Rudyard Kipling’s India: Descriptions of the land and its people

Pages:56-57
Reetu Sardana (Department of English, Dayanand College, Hisar, Haryana)

When the English East India Company extended its area of influence in the interior parts of land, the English people saw Indians in all manners, coarse habits and halfnaked appearances. The presence of beggars, Sadhus, Sanyasies, Nagas, Fakirs and Phakkars in such large numbers amazed the English eyes and most of them concluded that India was nothing but a land of beggars and Fakirs. When a few palaces of Nawabs and princes were captured by the English East India Company, they did realize the presence of wealth in India. As they advanced towards the interior parts of land, they captured more and more palaces, Forts and royal Courts. They were pleased to find gold and jewels under their command but still they were amazed to look at the scene of India where large number of people were living in semi-civilized form.