British effectively used the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy to continue its rule in India. After coming to India as traders, the British East India Company increased its influence to divide the kings/Nawabs/Princes and fight each other, supporting this side or that. It paid great dividends. Even in defeating the ‘First War of Independence – 1857’ or the ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ as they called it, they managed to keep away the South, Punjab and Bengal from actively participating on the side of the Sepoys and kings. At a later stage they created differences between Hindus and Muslims and ensured India is divided in to India and Pakistan.

In recent UP elections, BJP got unprecedented success and has formed the government. As is well understood, it played the ‘religious and division card’ effectively. The success in UP will make it to think about the same in other states also. Statements of many of the top leaders of Sangh Parivar have already created serious disturbances. Dividing the society on religions and caste lines will seriously disturb the secular fabric of the country and create tension.

Isolate such forces creating disunity and religious conflicts.

Calcutta was the capital of British India till 1912. Calcutta (now Kolkata) is full of heritage buildings and historical monuments as part of the legacy of the British Rule and earlier. Buildings which accommodated the first Post Office, the first Telephone Exchange. the first Reserve Bank of India – all still exist there beautifully constructed. Victoria Memorial, Writers Building and hundreds of heritage buildings are there. While visiting Calcutta, I always used to see and appreciate such heritage buildings. According to my suggestion, a museum on ‘Telegraphs’ was started at Calcutta, after the Telegraph services were stopped.

It seems that the shifting of Capital to Delhi was a shock to Calcutta, from which it could not recover fully despite 105 years have passed. Today’s ‘Hindu’ has reported that a movement is coming up to safeguard and protect these heritage buildings from encroachment and destruction mostly by land mafia. Well and Good!

It is most necessary that these heritage buildings and monuments are well maintained for the posterity to see.