British Language And Culture Changing Customs In India History Essay

British lecture And Culture Changing Customs In India tale EssayThis establish provides investigation of British colonization on India over time with a research brain To what extent British nomenclature and culture contri b arlyed in transplant of springer in India? In devote to answer this head charge I wear narrowed down my research into few subtopics in order to easily re accede f actions which were source of modify of India and its results. The extent of British entice to India has been dealt with. The British regulated and changed the structure of India before the colonization and still refer it even if it is non al ways evident. This field studied and researched in take up branches as linguistics, history and law with the briny sources for this investigation macrocosm anthropological and history books and study cases. Various articles and study cases from British media arouse been bear witnessd as sanitary.Throughout the research, the influence of British c olonization to India has gener all(prenominal) in ally been displayed to a greater extent than than clear from diachronic research, where in order to at a lower placestand site of India and Indians outrightadays we soak up to go back in prehistorical and search the reason, source of situation which ca utilize result, India as it is immediately. Manipulative skills of British were well cognize as their outline to control colonised coun deform not completely their land precisely as well their minds, the way of their thinking even afterwards they had left. This British outline/skill moved(p) India near and it may not be seen at first when bequest India is being watched. However it may be seen and mum when India is studied with diachronically. This is wherefore it may be said that there atomic number 18 no solid rises of methods how the British influenced India. Seeing them depends on the tip we take.T fitted of ContentsBibliography 24IntroductionBritish colonization of India has attracted me since my childhood. coarse Britain is a expanse which has always been taken as an example of a coun show with a great cultural heritage. On the other emplacement there is India, a country with a great history, lot of moralitys, colours, music, food- a cradle of civilization. My research question has developed by reading nearly the books Gardens of Baldapur, Beneath a Marble Sky A Love Story, India Passion, Diaries of Ana Delgado where the influence of the1British Raj on the India relegates establishment and the behaviour of maharajahhs are described.This essay leave investigate how the British colonization influenced various aspects in India with. The follows research question To what extent British words and culture contributed in change of customs duty in India?To answer it I have concentrated on a few sub topics. Firstly, I have the historical background has been explored to sire a clear image of Britain and India of that time and present India. Secondly, subtopics which are evidences of British influence have been analyzed in depth. Historical background has been used to prove how British did influence India. Case studies with themes from sub topics have been examined. Books Colonialism and its forms of acquaintance the British in India Cultural Anthropology A Problem-Based Approach Cultural Anthropology History and culture of India and Five Key Concepts in Anthropological Thinking. Study cases of Somini Sengupta, Indian women careers and British Colonialism and its influence on Indian nightspot were examined.In order to answer my research question I have used encyclopaedias and essays from the internet, books and al put in d i study cases. In essays and books critical overview of this issue is given. in all above menti 1d literature helped me to better know India as a country, then(prenominal) to examine the period of British colonization and terminally to gather enough entropy to present influences of Britain to India.Historical backgroundThe colonization of Asia by European countries carried diffusion, migration, and colonialism, which created European cultural influence.2Britain colonized India after defeating Gurkha (1816.), Sindha (1843.) and Sikha (1849.). India is specific by its complicity and mixes of different devotions, customs rituals, and languages, which were product of active history, revitalization movements and cultural ecology that were present on the Indian subcontinent. Presence of colonization, Britain (British East India Company) or later British Raj wanted revitalization movements where each religious and ethnic crowd had to change its rituals time cultural ecology wanted respect towards cultures. India was too somebodyable to Britain because of its resources and profound geostrategic position.The industrial resources abundant of India are cotton, wool, tea, sugar, rice, silks, saltpetre, indigo, opium and metal. Geostrategic ally it was death t o many an(prenominal) thriving countries of that period and Europeans did not have a upright trade with China where opium was illegal India had good relations with China. slope language and Britain itself had a major influence in India where changing culture, customs, language, educational and smart set systems transformed. India may shortly be described by next twain quotationsMark Twain once said India is the cradle of human race, the kind of speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition.3The culture of India has been shaped by the long history of India, its unique geography and the absorption of customs, traditions and ideas from some of its neighbours as well as by preserving its ancient heritages, which were formed during the Indus Valley refining and evolved further during the Vedic age, rise and decline of Buddhism, Golden age, Muslim conquests and European colonization. Indias great diversity of cultural practices, lan guages, customs, and traditions are examples of this unique co-mingling over the past phoebe bird millennia. India is withal the birth place of several religious systems much(prenominal) as Hindiism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, some of which have had a large influence in other parts of the world. 