Religious ferment in modern India
- New Delhi Heritage 1981
- 185 p.
Religious Ferment in Modern India is written in two parts by two scholars whose research has concentrated in the religious history of India. Dr. French's section traces develop- ments from the beginning of the British presence in India till the end of the 19th century. This explores the impact of the British economic interests, Utilitarian philosophy and Christian missionaries, and the Indian response which began first to crystallize in Raja Rammohan Roy and the Brahmo Samaj, and then in various other movements and perso- nalities. Particular concerns of the nineteenth century such as women's rights and religion and nationalism are explored in detail. Part Two, by Dr. Sharma, continues the drama of the earlier movements, but focusses on issues such as Hindu-Moslem rivalry and the growing drive for indepen- dence, as religion gave impetus to it in men such as Tilak, Gandhi, Jinnah, Ambedkar, etc. This part consciou- sly terminates at what is defined as a large measure of modernity, political independence, as India in 1947 cros- sed the threshold into all dimensions of the challenge of swaraj.