In 40 centuries of Indian history empire after empire had risen in a glorious blaze of peacock plumes and glinting spears only to founder in dark blood and ignominy. Last week British rule in India was ending; surprised applause followed its dinner jacket out the door.
The Recessional. As 400 million Indians (one-fifth of mankind) became self-governing, the British recessional was well begun. From lonely outposts in Kashmir, looking nervously north to the Russian border, from lush Assam where tea bushes grow in the spectral sau trees' shade, from residences deep in central India's jungles, from gay and airy Bangalore,...