When the British chose pragmatism as strategy

In the 17th century, Visvagunadarsana by Venkatadhvari describes two celestial beings touring India. Flying from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, they review the land's many towns and holy sites; one gandharva noticing only bad, the other more good.

- Manu S. Pillai

In the 17th century, Visvagunadarsana by Venkatadhvari describes two celestial beings touring India. Flying from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, they review the land's many towns and holy sites; one gandharva noticing only bad, the other more good. Much is discussed: Islamic rule, Brahmins preferring worldly attractions to the Vedas, the beauty of Gujarati women, and so on. The gandharvas conduct an aerial survey of British-ruled Madras. The first is furious at the villainy of the white man, describing it as "inexpressible". The other is more circumspect, acknowledging European virtues. They imported "curious" articles and did not "extort" unjustly; they had a sense of justice. Both good and bad existed among these white-faced foreigners, and the gandharvas departed without a categorical conclusion.