The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c15.s1.46

c15.s1.46

It seems, then, that the respective modes of operation of the British Indian government and of Indian society were, not merely different, but worlds apart from each other. They could and did impinge on each other, the government by specifically directed actions and Indians by claiming government support. But they had their being in different worlds. Encounters remained incidental, limited to specific activities and only for the duration of the activity. For persistent contacts and a broadly based confrontation there was no room. And this may well be the reason for the impression of “a Dasehra duel between two hollow statues locked in motionless and simulated combat,” life entering into the duel only when at last forces within Indian society itself came to grips with each other.