Plain Tales from the Raj, a wonderful book edited by Charles Allen, (with Michael Mason) with association of BBC. The cover page of this book aptly describes it as “Images of British India in the twentieth Century”.
The experiences of the English men and women posted in India prior to 1947 have been recounted in an orderly fashion. The interesting part is that experiences of English people from varied backgrounds, working in various capacities, including the memsahibs (House wives) have been touched. This brings about an overall outlook of various persons towards India, its customs, traditions and strange practices of the Raj. As the prime motive of book is fun and enjoyment I would not like to describe a detailed review discussing the literary aspects of this extremely entertaining narrative.
I hasten to add that the book is far from a jingoistic narrative exalting the Raj. It is an extremely touching narrative of the actual life of a common person who is serving in another country. The facts are fairly straight forward and unbiased. There are no pre-conceived notions. The aim (if one may say so) is to present an interesting nostalgic narrative of the great, if slightly ridiculous British Raj in India. Retaining the usual English sense of humour, the book is an amusing read for an Indian as well as an Englishman.
The eccentricities of two different cultures along with the inherent differences have been brought out without slightest snobbery. The commendable part is that the narrative apart from being quite amusing, is also quite authentic. Various sources who actually lived during the Raj, have shared their first hand experience. As given in the book while researching and interviewing for Plain Tales from the Raj, the author traveled the length and breadth of United Kingdom , taping more than 250 hours of recorded interviews.
One is amused by the ridiculous practices being followed and appreciates the candid honesty in accepting certain not-so-illuminating aspects of the Raj. In the same way the book is also quite interesting about the general description of Indians from various backgrounds. One of the touching aspects of the book is the relationship the English had with their subordinates, Ayahas, Sais, common soldiers etc.
As an Indian, one needs to appreciate this aspect of English rule, while we are fed by jingoistic films made by Mumbai Film Industry criticizing the Raj. A glossary given at the end of the book describing various Hindi/Urdu language slangs commonly being used by the English pucca Sahibs & Memsahibs is also quite amusing to read.