10
Chapter 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES
2.0 Prologue
The review of literature is a fundamental and indispensable part in the process of research. It is considered as one of the earliest steps while planning a research work. The review of literature is carried out in order to identify related research already conducted in the area of the study going to be undertaken and to get acquainted with the literature generated in that area. Through an organized study of literature, the research problem can be identified and framed and the relevance of the study can be determined. An analysis of the literature thus acquired also helps in deciding the method and procedures to be adopted and locating sources of information. The review of literature also helps to contextualize the undergoing study in the framework of a larger spectrum of investigation and make comparative studies with related research which helps in the discussion and interpretation of results. For the present study on role of the Christian missionaries in the development of libraries in West Bengal during the 19
th
century, a methodical review of literature on the theme had been carried out to identify correlated research and literature available. The researcher has tried to scan the literature relevant to the present study as far as possible. Efforts have been made to find out and make a study of books, chapters in books, doctoral theses, journal articles and also unpublished documents from archives which had been considered related to the study. Altogether 144 reviews have been included to provide clear view of the development of the different facets related to the study. Efforts have been made to highlight on the research works conducted on the role of the Christian missionaries in the larger context of Indian society as a whole in the field of social work, betterment of the condition of women, upliftment of the marginalised, development of education, language and literature. Works related to the activities of the Christian missionaries in West Bengal have been incorporated. The studies conducted in the field of development of libraries In India and also missionary libraries have been explored.
11 Based on these different facets, the reviews have been arranged under the following subheadings.
Further, these reviews have been arranged chronologically among the below mentioned sub-groups.
1.
Christianity and missionaries in India 2.
Women missionaries and influence on Indian women 3.
Missionaries and education 4.
Missionaries and language, literature and journalism 5.
Missionaries and Bengal 6.
Baptist Missionary Society and Serampore College 7.
The Church of England
and Bishop‘s College
8.
Church of Scotland and Scottish Church College
9.
The Jesuits and St. Xavier‘s Col
lege
10.
Church Missionary Society
and St.Paul‘s Cathedral Mission College
11.
History of libraries in India 12.
Missionaries and their Libraries
2.1 Christianity and missionaries in India
Pathak
(1964) made an analytic study of the ventures and impact of American Protestant missionaries in India for a period of almost hundred years from 1813 to 1910. Missionaries from Britain, Europe and America as well had engaged in extensive missionary work in India and were instrumental in contributing to advancement of education and bringing about social changes. The researcher had presented his study in two segments. In the first segment he dealt with the contribution of the American Protestant missionaries in the field of education and social work from 1830 to 1870 along with discussion on the history of founding and gradual development of American missions. In the second segment he focussed on the time from 1870 to 1910 when American missions reached a period of maturity and continued to make significant contributions towards education, medical and welfare work. The American missionaries by this time gradually developed a liberal outlook towards India.
12
Davidson
(1973) studied the development of the British Missionary movement and consequent impact on India from 1786 to 1830. He reviewed the formation and growth of every significant missionary society and their considerable interest in India as suitable for carrying out missionary operations. The researcher presented an account of the writings of the missionaries and analysed their outlook towards religion, culture, society and way of life of people of India, as revealed in their writings. He particularly focussed on studying various methods adopted by the missionary societies and also individual missionaries for propagating and establishing their viewpoints. For the purpose of missionary propaganda, annual meetings were held, itinerating preachers were employed, and missionary papers and publications including religious periodicals,
pamphlets, sermons, and children‘s stories were ta
ken recourse to. The researcher examined all these primarily in the context of the way they portrayed India and used for propagation of Christianity.
Chaturvedi
(1978) delineated the relationship that existed between the Mughal emperors and the Christian m
issionaries viz. the Jesuit fathers. Beginning from 1570‘s
several eminent Jesuit fathers frequently visited the court of Emperor Akbar. The researcher discussed how Emperor Akbar extended liberal patronage towards the Jesuits, encouraged translation of Bible and other Christian texts into Persian, Arabic, and Hindustanee languages, granted permission to build churches, to preach and teach to the common people and allowed certain Christian rituals to be publicly practiced
.
There was an increase in the number of converts, though mass conversion did not take place as the emperors themselves did not embrace Christianity. Christian texts and paintings also profoundly influenced Mughal art. Several members of the nobility received education from the Jesuit fathers. Akbar's enthusiasm for translations and benefaction extended towards the Jesuits was certainly not carried further with the same vigour by his successors. The Jesuits Fathers were given considerable importance during Jahangir's reign as well. Shah Jahan however, did not evince considerable interest and was to some extent hostile towards the Jesuits. The work is important in the sense that it is one of the few works which shed light on the history of the involvement of the Mughal emperors and the Jesuits.
Dena
(1983) in his study made an attempt to examine and evaluate the missionary movement in Manipur and Lushai hills during the later part of the 19
th
century and the
13 first half of the 20
th
century from the colonial perspective. The significance of Christian missions and the important contribution made by the missionaries towards civilising the unrestrained tribal people in these parts of the country had been emphasized. The relation between the East India Company and the missionaries in India from 1793 to 1813 had been briefly discussed. The various missionary societies, the beginning of their work and expansion in Manipur and Lushai hills had been described. The study dealt with the conflicts and cooperation between various mission societies, the further expansion of missionary frontier and the causes of constraints and implications of mission-government collaborations. It also provided an account of the motivating forces behind the missionary movement, its method of work and its impact on the tribal society.
Dhall
(1994) gave a detailed account of the spread of Christianity in India from the time of St.Thomas. The researcher also discussed the beginning and spread of the Orissa Mission and activities of the different congregations stationed in different parts of Orissa. The British Baptists dominated the largest area of missionary work in Orissa. The researcher delineated their pioneering contribution towards establishing educational institutions, and the modern printing press. The earliest journals were also published by them. When the Oriya language faced severe attack from some Englishmen and non-Oriyas, it was saved only by the sustained efforts of the literary and linguistic works done by the Printing Press. The Baptist missionaries had written treatise on some social and religious customs in India and Orissa like Sati, Meria infanticide, etc. and were successful in influencing the British Government towards enacting legislations for suppressing these inhuman practices. Considerable services rendered by the female missionaries amongst the women in Orissa had been highlighted.
Jayadev
(1996) assessed the contribution of Christian missionaries towards development of education, literature, printing, journalism, architecture and music in the State of Mysore. The contributions of missionaries towards improvement of medical service, industrial development, agricultural farms, famine relief, emancipation of women, removal of untouchability, etc. had been discussed. The history of Christian missionary work was closely linked with the political developments of the period. The study began with the development of the Mysore mission in the middle of the 17
th