Prabhupāda: On the whole, during British time, people were happy, that I can... The thing is that Britishers were little afraid that "If the government is not good, it will go against our credit, that we may agitate." So they were careful to see that people are happy. But here nobody's careful. Everyone thinks "I'm in my own country. Whatever I do, it is all right." They were conscious, that "We are foreigners. If the management is not good, then it will go against our credit and it will be difficult working such a big England empire." So they were little careful. But these rascals are not... Just like the governor, he was friendly, but what is the report? Did he say? Did not behave very nicely?
Harikeśa: He wasn't interested to help for the tax exemption.
Hari-śauri: Yes, you told me before, Bon Mahārāja and Tīrtha Mahārāja, they were writing all these big, big men, but they told them frankly, that "I'm not going to do anything for you."
Prabhupāda: None of them. Formerly, a British governor, secretary, was a friend. You could get some service from him. The Britishers they knew the etiquette that if friends ask some help, I must help you. That is etiquette.
Hari-śauri: Now there's so much self-interest, they don't...
Prabhupāda: It is expected.
Hari-śauri: Still, due to the British presence, isn't that the main reason why India has become so degraded now?
Prabhupāda: Yes, from...
Hari-śauri: Because they introduced so many bad things?
Prabhupāda: Yes, from cultural point of view, they are degraded. And that was that British policy, to kill them culturally. Otherwise not possible to rule over them.
Hari-śauri: They always advertised that India was so backward because that was a justification for their being there, that "We shall go and educate."
Prabhupāda: They used to advertise like that.
Hari-śauri: Then they could exploit and avoid criticism.
Prabhupāda: Yes, so many bad things Britishers introduced. Bad things means Western type of civilization.
Hari-śauri: Sometimes people, they say, we're always glorifying Indian culture, so why are they so badly off? So we tell them it's because they've give up the culture that they're badly off. Otherwise, a hundred years ago there was no problem. (end)