Social and Cultural Policy

The Bengal Renaissance (18th-19th centuries) was a cultural and intellectual movement that revived Indian culture, challenged British cultural hegemony and shaped modern Indian identity through social reform and literary innovations. In the context of British cultural policies, the Bengal Renaissance holds importance for the following reasons –

• The Bengal Renaissance was a response to British cultural imperialism, which sought to impose Western values and culture on Indian society. Indian intellectuals and reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar resisted this imposition by promoting Indian culture, language and traditions.
• The Bengal Renaissance led to a revival of interest in Indian culture, literature and philosophy. This movement helped to rediscover and reinterpret India’s rich cultural heritage, which had been marginalized by British colonialism.
• The Bengal Renaissance played a crucial role in shaping modern Indian identity. It helped to create a sense of national pride and self awareness among Indians, which laid the foundation for the Indian nationalist movement.
• The Bengal Renaissance challenged British cultural hegemony by promoting Indian languages, literature and art. This movement helped to create a space for Indian cultural expression and assertion, which undermined British cultural dominance.
• The Bengal Renaissance had a significant impact on social reform in India. Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar worked to eradicate social evils like sati, child marriage and polygamy which were prevalent in Indian society at that time.

In conclusion, the Bengal Renaissance was a significant cultural and intellectual movement that resisted British cultural imperialism, revived Indian culture and helped shape modern Indian identity. Its influence can still be seen in Indian society, culture and politics today.

The British view of Indian culture significantly influenced their policies and governance in India. Here are some ways.

View of Indian Culture as “Backward” and “Uncivilized” –

• The British viewed Indian culture as inferior leading to a patronizing attitude towards Indians and their customs.
• The British imposed Western values and institutions on Indian society disregarding traditional Indian practices and customs.
• The British promoted English language and literature suppressing Indian languages and literary traditions.

View of Indian Culture as “Exotic” and “Oriental” –

• The British romanticized Indian culture, viewing it as exotic and oriental which led to a fascination with Indian art, architecture and literature.
• The British collected and appropriated Indian artifacts leading to the depletion of India’s cultural heritage.

Impact on Governance –

• The British created a new elite class of Indians who were educated in Western ways and values leading to a disconnect between the rulers and the ruled.
• The British disregarded traditional Indian institutions and customs leading to a loss of cultural identity and heritage.
• The British introduced legislative reforms that were often at odds with traditional Indian customs and practices leading to social and cultural upheaval.

British policies in India influenced traditional art forms and craftsmanship leading to decline of patronage, introduction of Western art and commercialization of Indian art impacting traditional crafts.British policies had a significant impact on traditional art forms and craftsmanship in India. Here are some ways in which British policies influenced traditional Indian art.

Influence on Traditional Art Forms –

• The British East India Company’s expansion led to the decline of patronage for traditional art forms as Indian rulers and nobles lost power and wealth.
• The British introduced Western art forms such as oil painting and sculpture which influenced Indian artists and led to the development of new art forms.
• The British encouraged the commercialization of Indian art leading to the mass production of crafts and art pieces for export.

Impact on Craftsmanship –

• The British imposed tariffs and taxes on Indian crafts leading to a decline in traditional craftsmanship.
• The British introduced machine made goods which competed with traditional Indian crafts and led to a decline in demand.
• However, the British also took steps to preserve traditional Indian crafts such as the establishment of the Indian Museum in Kolkata.

Revival of Traditional Art Forms –

• The nationalist movement in India led to a renewed interest in traditional Indian art forms and craftsmanship.
• The artistic revival of the early 20th century led by artists such as Abanindranath Tagore sought to revive traditional Indian art forms and techniques.
• The Indian government has since taken steps to support and promote traditional Indian art forms and craftsmanship including the establishment of institutions such as the National Crafts Museum.