Comparing The Works Of Rudyard Kipling And India

Name:

Course:

Tutor:

Date:

Rudyard Kipling and India

Rudyard Kipling has written several fictional books which are basically founded on his experiences with the British in India and the rest of the world – colonization, the empire and British expansion. He has been described by Adams as “the Herodotus of the British empire” who was interested in almost all aspects of the empire, for example, buildings, the fod, and the people among other things. Among his fictional works include The Jungle Books which will for the basic of the arguments presented herein. The works of Kipling will be argued as Kipling’s perspectives of the British in India, especially the colonization, the empire and British expansion. Before Kipling made his debut in India

For example, the British colonial administrators had to negotiate with the Tibetan authorities and the Bhotiyas regarding issues like taxation. In The Enlightenment of the Pagget, M.P., Kipling brings out an argument about the democracy in India – he is basically attacking the idea. The conversation between an administrator in India – Orde and a British member of parliament – Pagget, outlines the differences between the congress’ theoretical notion of India’s democracy and the real status of democracy in India. Apparently, Kipling seems to be preaching to the Anglo-Indians and the converted Indians – that is, the elite Indians with British education and religion. The Anglo-Indians in charge of the colonial India do believe in developing the natives and thus the rise of the elite. However, the congress in Britain is growing increasingly uncomfortable with this idea and suggests that it is better to suppress the views and feelings of the masses, or using a ‘firmer hand’ as the Member of Parliament put it (Kipling). Apparently, Kipling brings these arguments to fault the initiatives by the Anglo-Indian administrators and not to support

The research done on the works of Kipling, using The Jungle Book as the focal point, reveals that much of his work revolved around the British occupation of India. It has also been revealed that even though Kipling would find it hard to identify himself with any of the two groups (British and the Indians), his views are aligned with thos of the british imperialists who are striving to expand the empire by snatching all the strategic geofraphical regions for themselves. the Jungle Book in itself communcates every opinion of Kipling towards colonization, the empire and the british expansion. He believes that it is for the good of the natives who he sees as half-devil, uncivilized and not great in any aspect. The British, on the other hand are depicted as civilized, bound by laws, are doing great and should make it their burden to colonize the undeveloped people and countries in order to benefit them. It is, therefore, evident that Kipling’s work has advicated for the colonization of the Indian