4British culture and Indian cultures have a great contrast mingled with each other. British culture is simpler if compared to Indian culture. Hindooism is polytheistic religion of majority of the Indian existence believe in. Indian life storystyle system is formed around castes abolished in 1949. but strongly encoded in the structure of society and the thoughts of mass. The contrivecasteis derived from thePortuguesewordcasta, significancelineage,breedorrace. It is the agency which controls the structure of Hindu society. How did this change when the British colonized-came to India?Law SystemThe law system in India under the British colonial rule and after would be explained in this paragraph. Firstly, Britain affected the previous structure of the society of India, consisted of maharajas cardinals who had power over states which they owned still of Muslims, Sikhs and Hinduists and their presence changed from region to region and maharajas were the bingles who were controlling religion masses and decision making some peace. They were making structure of their states so it may mould beat for each religious group.Maharajas were kings which were core of society if the majority of population of wizardness state were affiliated to one religious group for example Hinduisam then structure of state is way out to be organized fit in to rules of that religion in this case caste system but the minority is as well as release to live concord to their religion rules but withal try to adapt to rules of majority. After being under the rule of British pudding stone since 1858. until 1947.structure of Indian society changed a lot. British are well known b y their diplomacy and when they came to India they changed structure society in order to turn benefits.Firstly, the maharajas were not kings anymore, they got lower position in the society and they became princes. The highest position had top executive Victoria and by this they were showing their power over Indians. Maharajas did not totally lose their position but they also lost their power of regnant over their states and citizens, their each action had to be consulted and permitted by the British government. British allowed Indians to live their lives as they did before only to the extent that it did not foil British customs and law. British did not encourage close relationships amongst British and Indians. Maharajas were not allowed to visit foreign countries especially European countries without liberty of British Raj. British not only control conduct their lives as princes but also their personal lives example is when5Maharaja SirJagatjit Singh BahadurofKapurthalawanted to marry his fifth married woman Anita Delgado which was Spanish had to take permission from British to be accepted as legal wife even if she was already his legal wife according to Sikhs laws and this marriage did not have permission of British and she never was allowed to put down in gatherings with core of British government. Another example with like maharaja is when he was going on his trip to Europe he had to expect permission for taking his second wife with him and he was not allowed to.6Indians have been following the British Legal system which made their business relations with British and other International industries easier. This is because Britain colonized more countries than other European countries did and by that structure of their society, governing system, language became used by most of colonized countries. This is reason why British Law System was used. style and EducationIndia is country reach in languages the number of individual languages listed for India is 452, of those, 438 are living languages and 14 have no known speakers7. English has survive one of the main languages in India, taught in naturalises and used widely in business transactions. In order to have easier communication between all parts of India, English and Hindu were chosen as deuce ordained languages. English was now a language of India as the whole country and it had broken the language barriers which were present before and also being one of the business languages of the world made and still makes trading much easier.The British knew psychology well therefore they used it to influence mind and the way of thinking of children rather than trying to influence their parents who had already been mature.The first British schools in India- run by missionaries- were established around 1820, the number of British-education was growing. Indians had adapt up Hindu Colleges providing English education as well as mathematics, natural sciences and westbound philosophy.8Th e aim of attending a British school was often the admission to the Indian civil service. The British education was financed by the EIC and later the government and they were neither traceing nor supporting the institutions teaching Indian education. As mentioned above, education was the easiest way to buzz off Indians think like the British, because if children of five spend the whole day in atmosphere and surrounding where English is spoken and finished the books, then they start behaving as British people and they are be advent British in mind.This example easily may be seen in case of maharajas and their children who were educated in British schools in India or sent to Britain to improve their knowledge. After child grows up and returns to his mother country it does not know much about identity element and tradition of India. They only think as they are thought and that is the only way as it is.Maharaja SirJagatjit Singh BahadurofKapurthalawas one of the maharajas who sent t heir children to Britain for search of better education but later there arose a big conflict when his children grow up and get back to India, they questioned where they belong because they did not understand tradition of India and its complicity in comparison to Britain were they grew but again they were not accepted there also because they are the Indians. As soon as possible they would become princes they would change the laws which they thought are un measurable to everyone. merely society could not feed without those laws because maharaja was seeing his state as Britain and he never matte up and tried to understand Indian multiculturalism and as society could not function without those laws and were reason of upcoming conflicts.An Indian would first go to a bank primary school then to Anglo- vernacular high schools and then after to colleges and few universities which were available in Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.British education produced build of intellectuals who were re ady to change subcontinent India. Most of the students were Hindus and many of them Brahmins because Muslims rejected the British educational programs because of blemish which was done to them because of changing Muslim law system Sharia to British law system and before official Mughal emperors Persian language to English. But at the end they were those who lost chance for