"God save our gracious Queen..."
"Gods save our Padishah -" (p. 396)
These are the opening lines of the British national anthem in alternative timelines. The addition of a single letter shows how much the Angrezi have been assimilated by their Raj.
I live on Blades St which is often written "Blade St" because it is impossible to pronounce both "s" 's. At a nearby Community Orchard, there is an annual chant of "Pray God send us a thumping good crop" or "Pray gods send us a thumping good crop." Monotheists and polytheists can stand side by side and not discern each other's beliefs. (Inquisitors unwelcome, of course.)
The full first stanza in Stirling's version is:
"Gods save our Padishah -
"Dillishvaro wa Jagadishvaro wa
"From Delhi rule Universal Lord
"Mulk-i-Padishah, hukum-i-King-Emperor -" (pp. 396-397)
I do not understand the second and fourth lines and cannot fit them into the rhythm? However, see here.
3 comments:
Hi, Paul!
The second and fourth lines might be Hindi translations of the English text?
And, of course, as a Catholic, I cannot agree with how the Indian Anglicans were succumbing to Hindu polytheism. It reminded me of how one fatal consequence of Protestantism cutting it self off from Catholicism is that doing so makes it harder and harder not to become LESS Christian.
Sean
Plenty of Hindus are quite monotheistic, no more seeing the "gods" as distinct than Christians do the Trinity, or Catholics the saints they pray to but don't worship. A little more tolerant Jesuitry, and a little less Franciscan/Dominican fanaticism, and India and China might be the greatest of Christian and Catholic nations today. (In China the issue was whether ancestor "worship" was religious or merely cultural: the Church today has changed its mind and considers it cultural, but too little and too late.)
Dear Mr. Cowan,
First, I do agree that some Hindus do have a more elevated idea of religion, of being monotheists, not polytheists. But my recollection is that this came late, as a reaction to contact with Catholic Christianity. Second, what I noticed from other sources about the actual behavior or beliefs of ordinary Hindus is that they were and are most definitely polytheists.
I do agree the Chinese Rites controversy wad badly handled.
Sean
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