LETTERS
Gentlemen v. players
Sir: In defence of the BOR — British Other Ranks — it should be understood that until well into the second world war a soldier could be stationed in India for at least five years of his Colour Service, and in certain circumstances even longer, without any home leave at all. During that time nothing whatsoever was done for him either by the British or the Indian govern- ment, any steps to ameliorate his lot being due solely to regimental initiative.
It has also to be said that there were aspects of indigenous life which did little to reconcile the British soldier either to the country or to its inhabitants. These are admirably set out in V.S. Naipaul's Area of Darkness, to which Tunku Varadarajan would do well to refer (The subcontinent despises Botham', 10 August). In addition, the British soldier was regarded as an out- cast by the British civilian population; and no Indian of whatever caste would have dreamt of inviting a British soldier into his family circle. It is no wonder that the sol- dier 'hated the place and its heathens'. The wonder is that he gave vent to his feelings so rarely.
It was also the 'Bothams' of the British army who underpinned the conditions which enabled Dr Raja Ramanna to retain such happy memories of the 'British days'. D.J.S. Murray
Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired), Herriotsbiels, Oxton, Lauder, Berwickshire
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