CHRONICLES OF THE RAJ

CHRONICLES OF THE RAJ

By the same author KIPLING'S 'LAW': A STUDY OF HIS PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

CHRONICLES OF THE RAJ A Study of Literary Reaction to the Imperial Idea towards the End of the Raj SHAMSUL ISLAM

Shamsul Islam I 979 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1979 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission First published 1979 by THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD London and Basingstoke Associated companies in Delhi Dublin Hong Kong Johannesburg Lagos Melbourne New York Singapore Tokyo British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Islam, Shamsul Chronicles of the Raj I. India in literature 2. English literature - I 9th century - History and criticism 3. English literature - 2oth century - History and criticism I. Title ISBN 978-1-349-03517-5 ISBN 978-1-349-03515-1 (ebook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-03515-1 This book is sold subject to the standard conditions of the Net Book Agreement

TO AYESHA who nearly ate the manuscript

Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgements lx Xl I INTRODUCTION The imperial idea and the Raj Kipling and the Raj Aim, scope and significance of this study 2 E. M. FORSTER The Marabar Caves: Forster's vision of India The Indians: Hindus versus Muslims The princely order The Raj in action Conclusion: Approaches to reality 3 E. J. THOMPSON Historical objectivity: Non-fiction Violent nationalism: A Farewell to India Conclusion: Divided sympathies 4 GEORGE OR WELL Approaches to the Raj: Non-fiction Reality of the Raj: Burmese Days Conclusion: The Raj is not so bad after all 5 JOHN MASTERS Something of Myself: Bugles and a Tiger and The Road Past Mandalay The Mutiny: Nightrunners of Bengal I I 4 I3 I5 I9 24 28 33 42 45 46 52 6o 63 68 73 82 86 92 Vll

Vlll Contents Towards freedom: Bhowani junction 96 Conclusion: We are here to stay 100 6 EPILOGUE 103 Notes 105 Bibliography 117 Index 127

Abbreviations RUDYARD KIPLING DE Rudyard Kipling's Verse, 'Definitive Edition' E. M. FORSTER AH Abinger Harvest HD The Hill of Devi PI A Passage to India TC Two Cheers for Democracy E. J. THOMPSON EI Enlist India for Freedom! FI A Farewell to India LI A Letter from India RI The Reconstruction of India GEORGE ORWELL BD Burmese Days R W The Road to Wigan Pier JOHN MASTERS BJ Bhowani junction BT Bugles and a Tiger NB Nightrunners of Bengal RM The Road Past Mandalay IX

Acknowledgements I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to Professor Alan Heuser of the English Department at McGill University for going through the typescript and for many sessions oflong and patient discussion on the subject. Although, because of my own limitations, I could not incorporate all the suggestions made by Professor Heuser, I remain beholden to him for valuable advice and constructive criticism. This study was made possible by the grant of a leave of absence by Panjab University, a simultaneous appointment at the Universite de Montreal during 1976-7 and a later appointment at McGill University during 1977-8. In this respect I am particularly obliged to Professor William Kinsley, Chairman of the English Department at the Universite de Montreal and Professor Peter Ohlin, Chairman of the English Department at McGill University. I am very grateful to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for the award of a generous grant that enabled me to examine specialised source material in England and the Indo Pakistan sub-continent. Among other institutions and persons who assisted me, I must mention the British Council, which did an excellent job by putting me in touch with certain scholars and institutions in Britain. Professor J. M. S. Tompkins, the distinguished Kipling scholar, constantly urged me to go ahead with this project and thus avoid being 'a one-book man'. Professor A. P. Thornton of the History Department at Toronto University also encouraged me. Mr Philip Mason was most kind in agreeing to meet me though unfortunately in the end I could not include him in this study. Dr R. J. Bingle of the India Office Library was also very helpful in many ways. I remain beholden to all these persons. The publishers and I wish to thank the following who have kindly given permission for the use of copyright material: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc. for the extracts from A Passage to India by E. M. Forster; Ernest Benn Ltd for the extracts from A Farewell to India by E. J. Thompson; A. M. Heath & XI

xn Acknowledgements Co. Ltd on behalf of Mrs Sonia Brownell Orwell and the Orwell Estate for the extracts from The Road to Wigan Pier, Burmese Days and Collected Essays by George Orwell, published by Martin Seeker & W arburg Ltd. If by some mischance I have failed to seek permission or acknowledge where I should have done so, I hope those concerned will accept my apologies. s. I.