________________
INTRODUCTION
xvii
languages, English was now adopted as the Court language and medium of instruction for the whole of India. Laws striking at the religious beliefs and social customs of the major Indian communities were enacted one after another with the main aim of tightening the British grip of India, though declaredly for the welfare of the Indians, and they were enforced everywhere with all strictness. The new rulers now also felt that their task ahead would be rendered considerably easier if the two major religions of India were forthwith uprooted and replaced by their own faith, viz., Christianity. Enthusiastic co-operation in respect of steps in this direction naturally came from the missionaries, who were at this juncture extremely elated at their kinsmen's late sweeping successes in Christianising the ignorant aboriginal masses of the Continents of Africa and America.
nise India
Steps were accordingly commenced per a cleverly drawn semi-secret plan which not only Plan to Christia- involved country-wide preaching propaganda, fair or foul, by the missionaries but also meant to take full advantage of social splits and loopholes, conventions and prejudices based on superstition, and weaknesses of reason and sentiment prevailing among the Hindus and the Mohammedans, especially the former. All State aid to temples and mosques was stopped abruptly and huge funds from the State Exchequer were showered on churches and their bishops. High social status, State employment on high salaries, and other sorts of social and pecuniary attractions were allowed to be associated with converShree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
