Shashi Tharoor's ‘Challenging Question’ On Celebrating Vasco da Gama’s Death Anniversary
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama set off to India in the 15th century and arrived at Kerala’s Kozhikode in 1498. He has been attributed to having discovered the sea route to India, which revolutionised global and cultural trade. He died on his third voyage to India.
A user on social media platform X tagged Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and said that Kerala should organise an event to commemorate his 500th death anniversary.
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“Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India and landed at Kozhikode on 20 May 1498, revolutionizing global trade with India. He died on 24 December 1524 in Kochi. Kerala should organize an event to commemorate his 500th death anniversary,” he suggested.
While the CM is yet to reply, the Congress leader did. Calling it a “challenging question,” Tharoor asked, “what would we be commemorating?”
Highlighting the exploitation that the country underwent, Tharoor went on, “Exploitation and rapacity? Europe’s “discovery” of India that led to colonialism and worse? Trade at the point of a gun? Or merely a fact of history that can’t be wished away?”
It’s a challenging question: what would we be commemorating? Exploitation and rapacity? Europe’s “discovery” of India that led to colonialism and worse? Trade at the point of a gun? Or merely a fact of history that can’t be wished away? https://t.co/ihL5qCC4pH
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 24, 2024
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Several netizens in the comment section echoed similar thoughts. “The colonisque mindset of then world was condemneble, and it shouldn’t be celebrated,” observed an X user.
Another X user highlighted, “Interesting doubt. Sir Arthur Cotton has done wonders to the Godavari districts in AP by building a barrage. A clear indication of – what matters is the way you rule, not who you are.”
