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11 - Between Scylla and Charibdis 1836–1858

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2013

Penelope Carson
Affiliation:
King's College, London
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Summary

India is on the eve of a great moral change … Everywhere the same decided rejection of antiquated systems prevails … the abolition of the exclusive privileges of the Persian language … will shake Hindooism and Mahommadenism to their centre and firmly establish our language, our learning and ultimately our religion in India.

(Charles Trevelyan)

TREVELYAN's words to Bentinck demonstrate the arrogance that was beginning to pervade senior official thinking by the 1830s. He rejected the views of men like Warren Hastings and Thomas Munro, who had believed that there was much to admire in Indian culture and civilisation and were anxious not to upset Indian sensitivities. Britain's territories now seemed secure; Britons were confident of their superiority; and there was little hesitation in most British minds that Western civilisation and Christianity should be brought to her empire. The Company was coming under increasing pressure to relinquish its policy of religious neutrality in favour of positive support for Christianity. Trevelyan shared Macaulay's confidence that Indians could be educated to perceive the blessings of Western civilisation and religion. He agreed with the elder Grant's argument that Britain, as conqueror, had a duty to impose its own morality on India. In India, Evangelical officials, knowing that they had strong support in Britain, were pushing at the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in their public capacities. Even those who did not approve of proselytism conceded that missionaries could bring much needed help to Indians through their educational and social work.

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Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2012

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