- Modern Indian History Tutorial
- Modern Indian History - Home
- Decline of Mughal Empire
- Bahadur Shah I
- Jahandar Shah
- Farrukh Siyar
- Muhammad Shah
- Nadir Shah’s Outbreak
- Ahmed Shah Abdali
- Causes of Decline of Mughal Empire
- South Indian States in 18th Century
- North Indian States in 18th Century
- Maratha Power
- Economic Conditions in 18th Century
- Social Conditions in 18th Century
- Status of Women
- Arts and Paintings
- Social Life
- The Beginnings of European Trade
- The Portuguese
- The Dutch
- The English
- East India Company (1600-1744)
- Internal Organization of Company
- Anglo-French Struggle in South India
- The British Conquest of India
- Mysore Conquest
- Lord Wellesley (1798-1805)
- Lord Hastings
- Consolidation of British Power
- Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856)
- British Administrative Policy
- British Economic Policies
- Transport and Communication
- Land Revenue Policy
- Administrative Structure
- Judicial Organization
- Social and cultural Policy
- Social and Cultural Awakening
- The Revolt of 1857
- Major Causes of 1857 Revolt
- Diffusion of 1857 Revolt
- Centers of 1857 Revolt
- Outcome of 1857 Revolt
- Criticism of 1857 Revolt
- Administrative Changes After 1858
- Provincial Administration
- Local Bodies
- Change in Army
- Public Service
- Relations with Princely States
- Administrative Policies
- Extreme Backward Social Services
- India & Her Neighbors
- Relation with Nepal
- Relation with Burma
- Relation with Afghanistan
- Relation with Tibet
- Relation with Sikkim
- Relation with Bhutan
- Economic Impact of British Rule
- Nationalist Movement (1858-1905)
- Predecessors of INC
- Indian National Congress
- INC & Reforms
- Religious & Social Reforms
- Religious Reformers
- Women’s Emancipation
- Struggle Against Caste
- Nationalist Movement (1905-1918)
- Partition of Bengal
- Indian National Congress (1905-1914)
- Muslim & Growth Communalism
- Home Rule Leagues
- Struggle for Swaraj
- Gandhi Assumes Leadership
- Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre
- Khilafat & Non-Cooperation
- Second Non-Cooperation Movement
- Civil Disobedience Movement II
- Government of India Act (1935)
- Growth of Socialist Ideas
- National Movement World War II
- Post-War Struggle
- Clement Attlee’s Declaration
- Reference & Disclaimer
- Modern Indian History Resources
- Modern Indian History - Online Quiz
- Modern Indian History - Online Test
- Modern Indian History - Quick Guide
- Modern Indian History - Resources
- Modern Indian History - Discussion
- Selected Reading
- UPSC IAS Exams Notes
- Developer's Best Practices
- Questions and Answers
- Effective Resume Writing
- HR Interview Questions
- Computer Glossary
- Who is Who
Modern Indian History - Social Life
Cultural activities of the time were mostly financed by the Royal Court, rulers, and nobles and chiefs whose impoverishment led to their gradual neglect.
Friendly relations between Hindus and Muslims were a very healthy feature of life in 18th century.
Politics were secular in spite of having fights and wars among the chiefs of the two groups (Hindus and Muslims).
There was little communal bitterness or religious intolerance in the country.
The common people in the villages and towns who fully shared one another’s joys and sorrows, irrespective of religious affiliations.
Hindu writers often wrote in Persian while Muslim writers wrote in Hindi, Bengali, and other vernaculars.
The development of Urdu language and literature provided a new meeting ground between Hindus and Muslims.
Even in the religious sphere, the mutual influence, and respect that had been developing in the last few centuries as result of the spread of the Bhakti movement among Hindus and Sufism among Muslim saints was the great example of unity.
Education
Education was not completely neglected in 18th century India, but it was on the whole defective.
It was traditional and out of touch with the rapid developments in the West. The knowledge which it imparted was confined to literature, law, religion, philosophy, and logic, and excluded the study of physical and natural sciences, technology, and geography.
In all fields original thought was discouraged and reliance placed on the ancient learning.
The centers of higher education were spread all over the country and were usually financed by nawabs, rajas, and rich zamindars.
Among the Hindus, higher education was based on Sanskrit learning and was mostly confined to Brahmins.
Persian education being based on the official language of the time was equally popular among Hindus and Muslims.
A very pleasant aspect of education then was that the teachers enjoyed high prestige in the community. However, a bad feature of it was that girls were seldom given education, though some women of the higher classes were an exception.