Dear Paul
The phrase referred to an "age" and was not meant to suggest that everyone
in that age, without exception, was an imperialist. Ages cannot speak for
individuals but for political climates. It is possible that in my fondness
for Kipling I make more concessions than I ought, but I sincerely don't see
him as an imperialist.
Incidentally, Imperialism covers a longer period than one imagines - and
certainly Germany, Italy and Japan came to Empire building much later than
Spain, Britain and France. But even if you were to consider the great
ceremonial landing of George V at Bombay's Gateway of India, or the Grand
Delhi Durbar, they were conducted with a deliberate show of Imperial pomp
and circumstance.
I even remember as a boy the splendour of the Silver Jubilee celebrations in
Bombay-and was that not 1935?
Even George VI was crowned King and Emperor.
But the important thing is that I am ready to defend Kipling from the charge
of imperialist in its pejorative sense, and will continue to do so. I cannot
ever forget how moving and sensitive is his poem: "Cities and Thrones and
Powers".
Best wishes, Sharad
>From: Paul Hutchinson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Paul Hutchinson <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: an age of imperialists?
>Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 08:44:37 +0000
>
>Jane and Sharad Keskar query why "in an age of
>imperialists, Kipling should be singled out and
>castigated for being a man of his time". This gives
>the impression that Kipling was pretty much mainstream
>in his imperialism.
>
>May I ask whether this is the weight of expert opinion?
>Was his age one of imperialists?
>
>My impression, certainly superficial rather than expert,
>is that in Britain in the years 1880-1914, there was a
>very wide range of opinions about the Empire, and that
>those who were as imperialist as Kipling were quite a
>small minority. (My impression also is that Kipling's
>position was a conscious, deliberate, one --- not
>something adopted unintelligently.)
>
>Paul Hutchinson.
>
>
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