India after the 1857 Revolt: Decolonising the Mind PDF
Preview India after the 1857 Revolt: Decolonising the Mind
‘In Dr. Christhu Doss’s book India After the 1857 Revolt: Decolonizing the Mind, we are treated to a clear, sophisticated, and pioneering anal- ysis of decolonization in the Indian context. Dr. Doss’s insights are pene- trating and fresh. He asks questions that are not often asked. He plunges into primary sources and emerges with renewed perspectives, most poign- antly around issues concerning colonial Christian missionary agencies, conversion, political resistance, and historical problematization rooted in the famous 1857 revolt. It is a fascinating read that revisits some of the key characters of the late 19th and early 20th century—characters that surely shaped the future of India—such as Annie Besant and Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Doss is at his very best when analyzing the complex relation- ship between Indian Christians, Western missionaries, and the emerg- ing Indian independence from Britain. Dr. Doss successfully argues that Indian Christians were not fall-in-line supporters of British imperialism. Not at all. Rather, most Indian Christians were committed nationalists who challenged colonial hegemony. They worked for Indian independence, and an effective confluence of their beloved religion—Christianity—with their equally beloved motherland, India. I strongly recommend this book.’ Dyron B. Daughrity, Professor of Religion, Pepperdine University in Malibu, California ‘This book is a richly documented study of the intercultural interactions of quite different stakeholders in mid-nineteenth century colonial India, coming together in resisting colonial suppression and missionary efforts to turn India into a Christian space. It traces how the movement of decolo- nisation, erupting in the unsuccessful 1857 Revolt as a key moment, was then carried forward to the inevitable transfer of power in 1947. Chapters on educational inputs, the role of Indian nationalists, Western Gandhian missionary satyagrahis, and Indian Christian patriots in this movement are woven into an intriguing account that retains much contemporary relevance in ongoing decolonisation struggles, now within a globalised context.’ Werner Menski, Emeritus Professor of South Asian Laws, SOAS, University of London, UK India after the 1857 Revolt Weaving together the varied and complex strands of anti-colonial nationalism into one compact narrative, Christhu Doss takes an incisive look at the deeper and wider historical process of decolonization in India. In India after the 1857 Revolt, Doss brings together some of the most cut- ting-edge thoughts by challenging the cultural project of colonialism and crit- ically examining the multi-dimensional aspects of decolonization during and after the 1857 revolt. He demonstrates that the deep-rooted popular discontent among the Indian masses followed by the revolt generated a distinctive form of decolonization movement—redemptive nationalism that challenged both the supremacy of the British Raj and the cultural imperatives of the controversial proselytizing missionary agencies. Doss argues that the quests for decoloni- zation (of mind) that got triggered by the revolt were further intensified by the Indocentric national education; the historic Chicago discourse of Swami Vivekananda; the nonviolent anti-colonial struggles of Mahatma Gandhi; the seditious political activism displayed by the Western Gandhian missionary satyagrahis; and the de-Westernization endeavours of the sandwiched Indian Christian nationalists. A compelling read for historians, political scientists and sociologists, it is refreshingly an indispensable guide to all those who are interested in anti- colonial struggles and decolonization movements worldwide. M. Christhu Doss received his primary education from Tirunelveli Diocesan Trust Association (T.D.T.A.) Primary School (Kalungadi, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India), secondary education from Sankar Reddiyar Government Higher Secondary School (Nanguneri, Tirunelveli District), graduation from St. John’s College (Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu), post-graduation from Manon- maniam Sundaranar University (Tirunelveli) and Doctorate programme from the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi, India). He teaches history at Christ University, Bengaluru, India. His areas of academic research interest include modern South Asian history with a special focus on social, cultural and intellectual history of modern and contemporary India. Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia 169. Japan in Upheaval The Origins, Dynamics and Political Outcome of the 1960 Anti-US Treaty Protests Dagfinn Gatu 170. Cultures of Memory in Asia Dynamics and Forms of Memorialization Edited by Chieh-Hsiang Wu 171. Parties as Governments in Eurasia, 1913–1991 Nationalism, Socialism, and Development Edited by Ivan Sablin and Egas Moniz Bandeira 172. Power and Politics at the Colonial Seaside Leisure in British Hong Kong Shuk-Wah Poon 173. British Engagement with Japan, 1854–1922 The Origins and Course of an Unlikely Alliance Antony Best 174. India after the 1857 Revolt Decolonizing the Mind M. Christhu Doss 175. Two-way Knowledge Transfer in Nineteenth Century China The Scottish Missionary-Sinologist Alexander Wylie (1815–1887) Ian Gow For a full list of available titles please visit: https://www.routledge.com/Routledge- Studies-in-the-Modern-History-of-Asia/book-series/MODHISTASIA India after the 1857 Revolt Decolonizing the Mind M. Christhu Doss First published 2023 by Routledge 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business © 2023 M. Christhu Doss The right of M. Christhu Doss to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book ISBN: 978-1-032-34922-0 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-032-34923-7 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-32448-5 (ebk) DOI: 10.4324/9781003324485 Typeset in Galliard by KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. For my wonderful companion Sulagna Pal (Dolphin) My loving parents Mrs. Gladies Arumai Ammal & Mr. K. Manuel Vethapothagam My loving and caring in-laws Mrs. Madhumita Pal & Mr. Subir Kumar Pal Family members, friends, critics, colleagues and my students & All those who taught me Contents Foreword xi Preface xxiv Acknowledgements xxvi List of Abbreviations xxviii 1 Introduction: Colonialism, Culture and Decolonization 1 Locating the Roots of Culture and Nationalism in India 1 Culture, Power and Decolonization 3 Orientalists and Utilitarians: Black and White Divisions 6 Colonialism as a ‘Civilizing’ Mission 9 ‘Messengers’ of Modernity 10 Revisionists and Rewriting of History 17 Dialogues, Negotiations and Contestations 23 Charter Act of 1813 and after 26 Decolonizing the Mind during and after 1857 31 Redemptive Nationalism: Mahatma Gandhi, Europeans and Americans 35 Subaltern Masses and Decolonization 37 Chapterization 38 2 First War of Indian Independence, Cultural Sensibilities and Roots of Decolonization 53 Fighting the Firangis 53 Expanding the Horizons of ‘Moral Conquest’ 57 1857 Revolt and the Issue of ‘Cultural Contamination’ 61 Cultural Sensitivities and Decolonization 68
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