Questa difesa non e da raccomandarsi perchè lascia troppo terreno al primo giuocatoro. Però sia detto una volta per sempre, questi sistemi bizzarri d'attacco e di difesa sono da biasimarsi sino ad un certo punto. Se il giuocatore vi si è esercitato, se egli vi si trova bene, e crede che l'avversario non vi abbia troppa famigliarità, egli può benissimo tentarli, giacchè gli svantaggi che derivano da questo aperture non sono assolutamente allarmanti, e possono venire facilmente compensati ad ogni colpo meno giusto che venga giuocato dall'avversario.
La spinga del PD un passo, si lega necessariamente al Fianchetto di Re, altrimenti non avrebbe assolutamente alcuno scopo e sarebbe doppiamente condannabile perchè l'AR resterebbe chiuso per molto tempo. Fu detta da taluno la Difesa Indiana perche tentata molto volte dal bramino Moheschunder il più forte giuocatore dell'India, contro il celebre Cochrane.

This defense is not to recommend because it leaves too much ground to the first player. But let it be said once for all, this bizarre system of attack and defense is to be blamed to a certain point. If the player practiced there, and if he is good, and believes that the opponent does not have too much familiarity, he may very well try it, since the disadvantages resulting from this opening are not very alarming, and can be easily compensated every shot is not right that staked by the opponent.
The push of one PD step, binds to the necessity of King fianchetto, otherwise it would have absolutely no purpose and would be doubly reprehensible because the King's bishop would remain closed for a long time. It was called by some Indian Defense because very often tried by the strongest player of India Brahmin Moheschunder, against the renowned Cochrane.

A good move, breaking up White s centre.

[...]The only player here who has any chance whatever with Mr. Cochrane, upon even terms, is a Brahmin of the name of Moheschunder Bonnerjee. Of this worthy, Mr. Cochrane has himself remarked that he possesses as great a natural talent for Chess, as any player he ever met with, without one single exception! [...] Until the early part of last year, Moheschunder had never been twenty miles from his native village in the Mofussil, as the interior of India is designated. He had never played with a really good player, and was scarcely acquainted with all of the European rules of the game.* 

[Footnote: * There are several peculiarities in the rules as observed by the natives of India amongst themselves. The chief are the following:— Only the centre or royal Pawns are allowed the privilege of moving two squares for the first move: Pawn taking Pawn en passant is unknown: and (strangest of all) the King once in the game has the privilege of moving like a Knight! I was astounded once in playing with a native up the country by this antic on the part of his King, who suddenly jumped over the heads of sundry pieces and whipped off my Queen, when I was on the eve of checkmating him. All the Calcutta native players, however, play the European game (...)]. 

From long continued and uninterrupted success, he had become desperately self-sufficient and obstinately addicted to certain faulty styles of opening, of which indeed he is not even now cured. (emphasis mine, S. B.)

The introduction of Moheschunder to Calcutta was on this wise :—A member of the Calcutta Chess Club, during a Mofussil pilgrimage in the autumn of 1848, heard of the fame of this local Philidor, and learning further that the Mofussil Champion had "never been beaten," he rejoiced exceedingly, in the prospect of beating him soundly! This expectation was not destined to be fulfilled; for our Brahmin triumphed. The discomfited club-man thereupon brought him down to Calcutta, and requested Mr. Cochrane to take him in hand. Now Moheschunder had never even heard of Cochrane, nor, for that matter, of Ruy Lopez, Philidor, La Bourdonnais, Macdonncll, or Staunton! At this time, in truth, Moheschunder was under a very strong impression that some Mookerjee or Chatterjee, resident in the district of Berhampore, or Burdwan, was incomparably the best player in the known world next to himself. It was not until he had been well beaten six games or so off hand, that the idea began to dawn upon him that he might possibly be mistaken; and at last he solemnly pronounced his successful opponent to be "Shejtan" himself and no other!

Since that period, Moheschunder has been appointed a paid attache of the Calcutta Chess Club. He is much improved, and frequently wins of Mr. Cochrane, playing on even terms. His "sight" of the board is extraordinary: he plays with marvellous rapidity, and rarely makes an oversight or mistake. I fancy his age must now be fifty or more—so that he is "no chicken," but rather a tough old thingy to be taught new modes of using his spurs. With proper teaching in early life, and the advantage of practice with superior players, it is difficult to say to what strength he might not have attained.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully, A Member Of The Calcutta Chess Club. Calcutta, August 1st, 1850.

CHESS IN INDIA.

The following games are a small instalment of those obligingly communicated by our Correspondent, "a Member of the Calcutta Chess Club," whose interesting letter appeared in the last Number. 

Irregular Opening. [...] Cochrane - Moheschunder ("a Native player of high respute"). 1.d4 Nf6. "In playing over these games it must be borne in mind that the Native is comparatively unstudied in the European openings, and has probably never read a single work upon the game in his life." 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e3 Bb4 ... 1-0 (18)

Centre Game. Cochrane - Moheschunder 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qe7 ... 1-0 (17).

King's Knight's Opening. Cochrane - Moheschunder 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 ... 0-1, 39. Staunton' comment to move 22: "The Brahmin plays the remainder of this game with great tact and ingenuity." 

Irregular Opening. Cochrane - Moheschunder 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 ... 1-0, 25.

Earlier in this thread the term "Preussische Verteidigung" for "Two Knights' Game" was discussed. I forgot to mention that in France and England such a term was already fairly established, but for a different system: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 was called "Prussian Defence" in some sources, after the Prussian theoretician Hermann von Hanneken (1810-1886). Authors usually try to avoid such confusion, so another "Prussian Defence" had no chance. Google only tells me that Lasker's Manual (1960 edition) had "Prussian Opening" for the Two Knights.