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India, Old and New
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152 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2005
About the author
Valentine Chirol
64 books1 followerSir Ignatius Valentine Chirol was a British journalist, prolific author, historian and diplomat.
He was a passionate imperialist and believed that Imperial Germany and Muslim unrest were the biggest threats to the British Empire.
Chirol was educated bilingual in France and worked for the UK foreign office from 1872-1876.
In 1880 he travelled to Istanbul and later throughout the Balkans. From the travels came his first book, Twixt Greek and Turk.
He was a passionate imperialist and believed that Imperial Germany and Muslim unrest were the biggest threats to the British Empire.
Chirol was educated bilingual in France and worked for the UK foreign office from 1872-1876.
In 1880 he travelled to Istanbul and later throughout the Balkans. From the travels came his first book, Twixt Greek and Turk.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
May 25, 2012
Completed in 1921, 'India Old and New' is a political and historical overview written by 'passionate imperialist' (Wikipedia) Sir Ignatius Valentine Chirol. While my primary interest is in pre-Mutiny history (to 1857), it was Chirol's 'witness and participant' account of the issues and events in the run up to Independence that kept me reading.
Chirol was an international traveler, reporter and diplomatic advisor. He was knighted for his contribution to international diplomacy. Chirol's attitudes and thought patterns are of his times and interesting artifacts in themselves but the reader should resist considering Chirol's opinions as 'quaint.' This was a man of wide experience, a polyglot who was at home in multiple, often conflicting cultures from childhood on. Any writer attempting to present the nearly overwhelming riches of Indian history must, by definition, chose specific examples and exclude the majority. Yet Chirol made his choices with a sensitivity that anticipates later, more Indian-focused historiography.
Of particular note is Chirol's efforts at fairness in recounting the tumult and conflicts of India's pre-Independence politics. For example Chirol analyzes Gandhi's methods and his goals, with the freshness and clear-eyed perspective of current affairs, before the gloss of legend applied by successive generations.
'India Old and New' is a valuable addition to the collection of readers pursuing a broad knowledge of Indian political history, particularly as a contemporary account of pre-Independence.
Chirol was an international traveler, reporter and diplomatic advisor. He was knighted for his contribution to international diplomacy. Chirol's attitudes and thought patterns are of his times and interesting artifacts in themselves but the reader should resist considering Chirol's opinions as 'quaint.' This was a man of wide experience, a polyglot who was at home in multiple, often conflicting cultures from childhood on. Any writer attempting to present the nearly overwhelming riches of Indian history must, by definition, chose specific examples and exclude the majority. Yet Chirol made his choices with a sensitivity that anticipates later, more Indian-focused historiography.
Of particular note is Chirol's efforts at fairness in recounting the tumult and conflicts of India's pre-Independence politics. For example Chirol analyzes Gandhi's methods and his goals, with the freshness and clear-eyed perspective of current affairs, before the gloss of legend applied by successive generations.
'India Old and New' is a valuable addition to the collection of readers pursuing a broad knowledge of Indian political history, particularly as a contemporary account of pre-Independence.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review