Imperialism in “a Passage to India”

Imperialism  in “A Passage to India”

When the novel “A Passage to India” was first published in 1924, India was a British colony. The Indian people were ruled by Britain. They were treated as subject people and relations between them and the British were intolerant and unpleasant. Although, “A Passage to India” is a symbolic novel, I believe it also aimed to be a somewhat realistic documentation of the British imperialistic approach in India, primarily in Chandrapore, a fictional city along the Ganges River, known only for the nearby Marabor caves.

Forster's most controversial argument against imperialism in his novel was that it prevented personal relationships, and I believe this was his message to the reader. The British failed to realize the value of human relationship while they were ruling over the Indians. Forster spends large sections of the novel characterizing the different attitudes the English held toward the Indians, whom they controlled. It was this control which brings up the “white man's burden” ideology, which is conveyed throughout the novel. This imperialist ideology stresses how the British have an obligation to be in India. I believe this ideology was used to justify imperialism. The British kept a sense of morality to imperialism's oppression and exploitation by viewing Indians as poor, weak and inferior. This kind of ideology only formed a large gap between the English and the Indians and friendship or equal treatment was obsolete. The English characters in the novel suffered from a sense of superiority, while the Indian characters were looked down upon.

Chapter 2 begins with Mahmoud Ali and Hamidullah arguing on the question, “Is it possible for the Indians to be friends with the English?” The characters in the novel showed an overall lack of understanding and respect for the other people's opinions, actions and thoughts. The differences of faith and culture further made it impossible for the British and Indians to co-exist peacefully. The Indian characters, such as Hamidullah, who commented on the changes that occur to the British once they adjusted to the imperialist lifestyle with the following quote, “Yes, they have no choice here, that is my point. They come out intending to be gentlemen and are told it will not do... I give any Englishman two years... And I give any Englishwoman six months.” (page 9)

The separation of power between the English and Indians characters remain a stubborn gap between them brought about by colonial power. This gap was best seen in the character of Ronny Heaslop. Ronny is an example of the typical British official who acts unconcerned with personal friendships and with connecting to Indians. When Mrs. Moore and Adela question on the way Sahibs treat Indians, Ronny answered, “I am out here to work, mind, to hold this wretched country by force. I'm not a missionary or a Labour Member or a vague sentimental sympathetic literary man. I'm just a servant of the Government... We're not pleasant in India, and we don't intend to be pleasant. We've something more important to do.” (page 45)

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