Overview:
Philanthropists Jean S. and Federic A. Sharf donated a collection of personal photo albums to the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum in Miami Beach, Florida. These photo albums captured various aspects of British colonial rule and everyday life in British India. The Northwest Frontier album specifically captured the growing presence and influence of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in India from 1910 to 1912. During this time a CMS executive was sent to inspect the progress of the mission. This executive traveled all across India, visiting the regions of Peshawar, Amritsar, Mussoorie, Simla, and Lahore. Unfortunately, no further information is provided on the creators of this photo album.
The Northwest Frontier album depicts the assimilation and conformity of Indians to Christianity, the predominate religion of the British. In Asrapur, Indians are seen celebrating Christian melas. These festivities had long been held during Hindu religious holidays. In Arjada we see Indians gathered together for perhaps their first Christmas. In another, we see a Reverend passing judgment to an Indian. Elsewhere, patients seek medical attention from CMS owned hospitals. Outpatients without immediate medical attention are in church seeking healing through the gospel.
From this photo album, I have curated a digital exhibit supporting Cohn’s argument that the British sought to learn, reshape and control all spheres of everyday life and society in India. This the British accomplished through various investigative modalities, of which you will see in the following images. Additionally, the British sought to showcase their power in India by undertaking a colonial project of state building. My digital exhibit captures British state building and control in both health care and religious institutions. Everyday Britons directly involved in providing health care and religious instruction spearheaded Indian assimilation and conformity to Christianity and the British way of life. At the same time, this exhibit showcases everyday Britons refusal to assimilate with Indians. Notably, they retained their style of clothing. Cohn wrote how the British employed a “system of codes of conduct which constantly distanced them – physically, socially, and culturally – from their Indian subjects,” (Cohn 111). This was done to preserve British honor and dignity. Refusal to assimilate helped to further impose British culture, ideology and authority in India.
Images and Descriptive Analysis:
- Learning the language; CMS church, Amritsar & Rev. Farl.
In Amritsar, a British Reverend is learning the vernacular of the land. Perhaps he is learning Hindi or Urdu. Cohn notes how the first step in colonial rule was to learn the local languages. This knowledge was necessary to “issue commands, collect taxes, maintain law and order and to create other forms of knowledge about the people they were ruling,” (Cohn 4). This task assigned to ordinary, everyday Britons was important in that they would go on to educate their fellow brethren of these languages. This Reverend in particular probably used language to manipulate the spoken word of God to define Indians’ religious space.
- The Chief Bishop of Tarn Taran gives judgement ; The C.B. of Tarn Taran receives gifts [of fish].
Here the Reverend Chief is passing judgment to an Indian Christian. This is significant as it shows the increasing acceptance of the British in India, let alone their religious beliefs. Little do they know that this is a façade to garner control over them. Interestingly, in the second picture, directly below, the Reverend is seated while the Indians stand for the photo-op. This is done by the Indians as a show of respect to their Reverend. Additionally, we see that Indian clothing is becoming increasingly reminiscent of the British. For example, here the Indians’ collars are Western in style, not the typical band collars once used.
- Outpatients listening to the gospel
Outpatients are being treated without actual admission into hospitals. Instead, these outpatients find themselves listening to gospel at church. They are here because they believe than an almighty God can cure them of their injuries and illnesses. Their belief in religion is providing them hope and comfort. The British successfully employed historical and observational modalities to learn of Indians strong ties to religion. Consequently, they have shaped the context of religion, instilling Christianity as means to control.
- B.’s bungalow & c. Tarn Taran ; Idols stored away in a [godown?], Tarn Taran.
The British used survey modalities to identify and understand the cultural significance of religious statues and archeological sites. The description reads that these idols have been removed from public, possibly because there is no longer a use for them. These idols may have been replaced by their Christian counterparts as means to remove Indian tradition and expression. It is important to note that these stored idols were still visited by some Indians.
- Christian mela at Asrapur ; Sikh high priest at Christian Mela at Asrapur.
Everyday Britons and Indians gather together at a Christian mela in Asrapur. These are gatherings of joy and happiness. Such festivities are celebrated with food, clothing, spectacle, song and dance. However, these melas were observed during Hindu religious holidays. Here the British have tweaked a familiar, long held tradition to further instill Christianity and colonial rule.
- CMS church, Ajnala ; Ditto.
- CMS Hospital. Peshawar ; Caravan passing through the Khyber Pass.
These two images symbolize the Britons’ progress in state building in India. Increasingly prevalent are Church Missionary Society owned churches and hospitals. There is a transition from rural, baron lands to the emergence of populated, urban sites. This is the civilization of India as per British standards, brought forth by the inhabiting, everyday Britons.
Further Thoughts:
Cohn states that the British gathered and applied information on India through the use of investigative modalities. The British worked to understand India’s history, culture and system of government. Through this understanding, the British explored opportunities to exploit and manipulate. Every facet of life would have to be understood, redefined and dominated to establish British authority and colonial rule. This was undertaken in the colonial project through state building and the civilizing of Indians. This digital exhibit highlights the British establishing control through religion, clothing and the building of key infrastructure such as churches and hospitals. Cohn fails to stress the great role everyday Britons had in carrying out this colonial project.
- Cohn mentions that state building occurred mutually amongst colonizer and colonies. Considering the British ruled in India for nearly 200 years, what sort of state building may have occurred back in Britain?
- Cohn mentions Britain’s usage of various investigative modalities. Which investigative modality was most crucial in establishing colonial rule over India? Is there ever one best investigative modality to use or does it differ case to case basis?
Cohn, Bernard S. Colonialism and its Forms of Knowledge the British in India. Princeton, NJ: Princeton U Press, 2006. Print.
- http://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF037711/00001/12j?search=northwest+%3dfrontier
- http://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF037711/00001/23j?search=northwest+%3dfrontier
- http://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF037711/00001/7j?search=northwest+%3dfrontier
- http://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF037711/00001/26?search=northwest+%3dfrontier
- http://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF037711/00001/16?search=northwest+%3dfrontier
- http://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF037711/00001/32?search=northwest+%3dfrontier
- http://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF037711/00001/8?search=northwest+%3dfrontier