Constructing Nationhood in Modern East Asia Book

Thomas R. Metcalf's The New Cambridge History of India, Volume 3, Part 4: Ideologies of the Raj is an interesting hypothesis of the British ideology which helped them legitimize the colonization of India despite the British people having a history of democratic ideals for their own society and people. The author has done painstaking research and extensively researched the literature available on the subject, thereby producing an imminently readable book on a complex topic. The book is part of a multi-volume series on Indian history and sociology that has been recently updated by the Cambridge University Press

The author asserts that there were two conflicting ideologies that the British struggled with reconciling as they justified their colonization of India. The first ideology was the broader British ideal of democracy and their desire for representation of all people in government that they cherished in their own country. They liked to believe they could introduce this into the Indian sub-continent and allow an ancient country to be restored to its glory. This ideology however conflicted with their desire to control the country and to exploit its colony, and hence another ideology was developed over time. It was an ideology of "the enduring differences and oriental despotism of the people in warmer climates." This allowed the British to categorize the Indian population as inherently indolent due to the hot, humid weather; explain its different customs and traditions; its subjugation under foreign rulers for centuries and; most importantly, justify the continued need for oversight by the British to bring order and chaos to the people of the sub-continent. Some of the sociologists went on to further categorize the various Indian communities based on theories of physical characteristics, local geographic conditions, etc. to suit their perceptions of the various communities within India.

The book does an excellent job of showing how these ideologies impacted the day-to-day administration and life of the British who lived in colonial India giving examples based on actual historical events and the British lifestyle in colonial India. There is also a very interesting epilogue in the end that talks about how this ideology towards the people from the Indian sub-continent continued to persist even after the sub-continent gained independence from the British. It is witnessed towards the people from the Indian sub-continent who emigrated to the United Kingdom. These immigrants even today have not fully assimilated and continue to be viewed by many Britishers as people who are inherently different from them.

Overall, this book is an excellent analysis of a complex topic that has been written in a matter-of-fact, easy-to-read, and extremely engrossing manner. It is a must read for anyone who is interested in understanding the mindset of the British towards colonial India.