London, Sept 30: Prize-winning author and historian Patrick French has turned down the offer of an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contribution to Indo-British relations because he felt it might undermine his status as an independent writer, media reported today. The offer of an order of the British Empire was contained in a formal letter written earlier this year on behalf of the Queen, asking the writer if he would accept the honour. This is a normal procedure under which candidates for honours are sounded out on their reaction before the official announcement is made. French wrote back saying "It was very nice to be offered the honour but I will have to turn it down". According to Daily Telegraph the 37-year-old author said the OBE was inappropriate because it contained the word Empire. "The motor of the order is 'for god and the empire'," French told the daily, making it clear this was not something to which he could subscribe.
"If you are a businessman, it's ok, but as a writer on South Asia, I wanted to be seen to have an independent voice," he said.
French has been praised for his rigorous scholarship and books, which include liberty or death, India's journey to independence and division.
He was picked last year to be the official biographer of the Nobel prize-winning author V S Naipaul, who was impressed with 'young husband: the last great imperial adventure' French's biography of a man who invaded Tibet in 1903 only to become a mystic. The book won the Somerset Maugham Award and the royal society of literature Heinemann prize.

Bureau Report