William Sleeman's campaign against Thagi, Sati and the impact of missionaries Flashcards
How did the clashes of culture begin to emerge between the British and the Indians?
The company’s role shifted from purely profit driven to the ‘modernising mission’ for the ‘benefit’ of the native population.
A sense of racial superiority began to emerge amongst white officers which saw a growing desire to grow India.
Evangelical Christianity clashed heavily with other religions, with Christian’s beginning to view other religions and therefore, societies, as less civilised and barbaric.
These culture clashes began to worsen as the religious commitment of the British population increased and the migration of British women increased. More British Women meant inter-racial marriages took place less and less leading to an increasing white society.
Overall, a growth in anthropological thinking - encouraged a sense of different races, separate from each other.
Dalhousie and Bentick, operating on the premise of Utilitarianism were staunchly committed to ‘improving’ India.
Describe the campaign against Thuggee
Thagi is the ritual practice of strangling and robbing travellers in worship of the Hindu goddess Kali.
In 1835, William Sleeman led a campaign against the practice, operating as superintendent of the Thugee and Ducoity department. Over 1000 thugs were hanged or transported, with over 3,000 thugs punished in total
Sleeman became an imperial Hero in a story that captivated the British public, no natives were upset by the removal of Thugee but it granted greater justification for modernisation.
Describe the drive against Sati
Sati was the practice of widows throwing themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands, based on the belief that Hindu women could not re-marry. On average, the practice took 600 lives a year and in 1829, Sati was made an offence by Governor Bentick.
There was a strong campaign by Christian’s like Wilberforce against the practice.
Ram Rohan Roy, an Indian philosopher was against Sati, but recommended to Bentick he did not outlaw it, as it would be wrong to interfere in the people’s religious freedoms.
Many women were grateful, however, those among the higher castes were deeply offended as it was perceived as an attack on their cast purity and assumed a British cultural superiority.
Describe the impact of Missionaries
Missionaries like William Carey travelled to India in the 18th century, and many more joined in the early 19th. EIC was worried about the growth of Christianity causing culture clashes, however the evangelical presence continued to grow.
British missionaries campaigned for greater education and from 1835, pushed English to be taught as much as possible, in the hope it would create an educated class which would weaken the higher castes.
The arrival of the missionaries en masse added to the all ready patchwork nature of India’s ethnic makeup, it increased tensions and served as a long term de-stabilising factor, as well as provoking the Bengal renaissance.
