Controversial quote by Winston Churchill: ‘I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion’

Winston Churchill was one of the most influential political leaders of the 20th century, best known for serving as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. Born on November 30, 1874, Churchill was not only a politician but also a soldier, writer and powerful orator whose speeches inspired Britain during some of its darkest hours. His leadership and defiance played a crucial role in rallying the country against Nazi Germany. Churchill was famous for his stirring words, including his pledge that Britain would “never surrender,” which helped boost national morale. Beyond politics, he was also an accomplished historian and writer and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. Despite political setbacks and criticism, Churchill remains widely regarded as a symbol of wartime leadership and resilience.

However, Churchill’s legacy remains deeply contested, particularly in India, due to his views on Indians and his role during British colonial rule. While he is remembered for iconic speeches such as “Blood, toil, tears and sweat,” he is also associated with controversial and racist remarks about Indians.

Churchill is believed to have said, “I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion,” a remark often cited by historians examining his attitudes towards India.

Despite being voted the “Greatest Briton of All Time” in a 2002 BBC poll, Churchill was known for holding deeply critical and often hostile views towards India and its people. Historian Richard Toye, in his book Churchill’s Empire: The World That Made Him and the World He Made, argued that Churchill had a strong aversion to India.

Toye wrote that “the mere mention of India” often triggered unusually harsh reactions from Churchill. He described a March 1943 meeting at Chequers, where Churchill reportedly launched into a fierce attack on Indian political leaders, referring to them dismissively and expressing hostility toward Indian self-governance. Churchill even suggested that if British troops had to remain in India under harsh conditions, he would rather see civil conflict than maintain imperial unity at such cost.

Churchill’s wartime administration has also faced criticism for its handling of the Bengal Famine of 1943, in which millions died. Critics argue that British wartime policies, including resource allocation and food supply decisions, worsened the crisis, while defenders point to the broader wartime pressures Britain faced.
Another major source of tension was India’s growing sterling balances — large financial credits accumulated by India for supplying goods and services to Britain during World War II. These debts grew significantly during the war, effectively allowing Britain to draw heavily on Indian resources to support its war effort.