The arrival of increasing numbers of British women was the most significant cause of
the clash of cultures between the British and the Indians in the 18th and 19th century
India. How far do you agree?
The arrival of increasing numbers of British women contributed to pre-existing cultural
tensions evident in the dissent that existed between the British and Indian perceptions of
religious principles as well as cultural traditions. The clash of cultures that emerged in
the 18th and 19th century India was predominantly the result of religious and cultural
change due to the perception amongst Indians of disrespect toward Hindu beliefs from
their British settlers and East India Company workers. This ignited a sense of
widespread nationalism across the country in opposition to British Imperialism. The
1857 rebellion was sparked following the rumour of pig and cow grease found in
cartridges amongst the sepoys which was deemed to be insulting to the Indian culture
and religion, the most significant cause of the clash of cultures. Also, the sense of
cultural superiority upheld by the East India Company staff was crucial for creating the
circumstances of cultural clash, alongside the arrival of British Christian missionary
activity, particularly with regard to education which fueled these tensions to further
enhance resentment of British Imperialism. Additionally, reforms under Lord Dalhousie
as governor amplified a clashing of cultures by having a legal and administrative impact
on culture, however, these factors are less important than the religious reforms because
they were less significant indirectly leading to the outbreak of the Indian rebellion
although they undeniably contribute to widespread cultural clashes which culminated in
the Indian rebellion.
The arrival of increasing numbers of British women was a contributing factor to the
clash of cultures between the British and the Indians however it was not the most
significant cause. The arrival of British women in India reinforced a sense of growing
cultural division between the East India Company, its employees, and Indians. Racial
intermingling became socially taboo having been previously commonplace in the 18th
century as a white society developed in which mixed-raced children were ostracized. In
1780 approximately one-third of English men had children with Indian women, however,
this significantly decreased by the 1850s according to William Dalrymples book on
'White Mughals'. Several women traveled to India speculating that they might find a
husband and a new life. Sometimes called The Fishing Fleet, thousands of girls set off
for this new foreign land due to enormous pressures to marry. A girl without a significant
fortune or looks might find it hard to find a match in the UK and would be driven to
undertake the difficult and dangerous journey to India. Once married, British women
found their lives constrained by a patriarchal system. The increasing num...
