Godmen on the Warpath: A Study of Messianic Movements in IndiaDescription: Ever since the highly civilised powers took it in mind, to colonise primitive peoples and to uplift them culturally, their efforts, even if well intended, turned disastrous for the colonised. The actual results were wholesale oppression and exploitation, even physical annihilation. The surviving primitive peoples usually suffered a complete break-down of their original culture and a total confusion of their traditional values. But after a certain time the colonised peoples felt the desires for a revival of their pristine way of life-the old traditional values asserted themselves. Yet due to their predominantly magical world-outlook this revitalisation often took an esoteric turn. It also required a leader allegedly possessed with superhuman powers and in close contact with the ancestors or old gods-a Messiah or Saviour. Such revival movements arose all over the world wherever high civilisations clashed with primitive cultures. It is to the credit of the author of Godmen on the Warpath, to have discovered numerous such messianic movements in India and to have described them here. Another important and eminently practical result of the author's analysis of such movements is that he convincingly proves that wherever their leaders were able to guide their followers to a gradual and peaceful amalgamation of the new with the original beliefs and practices of the colonised peoples they were largely successful. But here the godmen yielded to the temptation to liberate their people by violent means, they generally were defeated, with disastrous consequences for their people. |
Common terms and phrases
aboriginals agitation Ajmer arrested Assam Basava Bastar became began believed Bengal Bhagrit Bhils Bhimu Birsa Bombay Bonga Brahmins British Calcutta called Chamars Chota Nagpur Christian claimed cult cultivation culture dance disciples district divine economic exploitation Ezhavas faith fight finally followers Ghasi Golden Age Gonds Government Gujarat Guru Hindu and Muslim Hinduism India inspired Islam Jatra joined jungle Kherwar killed king land landlords large number leader Lingayat Lingo liquor living magic Maharaja Mahdi Mahua ment Messianic movements Moamarias Muin-ud-din Mundas Muslim myth Nagas officers oppression Oraons police political Pravir Chandra preached prophet Qadian Raj Mohini Raja Ranchi rebellion rebels reform refused religion religious restore revival revolt ritual rule rulers sadhus Saiyid Ahmad Santals Satnamis saviour script sect Shankar Deva Shiva Sikhs Sing Bonga Singh social Sri Narayana Guru Swami Narayan Tana Bhagats tion took traditional tribals tribes troops Vaishnava Vasudeo village Wahabi women worship