THE world is apparently getting ready to see the turn of the tide as developing countries regroup under the banner of multilateralism. These countries, mostly African, Caribbean and Asian, have had a colonial past, with their post-colonial journey suffering from challenges like identity crisis, culture and social norms.

The writings of E.M. Forster, Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad highlight the plight and trauma of the colonised, and their hectic struggle for reconciliation. Similarly, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is a masterpiece showcasing the cultural, religious and social alienation and exoticism of a society plundered by its colonial masters.

Shashi Tharoor’s Inglorious Empire describes how Indians were subjected to gross economic plundering during the colonial rule that left India devoid of finances, raw materials and self-sustaining industries, particularly its thriving textile industry. He notes that the policies of the colonial power led to overwhelming famines, like the infamous Bengal Famine of 1943 when millions starved as the supply of food was diverted to promote British war efforts. Tharoor also makes it clear that colonialism disrupted India’s social structure by establishing racial hierarchies, downgrading local languages and knowledge systems, and fostering disunity through a divide-and-rule strategy.

The irony is that the world largely believes that the days of colonialism are over. They are not. The colonial agenda of the West is alive and kicking in the shape of the Zionist regime in Israel. This illegal project has unleashed a terrible bloodbath in the whole Middle East. The sheer discrimination and prejudice is evident from the response of self-styled champions of human rights in the West. They call themselves peacekeepers, but continue to support Israel by sending weapons and aid worth billions of dollars.

Chaudhary Aamir Sohail
Sargodha

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2024