I loved the first series, however, it was no Jewel in the Crown, or Gandhi. I studied Rudyard Kipling's India at Uni. And the period of 1932-35, was a strange period. Certainly the British were trying to evolve brown Englishmen such as Nehru, and most of the Indian civil service were still holding mediocre positions. Being Parsees they (like the Sikhs) were in the minority, and after the Indian Mutiny, few Hindu's remained in the Indian Army as their cast taboos etc., But a Parsee marrying a Muslim. I doubt it. Or a Parsee civil servant, being seen with a British woman who came from quite an influential family. Right until independence, cast and interracial snobbery and racial intermarriage, and segregation were the norm.
Anyway I was spellbound at first, but as the second series unfolded I found that it did not make much sense. But I did enjoy it. The British did treat the Indians roughly and growing resentment among the populace. To a point that there were massacres on both sides, and inter religious jealousy's and hatreds. Gandhi was for independence, eliminating the cast system and untouchables, and all Indians get on together irrespective of religious hatreds. It didn't work.
Although I did love the first series, I felt the second was a bit disappointing. The second world war was about to erupt, and with Hitler stating the Aryan race, actually they came from North India centuries before, never Nordic.
The acting flawless. I don't think a London accent would have been appreciated in the British polite society set then though. Or Cockney songs.
And what happened to the young orphan lad who towed the explosives 'A gift for the King' and survived it? And his patron dying and leaving a widow and two sons. The British Raj were not that forgiving.
Anyway I was spellbound at first, but as the second series unfolded I found that it did not make much sense. But I did enjoy it. The British did treat the Indians roughly and growing resentment among the populace. To a point that there were massacres on both sides, and inter religious jealousy's and hatreds. Gandhi was for independence, eliminating the cast system and untouchables, and all Indians get on together irrespective of religious hatreds. It didn't work.
Although I did love the first series, I felt the second was a bit disappointing. The second world war was about to erupt, and with Hitler stating the Aryan race, actually they came from North India centuries before, never Nordic.
The acting flawless. I don't think a London accent would have been appreciated in the British polite society set then though. Or Cockney songs.
And what happened to the young orphan lad who towed the explosives 'A gift for the King' and survived it? And his patron dying and leaving a widow and two sons. The British Raj were not that forgiving.