LyrArc Article Gist
Surprising as it may sound, India's independence in 1947, did not get the attention one would expect to see for a country with the second largest population in the world. Europe was still recovering from the Second World War and the cancellation of the debt of Italy made the biggest headline in papers such as the Chicago Daily Tribune. Its title was - Mountbatten named new Governor of Hindu India, Punjab riots rage 250 dead. A misperception as Nehru and Sardar Patel were the leaders of independent India, as prime minister and deputy prime minister. In fact the biggest headline in bold was that -Population was up by 9 million with California surpassing Illinois. A Kipling type picture complete with tigers and cobra was put alongside a departing British ship, adding to the ignorance about India. 

The Washington Post title was much better- India achieves sovereignty amid wild rejoicing. But it competed with a Soviet threat on the Balkans, Mercury heat wave hitting 96 degrees, and Truman predicted victory in 1948.

The New York Times headline was- Two Indian nations emerge on world scene before a map of India. And another headline India and Pakistan become nations, Clashes continue. Alongside were headlines about a price gouging inquiry from president Truman.

To this day the coverage has not changed much with the NYT not truly recognizing the aspirations of the Indian people for a standard of living comparable to the western nations, the papers like the Tribune not having any conception of India except in a vague misguided way. And papers such as the Washington Post only somewhat better.

None of the western media, much less the BBC, have any conception of the aspirations of the Indian people for a quality of life and the industrial infrastructure that would be comparable or exceed other countries in Europe or that of America.