Tharoor introduced himself, his book and had a conversation with Anita Anand, a British radio and television presenter. The book was written as a result of the snowballing effect of his Oxford debate which brought the issue back to light.Ī couple days ago I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of his book. His most recent book, Inglorious Empire which was published on March 2nd talks mainly about what the British did to India.

Tharoor has authored 15 bestselling works of fiction and non-fiction since 1981, all of which are centred on India and its history, culture, politics and society. Why? Simply because India had been governed for the benefit of Britain.” He introduced his argument by explaining how, “India’s share of the world economy when Britain arrived on its shores was 23 per cent, by the time the British left it was down to below four per cent. In his eight minute argument, Tharoor explained his reasonings for why Britain does owe reparations to India for it’s 200 year colonial rule, which he said, led to the crumbling of India’s economy. The debate was on whether Britain owed reparations to her former colonies, Tharoor spoke in favour of the issue. Shashi Tharoor, an Indian politician, former diplomat and author, rose to internet fame a couple years ago when a video of him speaking at a debate held at the Oxford Union Society went viral. “So there is a moral debt that needs to be paid.”ĭr. “Many of today’s problems in these countries including the persistence and in some cases the creation of racial and ethnic and religious tensions were the direct result of the colonial experience.

Shashi tharoor book on british rule