Culture and Language

The British had their motives clear. They set out to expand their way of thinking and living across the horizon with God, Gold, and Glory in mind. Because of their Eurocentric thinking they tried to impose their culture on whoever they came across. Any culture other than their own seemed uncivilized to them, therefore they tried to refine it. Because God was a great part of their lives they spent countless hours trying to convert Indians to Christianity. In present day India, Christianity is the third largest religion with approximately 24 million followers making up 2.3% of the population. An example of something they changed is the banning of sati. Sati is a Hindu practice of a widow immolating (kill by burning oneself) herself on her husbands pyre. When the British came across this they were shocked. They thought it was something completely bizarre therefore they thought the need to ban it. Many words were adopted by both sides. Some Hindi words were altered according to the English equivalent, and some English words were influenced by Hindi words. Though the British have left, English is still one of the official languages used for official work around the country.