Building civil society in colonial India during the long nineteenth century

Abstract

This chapter examines one aspect of the long history of the philosophical and political goals of constructing civil society, namely, the relationship between the colonial state and the building of civil society in India under British rule. In particular, it argues that concepts of civil society, as understood by both East India Company officials and Imperial administrators, were essential elements of British governing practices in India. Thus, unlike the classic position of civil society theory, in which civil society is independent of state authority, the creation of civil society in India was a project of British governance throughout the nineteenth century. A crucial element of this project was the reimagination and revivification of the ancient panchayat. As Imperial administrators attempted to integrate the panchayat into a vision of Indian civil society, the panchayat ideal was absorbed as well into the discourse and imaginary of the nascent nationalist movement. In both cases, however, the panchayat as imagined by both the British governors of India and Indian nationalists was an essential element of the foundation of modern Indian civil society.