a couple of R4 programmes on Pakistan

[ecuworrier]

because of our historic and ongoing connections with Pakistan we cannot entirely pretend it's a far away place and it doesn't matter aand Radio 4 last Monday presented a coupla programmes to enlighten?

R4 Monday evening:
following a really dejpressing presentation by Owen Bennett-Jones on the question that bothers many as to how it could be that Osama Bin Laden could remain in his 'hiding place' for so long....   he found a particularly bleak appraisal and i was feeling i have to say a bit depressed after hearing that one.... and then

Andrew Marr on start the week brought in a variety of guests with knowldege and expertise/opinion on Pakistan and Bangladesh
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01132kh

i found that a  rich but pretty bleak programme for other reasons but it was really interesting

did anyone else hear it?  does one ever learn anything from these things other than to bury head in sand and say thank god i'm innglish


GOD BLESS!

Peace and Love,

[AndyHB]

I think that this is part of the reason why I am so in favour of things such trade justice and a wider world view than many here have.  Having lived and worked in the sub-continent for 10 years, I have seen some of the complexities and contradictions first hand - and never say

thank god i'm innglish

(unless in the company of Welsh speakers!! )  What did we 'give' them?  A pretty efficient railway system; Partition, the massacre of millions and on-going inter-communal strife ; democracy(?); a degree of social mobility - something that doesn't exist in Hindu thinking; a knackered economy.  So, a mix of benefit and problem.

Not only are we becoming an increasingly interwoven global community, places such as Pakistan and India are inextricably tied to Britain in one way or another.  Over the centuries, Britain has taken from the sub-continent to enrich ourselves, often to the detriment to it's economy and community relations.

I suspect that you would be extremely uncomfortable if you were to hear some of the stories of the Raj and British East India Company that I have.  Simply ignoring our role in the state of the world today - be that in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian sub-continent

[AndyHB]

Two books folk might find interesting - both by Peter Hopkirk.

The Great Game (my copy is the 1991 edition)

Quest for Kim (my copy is the 1997 edition)

Hopkirk has written a number of other books on similar topics (such as "On Secret Service East of Constantinople: The Plot to Bring Down the British Empire", and "Trespassers on the Roof of the World: The Race for Lhasa")

[ecuworrier]

I think that this is part of the reason why I am so in favour of things such trade justice and a wider world view than many here have.  Having lived and worked in the sub-continent for 10 years, I have seen some of the complexities and contradictions first hand - and never say

thank god i'm innglish

(unless in the company of Welsh speakers!! )  What did we 'give' them?  A pretty efficient railway system; Partition, the massacre of millions and on-going inter-communal strife ; democracy(?); a degree of social mobility - something that doesn't exist in Hindu thinking; a knackered economy.  So, a mix of benefit and problem.  mm the welsh i'm sure are grateful to you!

Not only are we becoming an increasingly interwoven global community, places such as Pakistan and India are inextricably tied to Britain in one way or another.  Over the centuries, Britain has taken from the sub-continent to enrich ourselves, often to the detriment to it's economy and community relations.

I suspect that you would be extremely uncomfortable if you were to hear some of the stories of the Raj and British East India Company that I have.  Simply ignoring our role in the state of the world today - be that in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian sub-continent

reading you comments it's pretty amazing that the programmes focused on issues that are important that barely touch on any of this

but i am interested regarding your analysis what yu feel britain might do in the immediate era... (feel free to include the breakthrough in hindu partition of Wales if you think that will help)

it did occur to me that there are many immigrants here and many now british nationals i was i guess thinking more about this as a political feature of the modern era for how we handle ourselves as well as what are our obligations tlimits and opportunities for the future....