Indians in Victorian Childrens Narratives: Animalizing the Native, 1830-1930

(Hardback)

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The genesis of the history of British colonization in India is often traced to traders, merchants, and the formation of the British East India Company. While this is indisputable, what is ignored is the creation and perpetual fueling of the steady stream of British officers into the Indian economy that happened due to the continuing efforts of British people and society. How did this ensue In the contemporary world when we talk of the transnational terror networks we are filled with awe when we find children being engineered to the vocation of violence. However, this was true even of the earlier times when writers (albeit politely!) hid the colonial ideology within their literature. The children perhaps were tantalized by the beauties abroad, by the tigers, the rhinos, the native Rajas! The use of animal imagery was conspicuous in such literature. This kind of narrative discourse was targeted not only at baby patriots but also at young adults, appealing them with adventurous stories of colonization in India. Through stories, museums, objects; the British children were continuously bombarded with knowledge of the colonies and its alluring bounties. These could be obtained only if the children would study them religiously, internalize the process of travel and looting; and actually reach the destination to perpetuate the imperial agenda. This book encapsulates the agenda of consciously training British children through underscoring resources and fauna in India pursued by the British society in the nineteenth century Victorian England.

Reviews

The authors examination of the orientalist and colonialist ideologies underpinning British childrens literature from 1830-1930 is an important addition to the study of British culture. By examining a variety of texts such as pamphlets about the Great Exhibition, Alphabet picture books, animal imagery in Edward Lears narratives, and the adventure stories of Kipling, Frances Burnett, and G.A. Henty , this book offers a broad range of texts that demonstrate how young British children were prepared to be colonial masters. This is a valuable addition to scholarly studies of childrens literature and colonialism. -- Nalini Iyer, Seattle University
Shilpa Bhat Daithota's scholarly research reveals startling facts as she uncovers the underlying basics of indoctrination of the British children of the colonies. Written at the expense of the dignity of the natives, the allegories of the Empire with animal stories are brought back to us by Daithota and the resulting impact on the reader is impeccable. The reader is educated again. This time about the dark principles of the colonial primary education. -- Rucha Brahmbhatt, Samarpan Arts & Commerce College

Author Bio

Shilpa Bhat Daithota is assistant professor at Ahmedabad University, Gujarat