The British Guests

Between 1858 and 1947, India was under British control, it was the British Raj, the period of dominion. The text "The British Guests" is an extract of "Dishonored", a novel which was written by Maria Barett and published in 1996. The scene of the extract of this story takes place in India in 1857, when this country was a British colony: the power was exercised by the British in London and in the colony. One of the main characters is a colonel, who then have the military power. Rai, high social class Indian invited the colonel Mills and his wife Alicia. Colonel Mills is particularly worried as there have been rumours of Indian mutiny in Meerut. Consequently talking with restraint is necessary. Both British and Indian guests are present at the reception, including many young and educated Indians who are the friends of Indrajit Rai's son, also present. Indrajit is honored to receive the Colonel, he's polite and seems to have accepted the British ruling of India, but it's not the same thing for his son, Jagat Rai. This young Indian defies the British power in opposing the colonel on their presence in India and their governance, this in a direct and frank way "the British superiority in India is a figment of their imagination", "The British are no better than any other ruler", "the people of India are not happy with them", he's not afraid of the colonel. He received a British education and feels neck in neck with them. The colonel, offended, leaves his guests. During this period, power was British. But things start to change in India, the country moves and it will obtain its independence in 1947. So the United Kingdom will lose a little of its power, before losing its empire.

...