improving their education this was one of the reasons why conflicts could not be solved.The British rulers found the Muslims generally more suspicious also because considering them more responsible for the9Sepoy Mutiny in 1857- , led to an unbalanced distribution of British education. Because of higher degree of their education Indians had more power in politics than Muslims did. From this fact it may be seen that politicians were by and large Hindus rattling Brahmins highest cast and know it was controlling the political circle and that is how language affected religion and then nationalism. Brahmins encouraged religious reforms as well as political ones. From this fact it may be said that Muslims actually had no relevant class which would represent their ideas and protect their interests so they had no chance for understanding the situation in which they were and this affected much them in periods of endeavor for independence. Previously education was seen as boundary between all people on Indian subcontinent but later when they understood the meaning of independence and democracy as well as other Western ideas and values their knowledge become as the basis for later struggle for independence and human rights. Today Indians are one of the best grammatically correct English speakers and they are owners of schools with high degrees and they today have a high percentage of people finished higher educational system. pietyDuring their colonial presence the Protestant British had much religious influence on Indian society. Christianity firstly was introduced in 50 A.D. by coming of the Apost le Thomas in order to establish the Christian church.10Lately came also with Portuguese and British. One of the aims of British was to substitute Indians to Christianity it may be seen from discipline of independence which was madeTill India is leavened with Christianity she will be disincline for freedom.11They knew that converting of Indians to Christianity would not be easy because of influence and presence of Muslims. Hindus were very attractive to missionaries in sense that they have already distinction in their religion and imbalance which may be used as argument why they should convert to Christianity. This fact of cast system and untouchables die unstateded because British would give everything what they choose to untouchables as equality, education, freedom which they never had before. Missionaries were very successful in their converting and this was one of the reasons of12Sepoy Munity in 1857. Because soldiers had to fear that the Christian missionaries wanted them to be forced to touch polluted weaponry13in order to have them expelled from their caste and to convert them to Christianity.14Missionaries demanded that the government destroy the caste system because it is barrier in between Indian Christians and rest of society. But for British government is was more meaning(a) to get profit and then if it is possible convert Indians. Some of Hindus were acting that they converted in order to get benefits there are many examples how they were discovered while they children were going to school and talking about Hindu legends. So at the end there actually made Indian mosaic of cultures more complicated than before and base for nationalism in future.SportsCricket was introduced to Indians via British and firstly was played by higher classes and casts. It is now in India as traditional sport and their national team is being arguably the best in the world.Architecture and TransportBritish also influenced Indian architecture and transport which was constructed mostly by maharajas which were raised in Britain. Firstly Britain made railways in India because of easier transport of cotton and other textiles. Railways not only were transport lines but they also brought fortune and misfortune to places and states where it was opened. Railways were outlet through the land of maharajas so permission was asked and if there would be a railway in one state it would also mean that they are going to have strangers in their state mostly and that they are going to have to care about them. It was also issue while British representatives were coming or even passing special ceremony had to be made but that led to high costs and loses of state budget. As state is available to visitors it was also available to robbers and led to expand of infective diseases. British introduced secular buildings in neo- classical and neo gothic styles. Their famed creations are Victoria Station15which was made in honour of the British Empress of India. Edwin Lu tyens architect planned cityscape in New Delhi.16Caste SystemIn the Indian companionable structure there are four varna or colours which are class categories in the Indian society.Castes are groups in which membership is given at birth and which is lifelong. They are divided in five major categories (varna). Each varna has sub- castes jati. People that belong in one caste, can only marry someone in their castes and this practice is called endogamy. If person form higher castes get in touch with lower castes he becomes impure and has to go and bath in scared river Gang. Also there is Sudras a caste which is the lowest class and they are untouchable because they are considered as nothing, just sand. They are not allowed to be educated and cipher in anyway except remove dead bodies of animals or resuscitate water sinks which cannot be done by the higher castes. Higher castes were the Brahmins, priests whose life purpose is teaching, and under them were the Kshattriya castes whose me mbers could operate on as soldiers, politicians, and administrators.There is sometimes a fifth varna untouchables called pariahs or dalit they are at the bottom of the class system. They work as low servants, doing jobs a Hindu is usually forbidden to do, e.g. entombment bodies of animals and unclaimed dead humans.They are considered polluted by caste Hindus and these may not have contact with them and they are also called unseen because they work at night.Concept of purity is very important in Hinduism because do of purity decides in which caste someone belongs. Hindu belief is when one of the higher four varna gets in touch with polluted thing or dalit is temporarily impure and impurity brings bed luck.The main difference between the British and the Indian social values and a central channelize of influence creating social structure was opposite of British individualism and Indian group behaviour and hierarchy. Structure of these two societies is completely different. In Hindu Society core of society is group and individuals around are assay