-- although even the Conservative Party agreed that it was inevitable.

But Churchill brooked no such moderation. "The truth is," he had brutally declared in 1930, "that Gandhi-ism and everything it stands for will have to be grappled with and crushed."

In July 1940, newly in office, he welcomed reports of the emerging conflict between the Muslim League and the Indian Congress, hoping "it would be bitter and bloody".

Lord Zetland had already resigned as secretary of state for India, for he was aware of Churchill's violent hostility to Indian nationalism. His successor, Leo Amery, said: "I am by no means sure whether on this subject of India (Churchill) is quite sane."

Quite so. For in September 1939, the Indian Congress movement had offered to support the British war effort in exchangefor moves towards independence. And Chamberlain had been prepared to go halfway to meet them. But arriving in office in 1940, Churchill exploded when he heard of this suggestion. Congress was rebuffed and humiliated and so it retreated into the arms of Gandhi. Henceforth, it was united in opposition to Britain's war effort. Well done, Winnie!

But of course, the great alienating event between Britain and the Indian middle classes had occurred over 20 years before, with the massacre of hundreds of unarmed Indians at Amritsar in April 1919, under the orders of General Reginald Dyer (educated Midleton College, Cork) and supported by the governor general of Punjab, Michael O'Dwyer (born 1864, Solohead, Tipperary, educated St Stanislaus College, Tullamore). O'Dwyer's kinsman, Patrick O'Dwyer, had been a lookout at the