Winston Churchill 11-9-2014

9, November 2014                  Winston Churchill

Boris Johnson claims that Winston Churchill was the greatest statesman Britain had ever produced. Perhaps Mr. Johnson is unaware of Churchill’s dark colonial legacy. Shashi Tharoor a high ranking Indian diplomat in his recent book, Pax India, accuses Churchill’s conservative government of ruthlessly exploiting India and responsible for genocide. Between 15 and 29 million perished tragically from starvation. This large scale famine took place under Churchill’s rule. Approximately 4 million died in the Great Bengal famine as a direct result of Churchill’s decision to divert critical food supplies to British soldiers and buttress European stockpiles. Churchill arrogantly asserted that “starvation of underfed Bengalis is less serious than that of sturdy Greeks”. Several British officers were so appalled at Churchill’s callousness they dispatched a telegram expressing their outrage. Churchill’s response - “why hasn’t Gandhi died.” Contrary to Johnson’s assertions, history will expose Churchill as the last of a long line of ruthless and inhumane prime minister’s ruling over the last embers of the British Empire.