to fit in that group were bigger groups are consisting of smaller ones. In period of colonialism Indian side did not have individual identity they had a group identity. Western Society core is person as individual which may be part of group or not and their individualism was always placed above a social group.It is hard to say how strong the British individualistic influence actually was, through it seems to be very likely that it came indirectly to the people of India through the British education. Today is becoming more individualistic society and examples are going to be mentioned in further reading.HierarchyHierarchy is very important in Indian society and their hierarchical composition is not greenness and same as is other societies is. There are three main criteria first is belonging to one religion group, second post according wealth and profession (materialistic), and then cast system further socio-econom ic class also may be done with gender and race. Mostly their social hierarchy over history is formed around religion it may be seen from Moghul Empire and British colonization. There is a group hierarchy then hierarchy within a family age and gender. All these hierarchies are core of their society even today when cast system is forbidden it may be said that it transformed to rigid class system. While India was hierarchical society Britain and Europe were in process of Enlightenment. baron Victoria announced a declaration of non- interference, constituting that Indian religions and customs would be left alone.17This statement had fundamental flaw the British knowledge concerning Indian religion and customs was very limited. Educational programs, the British influenced the Indian society possibly the best way there is without force.The Indians had the chance to experience a more equal treatment and learned in British schools theoretically about it. Lower casts tried to act the behavio ur of higher caste people. This act is called Sanskrititazion in order to get upward(a) in class and caste. Sanskrititazion means that people of low status adopt the behaviours and attributes of castes of Brahminical status mentioned in religious texts in Sanskrit.18By coming of British this act is replaced by westernization were Indians imitate the prestigious Englishmen in order to more upward in the social hierarchy. The census officials were recording a statistical info about Indians they were doing questionnaires which include gender, living condition, nationality, race, tribe, religion and caste. By results of this research they could get whole picture of Indian society.Human rightsIndia is one of the countries in which this theme is spoken mostly. India has problems with nationalism, racism, gender inequality, death punishment. British rose awareness about human rights by educating Indians. Before and in nowadays still sati ritual is preformed in rural areas that is a ritual were a husband dies his family is allowed to drop his alive wife with him. Hindus are scarifying people for getting a pity of gods. Performance of these rituals is punishable for years but it is still present.Gender inequality also was present but in nowadays women have her freedom and right to chose what she wants and they allowed to work. In some cases permission of parents and husband is needed. Nationalism is present since British colonized India and took maharajas their power of ruling. These problems arose because of setting laws which are not applicable for this complex society and they are given by British.ConclusionTo conclude this essay I will repeat the research question and try to answer it from here To what extent British language and culture contributed in change of customs in India?The British are known for their dainty and strategical ways of fighting. During colonization, many powers invested a lot of money in building memorials and other architecture that resem bled their style and culture and in this way they celebrated their accomplishements and made sure everyone knew that they were the ones that are ruling that region. The British, however, did not have that kind of an approach. They invested in colonizing the country (India) when they knew that they would have benefits from that.The British had more strategies and plans for the art of the colonized land. For example, the first phase was sending out missionaries that would convert the population of that region into Christians. This strategy was only possible for Sudan but not for India in which religion was the core of society and their attempts at converting were unsuccessful. Their next phase was commit money in building railways where they would be able to export the resources from India to Europe. In addition, they have also invested in education where they would attempt at influencing the Indians minds and their thinking. Because of all these reasons, it was very hard to say and find physical evidence that the British had an impact on India. If we research India today, it is difficult to say if the way India is today is because of the impact of globalization or because of British influence.19Franz Boas researched movements of people from Europe to the States and he said that parents who came from Europe differ from their children who were born in the States by the way they act because they did not grow in the same environment, circumstances and family background. From anthropological ideology there have to be something changed through the years in India and even if it is not seen clearly.Also, we cannot find physical evidence of their psyhcological influence if we study and research the present. However, by studying India diachronically and holistically, we would be able to find evidences of British influence.After East India Company, Britsh Raj and all movements for independence final outcome was division of country according to their religion belonging t o India Hindu believers and Pakistan Muslim believers. India chose to be a secular country. British made a base for nationalism which arose and made huge conflict between two major religious groups in India. British Raj fall affected India economically and still is affecting. It took a long time for the Indians to come out of poverty. The British looted many natural resources including cotton and wool.Poverty is also present because of huge changes in country their core of society is no more religion and their rules are made according to democracy and human rights. At end I may conclude that British had positive and invalidating influences on Indian subcontinent but without those influences India would not be what it is today.