Christian missionaries [10]

Question 1

What was the Charter Act of 1833, and why did it cause resentment among Indians? [Para 1]

Answer 1

• The Charter Act of 1833 legitimized the influx of Christian missionaries into India.
• These missionaries focused on setting up schools, but their main goal was religious conversion rather than mass education.
• Their teachings encouraged Indians to give up their religion and convert to Christianity, which was seen as a threat to their faith, causing resentment.

Question 2

Why did the banning of the Hindu custom of suttee (sati) in 1829 cause opposition? [Para 2]

Answer 2

• The British banned suttee in 1829, a Hindu custom in which widows were expected to burn themselves on their husband’s funeral pyre.
• Although it was a reform against a cruel practice, many Hindus saw it as religious interference, leading to resentment.

Question 3

Why did replacing Persian with English as the official language in 1834 create resentment? [para 3]

Answer 3

• In 1834, the British replaced Persian with English as the official language, making many Indians uneducated and jobless.

This was seen as an attack on local culture and a way to impose British superiority, which led to discontent.

Question 4

How did the British introduction of co-education in 1835 lead to opposition? [Para 4]

Answer 4

• The British introduced co-education, which many Indians saw as cultural interference.
• Muslims, in particular, opposed it as it prevented women from observing purdah (veiling).
• A British official in 1835 remarked, “A single shelf of a good European library is worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia,” which further insulted Indian scholars.

Question 5

How did the introduction of railways cause resentment among Indians? [Para 5]

Answer 5

• Although railways were an efficient means of transport, they led to an increase in road accidents, which angered Indians.
• They saw it as British interference in their daily lives.

Question 6

How did the British destroy the economic fabric of Indian society? [Para 6]

Answer 6

• After the Industrial Revolution, British industries produced cheap cloth, which was sold in Indian markets.
• This made Indian handwoven cloth expensive and led to the unemployment of Indian weavers, who became jobless and resentful.

Question 7

Was the work of Christian missionaries the most important reason for Indian opposition to British westernization? [Last Para]

Answer 7

• To conclude, Yes, religion was central to Indian life, and Christian missionaries actively attempted conversions, which Indians saw as a direct attack on their faith.
• Although social, economic, and cultural changes also caused resentment, religious interference was the most sensitive issue.
• Therefore, the work of Christian missionaries was the most important reason why Indians opposed British westernization