Why was there a ‘clash of cultures’ in British India, and what form did this take?

(Textbook p142-145)

Example of Describe the problem from What actions did they take? What were the consequences of these actions?
culture clash: the British perspective

The Preyed on travellers by
campaign befriending them then
against Thagi steal/garrotte them – want to
protect native Indians
The drive 600 deaths a year taking place
against Sati as result of custom
Want to attack caste purity &
presumption of cultural
supremacy inherent in new
law rankled
- 1836-48: number of legal acts passed - Suppression of Thagi became justification for further
outlawing Thagi ‘modernisation’ by Brit
- Led to brit self-congratulation as Thagi only attacked
- Colonel William Sleeman led campaign (began
other Indians – altruistic act
1835) – devoted self to eradication of secret
network. 1k Thagi transported or hanged & 3k
tried & punished
- 1835: created Thugge & Dacoity department
w Sleeman as 1st superintendent
- 1813: Wilberforce forced amendment to 1813 - Very contentious
charter Law to allow missionaries to preach - 1832: petitioners to repeal law – dismissed by Privy
against sati Council
- 1815: vigorous campaign for abolition waged - Bentinck’s efforts materially improved the lot of
by Hindu religious philosopher Ram Mohan women in India
Roy - Both interventions contributed to rumbling discontent
- 1829: Act of Abolition against sati – driven by towards British rule of 1830s & 40s
campaign by evangelical Christians e.g.,
Wilberforce & Governor Bentinck
- Assisting with sati = tried for homicide
- With brit encouragement, many princely
states followed in 1830s & 40s
- 1861: Sati outlaws in all India
- Bentinck also enforced laws passed in 1995 &
1802 against female infanticide

Impact of EIC officials anxious to avoid
missionaries trouble in territory they
controlled as result of clash of
belief systems
- 1st missionaries to arrive in Bengal before end
of 18th century were banned from Calcutta &
forced to settle in nearby Danish territory of
Serampore
- Protestant missionaries arrived in increasing numbers
in India
- Anglicans & Baptists primarily engaged in education of
Indians but also exercised influence on campaigns
against traditions e.g., Sati

Missionaries tried for a

foothold in India - Charles Grant & William Wilberforce to
remove company’s ban of missionaries by
Charter Act 1813
- 1835: Education Act – Bentinck decide to
make English not Persian the lang of gov &
higher legal courts – partially from evangelical
pressure
- 1830: Alexander Duff (missionary form COS) arrived in
Bengal – promoted teaching of English in schools to
attract higher class Hindus to Christianity
- Early missionary activity stimulated Bengal
renaissance – Roy articulated complex response to
western philosophy & learning which adapted
elements of best of Indian & western learning
- Missionary influence vitalised Indian interest in their
own religious traditions & philosophy – western
language did not sweep away ancient languages &
philosophies
- Missionaries added to undercurrents of opposition
that EIC officials faced in trying to collect tax & admin
territories. Officials didn’t have appetite for sweeping
change as had to govern successfully & collect tax.
Missionaries insisted on being poor & living closely w
Indians.
- Missionary presence = long term destabiliser. Local
level: diff strands of opposition to EIC power. Brit only
maintained control because resistance was localised &
sprang up at diff times