History of Bengali Language and Literature c11.7

c11.7

But this village life underwent a sudden disturbance. Political changes were of little importance to the people. They heard from gossips that the Badsah, who ruled from the throne of Murshidābād, had been ousted by the English, and that a great battle had been fought at Plassey, but this did not seem at all any important news to them. Now, however, for the first time in history, a set of people came with the distinct object of improving them spiritually and morally. The Mussalmāns had not done so,—not even the great Ākbar in his dream of a political empire. The Portuguese, the Burmese and the Maharattas had all overrun the country during successive ages. They came to loot or judge criminals—restore rights or seize them; that was in the eyes of the Hindus the true function of their foreign sovereigns. The Mussalmāns had come with the Korān, but often with a dagger also, as an alternative for the acceptance of their faith; those that failed to be convinced were sometimes forcibly served with beef and made converts.