Every word of this book was informative and interesting! Kudos to Shashi Tharoor for a wonderful research and extensive bibliography too!

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Thank you for the facts about pseudo Brits rule

Brings our tears and anger, just listening to these facts and knowing how maliciously a great civilization and a commerce was brought down and reduced to dust. Sadly even today the mindset of a common Indian stays damaged as they look to the west for inspiration.
A public apology should have been issued after the release of these facts but knowing these shameless Brits, I am not surprised that none came.

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Must Read for History Lovers

Narration was Impressive. Shashi Tharoor proved his points with facts and figures. The Book is not just about his own ideas but he also mentioned views and opinions of various Historians, Politicians, Scholars by quoting their exact phrases. Book is well Researched and his narration really connects the reader. From time to time I got goosebumps listening to the Events which took place in Colonial India. The only nit picking if I had to mention is the use of the English words which is hard to understand for an Average Reader especially if his/her mother tongue is not English. Other than that, a Must Read Book.

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Perfect book for Children...

and an apt book that should have found its place in schools. This is the history that should be taught to every Indian right when they're in CBSE, ICSE, State board, Matric or any state syllabus. Like the memes in WhatsApp...Read this book if you're a true Indian hehe!!

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