East west interface in 20th century India analysis of western women s responses

Abstract

In the twenty-first century, the Western world is seeking a greater understanding of the people and nations of Asia, India in particular. The thesis, East West Interface in 20th century India: Analysis of Western women s responses is an attempt to illuminate at least an aspect of that interface during a given period of the past, so as to help shed some light on the newlinepresent day Western approach to India. Throughout the colonial period, Western women got attracted to India. However, during the 20th century, arrival of four eminent Western women from diverse backgrounds, with different intentions had far-reaching impact for India. Katherine Mayo, Margaret Elizabeth Noble, Annie Besant and Madeline Slade, not only got actively involved with the Indian society but in their own ways contributed towards newlinetransforming the Indian society. newlineThey left an overwhelming impact on the Indian political fabric. The thesis aims to analyze the contribution of these four outstanding Western women and attempts to understand how Indian socio-political and cultural structure got influenced by and drew inspirations from them. This work also attempts to add to the process of evolution newlineof understanding the East by the West. newline