Britian Owes A Debt to India Argues Shashi Tharoor In A Brilliant Speech At Oxford [VIDEO]

Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor recently participated in a debate at the Oxford Union arguing why Britain owes reparations to India for the wrongs committed during the 200 years of its colonial rule. His brilliant and lucid arguments that were captured in a video are now going viral on YouTube and other social networking platforms.

Tharoor, a former Under Secretary-General at the United Nations, an author of several books and an excellent English orator, puts forward his arguments with clarity and supported by evidence. He makes interesting talking points without engaging in a drab, long speech.

The main thrust of Tharoor’s speech was about the economic toll that British rule took on India.

He said: “India’s share of the world economy when Britain arrived on it shores was 23 per cent. By the time the British left it was down to below four per cent. Why? Simply because India had been governed for the benefit of Britain. Britain’s rise for 200 years was financed by its depredations in India.”

Tharoor, and the rest of the speakers at the debate, were not arguing about a specific amount that should be handed over in monetary reparations, but instead asking whether there is a debt, and whether Britain does owe reparations or not.

His speech was peppered with humorous pointers to the Britishers’ practices. Like, consider this: At one point, he says, “The Sun couldn’t set on the British empire, because even God couldn’t trust the English in the dark.”

Watch the video of Tharoor’s speech at Oxford below!