Masks of Conquest: Literary Study and British Rule in India

by Gauri Viswanathan

A revision of the author's Ph.D thesis (Columbia U.) in which she examines the history of English literature instruction in India, how English studies became an instrument of political control, and the continuing implications of the uses to which literary works were put in the service of British imperialism. Originally published (cloth) in 1989. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Theory, Post Colonial, Education, Criticism, India

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Neer]

Interesting analysis of how the study of English literature was part of the imperialist project for social and political control over the sub-continent. Nobinchunder Dass' essay is an eye-opener as regards how education became a tool for control.

*
First Line: This book is about the institution, practice, and ideology of English studies introduced in India under British colonial rule.

[Sudha kumari]

Book offers interesting insights on how moral colonialism is propagated through presumptions of intellectual inferiority and gratification; and these intrigues apply at many levels of human social interactions as well. Nice read.

[Madhubrata]

underwhelming, especially if you get to this after outside the fold

[anushkabx]

“they who listened with rapture to the songs of the bards, overran the provinces of those who were charmed with the fairy tale.” like a gong to the head….genius, articulate, invigorating