Geeta Basra: All Indians don’t have to love Queen Elizabeth II but the life she led was admirable – Exclusive

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died on Thursday September 8 at her Balmoral castle in Scotland aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. The funeral will be held on Monday, September 19. Elizabeth II acceded to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change throughout her lifetime, in the course of almost a century. Known for her focus on duty and diplomacy, she was a silent anchor to the establishment.Tributes poured in from all around the world including India and our Prime Minister.
Given her birth and upbringing in the UK, actress Geeta Basra has watched the British Royal Family over the years. Sharing her thoughts on the Queen, she told Bombay Times, “Her majesty the Queen was inspirational. We can see the privileges but there were also sacrifices. She never spoke out of line and maintained a calm demeanour even in difficult times. She became a Queen in her 20’s in 1952, at a time when it wasn’t easy for women to lead. The odds were not in our favour. A huge credit also goes to her supportive husband (the late Prince Philip) who played second fiddle to her. She was active even in her 90’s and fulfilled her duties till her last breath. Despite her ill-health, she met Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss barely a few days before her death. She always put duty first. Hers was a non-controversial life led with dignity and honour. She was the only constant in a world that saw the Cold War, World War II, Brexit, the pandemic! I have lived in the UK and she is the only Queen we have known. She went on with her work even as the tabloids took potshots at her and her family. To command this kind of respect and love from people for so many years in a changing world where the relevance of monarchy is questioned, her reign was commendable. There are royal families in other parts of the world but how many of those do we know? Her name stands out for a reason.”
Given India’s troubled colonial past, many wondered why Indians must mourn the death of a monarch who represented the oppressive British regime who ruled over India for decades. Celebs including cricketer Yuvraj Singh were trolled for paying their respects to the Queen. Geeta counters, “All Indians don’t have to love her but the life she led was admirable. My roots are Indian, my parents are from India and I call myself a proud Indian. But I was born and raised in the UK and that county has given me a lot, too. There will always be debate about people who are influential or successful. There are people who admire Mahatma Gandhi and there are those who don’t. Did we not have any internal wars, caste discrimination or communal tension? Are we going to keep delving into the past or look ahead? Are we going to hold today’s German people responsible for the ghastly acts of the Nazis? If everyone keeps raking up the past there won’t be any peace.”
Speaking of the debate on monarchy, she explained, “UK now has a new King and a new PM. The UK economy is facing recession. It’s a tough time there and many are asking if we need monarchy in 2022? I would say the British Royal family has been a cultural backbone of the country. Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Westminster, Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House… All of this is a huge part of the UK's cultural history and they have preserved it. Tourists flock to the UK and these are prime attractions. I have also been a huge admirer of Princess Diana. She was the Queen of hearts. Her charisma stays unmatched.”