INSIGHT XII: Reality of Christian missionaries through the lens of Arun Shourie's book
22 Oct 2022 11:00:42
Namaskar, the new series 'INSIGHT' is an attempt to present the central thought of a thought-provoking book. "Missionaries In India Continuities, Changes, Dilemmas", a book by Shri Arun Shourie compels readers to contemplate various points put forth.
Temple observes that Hinduism and Buddhism were declining but Muhammadanism would hold because it had a rational foundation compared to others (!). He described the large aborigines are "outside the cast" and "do not belong to any old- established religions". Their mind is like a 'clean paper', he urged missionaries to focus them. If they get converted they would form a 'nucleus' or else they would have to turn to Hinduism.
He referred to the training part of missionaries who were viewed by people as 'ministers of benevolence'. He claims that the education, the native Christians received was in contrast with the 'morally unhealthy and degrading education of other children. He portrays a very different picture of the converted natives as 'industrious peasant proprietors', they had never got back to their old faith. They saved a little and helped build chapels.
Missionaries inspired the masses, and spread education to the upper and middle classes also. He took note of the efforts by Indian reformers who worked for the society, but he urged the gathering to help attract these intellectuals to Christianity. He mentioned that education for girls had been started, and thousands of schools(!) were scattered over India.
He even referred to child marriages and early widowhood and the miserable life they had to lead. He thought that finding lady teachers was not easy, but these girls could be encouraged for the job,he suggested a zanana mission to be carried out for middle and upper-class girls. For this task, he appealed educated women of England to help, propogate Christianity and financially help the cause. He thought that it was his duty to present the account of all these facts and place them before all for consideration. Such gatherings and presentations were routinely made by all the civil servants. Hinduism was always depicted as the cause of all the possible immoral practices and superstitions.
So intellectual missionaries were expected to be sent for 'reaping rich harvest'. He would state that Initially the European missionaries ought to work, then natives may be trained. The role of education would be of great influence,he stated. India ,he described as a' mighty bastion' which would be 'battered by heavy artillery '. This was ,the author describes, the government neutral on religious matters.
He referred to the training part of missionaries who were viewed by people as 'ministers of benevolence'. He claims that the education, the native Christians received was in contrast with the 'morally unhealthy and degrading education of other children. He portrays a very different picture of the converted natives as 'industrious peasant proprietors', they had never got back to their old faith. They saved a little and helped build chapels.
Also Read: INSIGHT XI: Reality of Christian missionaries through the lens of Arun Shourie's book
He even referred to child marriages and early widowhood and the miserable life they had to lead. He thought that finding lady teachers was not easy, but these girls could be encouraged for the job,he suggested a zanana mission to be carried out for middle and upper-class girls. For this task, he appealed educated women of England to help, propogate Christianity and financially help the cause. He thought that it was his duty to present the account of all these facts and place them before all for consideration. Such gatherings and presentations were routinely made by all the civil servants. Hinduism was always depicted as the cause of all the possible immoral practices and superstitions.
So intellectual missionaries were expected to be sent for 'reaping rich harvest'. He would state that Initially the European missionaries ought to work, then natives may be trained. The role of education would be of great influence,he stated. India ,he described as a' mighty bastion' which would be 'battered by heavy artillery '. This was ,the author describes, the government neutral on religious matters.