An Indian who had been living in Japan for more than a yr noticed something strange : his Japanese friends were polite & helpful, yet none of them ever invited him to their home, not even for a cup of tea. Confused & hurt, he finally asked one Japanese friend why this was so. After a long silence, the friend replied, "We are taught Indian history… not for inspiration, but as a warning." The Indian, astonished, asked, "A warning? Indian history is taught as a warning? Please explain why." The Japanese friend asked, "How many English ruled India?" The Indian replied, "Maybe… about 10,000?" The Japanese person nodded seriously & asked, "At that time, weren’t there over 300 million Indians?" "So who committed the atrocities on your people? Who followed the orders to whip, torture, & shoot them?" He asked emphatically, "When General Dyer ordered the firing at Jallianwala Bagh, who pulled the trigger? Was it the English soldiers? No, it was Indians." "Why didn’t anyone point their rifle at General Dyer, not a single person?" He continued, "The slavery you talk about—this was your real slavery. Not of the body, but of the soul."* The Indian stood motionless, silent, & ashamed. The Japanese friend continued, "How many Mughals came from Central Asia? Maybe a few thousand? And yet they ruled you for centuries." "The Mughals did not rule India through their numbers; it was your own people who bowed to them, obeyed them, betrayed their own, and showed loyalty to the Mughals. Either to survive or for silver coins." "Your own people converted to their religions." "Your own people betrayed your heroes to the English. Who betrayed Chandrashekhar Azad? Who informed the English about his hiding place in Alfred Park?" "Bhagat Singh was not easily executed without the permission of those people (Gandhi-Nehrus) who called themselves patriots." "You Indians do not need foreign enemies. Your own people repeatedly betray you for power, position, and personal gain. That is why we keep distance from Indians." "When the English came to Hong Kong and Singapore, not a single local joined their army. But in India, you did not just join the enemy’s army—you served them. You worshipped them. You killed your own people to please them." "Even today, you have not changed. You have learned no lessons from history. Even for a little free electricity, a bottle of alcohol, or a blanket—you sell your vote, your conscience, and your voice without thinking." "You chant slogans, protest, but when the country needs your sacrifice, where are you? Your first loyalty is still to your home, family, wife, children, and wealth. The rest—country —can go to hell." After saying this, the Japanese left, and the Indian stood there, head bowed, frozen in shame.