Chapter 404: I, the British, are very poor (Third update, please subscribe)
When Downing Street announced that the Vice-President of British India would officially take office, everything in India, thousands of miles away, seemed to be the same. Same as yesterday.
The morning sun rises as usual, the sun, moon and stars remain unchanged.
At least for the princes of India, the sun, moon, stars, and luxurious life have never changed.
Under the rule of the British, there were actually two Indias, one was India composed of provinces with the capital New Delhi as the center, and the other was India composed of 565 princely states. Hereditary princes ruled one-third of India's territory and one-quarter of its population.
These hereditary monarchs may not have much power, but they live a luxurious life that is unimaginable to Europeans.
In the early morning, just like every other day, a servant with his head wrapped in a turban walked towards the sleeping figure with reverence. The floor of the spacious room is covered with tiger, leopard and antelope skins. The barefoot servant walked forward cautiously, holding a silver tray engraved with various patterns in his hand.
In the darkness of the room, on the walls and in the glass cabinets, taxidermy beast eyes and silver display collections shine with dazzling light, showing that the owner of the room is engaged in hunting and leisure class sports. - Polo and cricket - the virtuosity displayed.
The servant placed the tray on the bedside, then leaned over and said slowly:
"Master, your tea is ready."
The sleeper then stretched and sat up. The second servant hurried forward and hurriedly put an embroidered bathrobe on him. His Royal Highness Prince Maharaja Devintra Singh, the eighth prince of Badiara State in India, started a new day of life.
Yedevandra Singh presided over a princely council consisting of five hundred and sixty-five Maharajas, Rajas and Jawabs. Under British rule, they served as hereditary, The supreme monarch ruled over one-third of India.
The Badiala state under the jurisdiction of Yedevandra Singh is located in the center of Punjab Province. It is one of the richest states in India. It has an army of 15,000 men and is equipped with a centurion captain. tanks and artillery.
Although the morning sun has risen, today the Chairman of the Maharaja Sabha sipped tea with a sad haze on his face. The telegram sent from London had confirmed what he had always feared - India was going to be independent.
This is not the point, the point is them - what should the princes do?
While Jedeventra was sipping tea, he cast his eyes on the guy in front of him - Dwyer, a lawyer who came from London. Three years ago, this guy came to India. Like all white people, he soon He integrated into India's upper class society and became friends with many princes.
"My friend, just as you said, that guy Attlee has decided to give up on India."
Yedeventra put down the tea cup and said.
“Our efforts have failed.”
Since last year, in the face of Britain’s possible move to abandon India, a group of princes led by Jedhavantra launched a petition in London. Expressing loyalty to Britain, although it successfully delayed the process of Indian independence, now, at the beginning of the new year, the most unwilling thing to face finally happened.
"Attlee announced the date of India's independence, within this year!"
After taking a sip of tea, Dwyer said after a while.
“Your Highness, this is not the point!”
Taste the alluring aroma of Wuyi black tea - only ordinary people in Britain drink Dajiling tea, and even in India, they only drink it From Wuyi Mountain.
Dwyer admitted that in his interactions with the princes, he had been bitten.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality!
Fortunately, these princes who are used to enjoying themselves need political advisers. Fortunately, they are very rich and can pay high salaries.
"The point is, after India becomes independent, what will you do, Your Highness?"
After asking the question, Dwyer continued. “Judging from the current situation, for London, in order to prevent India from turning into another Balkans, they are more inclined to split British India into Jinnah’s Pakistan and Nehru’s India, and what about the princely states? At most, we can only choose between the two, join India or join Pakistan.”
"It seems like this is our only choice."
Holding the tea cup and looking at Jedeventra thoughtfully, Dwyer asked.
“Then the question is, in India under Nehru’s rule, Your Highness, how long can the power of the princely states be maintained? Will they allow you to continue to rule the princely states like the British did? Your Highness, there is no A government will allow half of its citizens to be ruled by others. Moreover, Nehru has said that what they need is a modern India, not a feudal one. In this case, the so-called commitment can be maintained. How long? "
This question is a bit troublesome. Although princes like Jedhavintra handed over the power of foreign affairs and national defense to the British, they only enjoyed the right to autonomy in internal affairs, but They are not stupid. Nehru will never allow them to rule nearly half of India's land and population forever like the British did.
“But we seem to have no other choice!”
Jedeventra said.
"Last year, at your suggestion, we petitioned the British Parliament to express our loyalty to the British Empire, but the British have no intention of protecting us at all."
Compared to Nehru and Yedeventra were more willing to believe the British. After all, the British had only taken away the diplomacy and national defense of Badi Alabang. He was still the monarch of this land and enjoyed this land. of all wealth.
Thinking of the event in London last year, Jedeventra said with some annoyance.
"Now the British are betraying us and betraying our treaties. We are different from India! During the two wars, we generously donated money and shed blood and sacrificed our lives for the British. But now? They are preparing to take us away Abandon it to India!”
As a Sikh, Yedeventra does not want to be incorporated into India at all. Of course, if he can only choose one of the two, he will definitely choose India.
"Your Highness, now is not the time to be angry. The focus is on how to solve the problem! This is the most important thing!"
Putting the delicate tea cup in his hand gently on the table, Dewei Er glanced at Jedeventra and said in a serious tone.
“Now, Your Highness, you and the rest of the Princely Council must make a decision—whether to continue to exist on the South Asian subcontinent as an independent country, or to accept the rule of India or Pakistan and live in the South Asian subcontinent. In the future, they will take away everything you have - the country, the land and the wealth."
Dwyer's words are very direct and also very heart-breaking. In fact, in the past three years, it has become more and more important. As a political advisor to these princes, he repeatedly instilled a point of view into these princes who had long lost their political sensitivity in the dissolute and decadent life under the protection of the British - whether it was India or Pakistan, they would take away Everything they have.
No normal country would allow a state within a state to exist. The British allowed it because... India is a colony. Their native Scotland and Ireland are examples. Not to mention the kings, even the nobles have changed several times.
It has to be said that Dwyer’s warning is useful, at least it makes these princes who have long lost their basic political consciousness in the luxurious life of sensuality and horse racing realize that independence is their only and most important thing. Best choice.
“But the attitude in London was very clear last year!”
Jedeventra said helplessly.
“How can they support our independence now?”
"Your Highness, the British Empire today is no longer the British Empire yesterday!"
Dwyer said slowly.
"The current...British Empire is very poor!"
(End of this chapter)