Incl. illust. and map, Biography, Catholic Church History

This book traces its subject from the death of Aurunzib to the so-called Indian Mutiny. The history of India since 1498 is of a tremendous confrontation of cultures and religions. Since 1757, the chief part in this confrontation has been played by Britain; and the Christian missionary enterprise has had a very important role.

This book examines the state-building process of Travancore and its relations with Christian missionaries and British paramountcy. It investigates the nature of the `Hindu State', the relationship between missionaries and imperialism, education and medicine, and caste and communal policies of the state.

This text pushes further the debates on colonial modernity by bringing to the fore Dalit experience in Kerala. The question of social identity is addressed in this study by analysing the problems of Dalit identity in Kerala. The book is a product of interdisciplinary research based on new archival and ethnographic materials which contributes to debates on colonial modernity.