ebooks Coolie Woman: The Odyssey of Indenture by Gaiutra Bahadur in History

Review

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Important HistoryBy Robyn DuvallThis is an important part of history that we much look at more closely. Many people don't know about numerous attacks on India and Indians; the abuse and suffering of many generations of Indians or the multi-millennial genocide of Indians in Asia and elsewhere.------ AND -------------"In addition; the term "mulatto" was also used to refer to the children of whites who intermarried with South Asian indentured servant brought over to the British American colonies by the East Indian Company. For example; a daughter born to [a] South Asian father and [an] Irish mother in Maryland in 1680 was classified as a "mulatto" and sold into slavery. The more usual case was the use of the principle of partus sequitur ventrem; adopted by Virginia in 1662; which made the status of a child dependent on the status of the mother. Children born of slave mothers were born into slavery; regardless of who their fathers were; children born to white mothers were free; even if mixed race.Although still in use by some; the term mulatto has fallen out of favor; and is considered offensive by some in the United States. Today; more popular terms include biracial; multiracial; mixed-race; and multi-ethnic."-----------------------------------------Many people don't learn in American History or World History about the important contributions of Indians and Indian-Americans."WWIThe war began with an unprecedented outpouring of loyalty and goodwill towards the United Kingdom from within the mainstream political leadership; contrary to initial British fears of an Indian revolt. The Indian Army in fact outnumbered the British Army at the beginning of the war. India under British rule contributed greatly to the British war effort by providing men and resources. This was done by the Indian Congress in hope of achieving self-government as India was very much under the control of the British. The United Kingdom disappointed the Indians by not providing self-governance; leading to the Gandhian Era in Indian history. About 1.3 million Indian soldiers and laborers served in Europe; Africa; and the Middle East; while both the Indian government and the princes sent large supplies of food; money; and ammunition. In all 140;000 men served on the Western Front and nearly 700;000 in the Middle East. Casualties of Indian soldiers totaled 47;746 killed and 65;126 wounded during World War I."In WWI the commanders did not see that the tools available for fighting on the defense had far surpassed those available for offense. The machine gun and modern artillery way overmatched the Tommy and the French Polliu in their wool tunics. The British Tommy was not even equipped with a helmet in the first months of the war but went into combat wearing only a wool garrison cap.It seemed that the presiding commanders were devoid of imagination and continued to send battalion after battalion of men up against dug in machine guns; hoping that shear numbers would win the day. At the Battle of the Somme; whole brigades of new volunteer provincial troops were fielded. They were sent on the offensive against the German trenches only to be shot down in windrows...57; 470 were casualties the first day. That meant 5747 casualties per hour; for the first 10 hour day of combat; including 1924 men killed per hour. Compare that to the 2000-3000 killed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last NINE YEARS! The Brits lost almost that many in one hour."WWII" India; officially the Indian Empire; declared war on Germany in September 1939. The Provinces of India (which included most of modern-day India and the present day Bangladesh; Pakistan and Myanmar); being imperial colonies of the United Kingdom; were by default a part of the Allies of World War II. Several Indian princely states provided large donations to the Allies to combat the threat of Nazism and Fascism.The financial; industrial and military support of India formed a crucial component of the British campaign against the Axis powers. India's strategic location at the tip of the Indian Ocean; its massive production of armaments; and its huge armed forces contributed decisively in halting the progress of Imperial Japan in the South-East Asian theatre. The Indian Army during World War II was one of the largest Allied forces contingents which took part in the North and East African Campaign; Western Desert Campaign and the Italian Campaign. At the height of the World War; more than 2.5 million Indian troops were fighting Axis forces around the globe."4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. I enjoyed reading every chapterBy Jeniya 592A well written and well researched book. I awaited its delivery with anticipation and could not put this book down after I started to read it. I enjoyed reading every chapter. Ms Bahadur has done an excellent job of presenting the evil of the indentured system that took place in then British Guiana during colonial times and its consequences. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys deep and thoughtful reading.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. irreplaceableBy CustomerIn fourth grade we had to dress up and celebrate our family history. Unsure what that meant I asked my dad. He said we were cane cutters. I wore a white collar shirt and trousers; what I assumed cane cutters wore. Everyone at school expected me to wear a sari or shalwar. I was the only Indian (or POC) in my grade. I wore Indian clothes for Quranic functions; weddings; etc. I didn't even think to wear Indian clothes for immigrant heritage day! Who would cut cane in religious (good) clothes? Today I wear Western and Eastern clothing together; the two no longer separate.The jewel you have created will forever be with me.Thank you!