Question

How did the novels prove to be valuable source of information for the british rulers as well as indians

Answer 1

Novels acts as a primary source of information are, they give us first hand, you-are-there insights into the past. They are also the most valuable tools a historian has for developing an understanding of an event. Novels serve as the evidence a historian uses in developing an interpretation and in building an argument to support that interpretation. You will be using primary sources not only to help you better understand what went on, but also as evidence as you answer questions and develop arguments about the past.Primary Sources do not speak for themselves, but they have to be interpreted. That is, we can't always immediately understand what a primary source means, especially if it is from a culture significantly different from our own. It is, therefore, necessary to try to understand what it means and to figure out what the source can tell us about the past. And this is the main reason why novelly proves valuable for British colonial.

Answer 2

Usefulness of novels for Britishers:-
The colonial rulers considered the contemporary Indian culture as inferior. They found novels a very valuable source of information on native life and customs. Such information was very useful for them to govern the Indian society, where there was a large variety of communities and castes. As outsiders, Britishers knew very little about life inside the Indian households.
The new novels in Indian languages had descriptions of domestic life of the people. They portrayed the culture, dress codes, habits, religious beliefs and practices of the people of that particular region.
Some of these books were translated into English by British administrators and Christian Missionaries.
Usefulness of novels for Indians:-
The Indian nationalists used these novels to criticize the defects in the society and they also suggested remedies for them. Some writers used these novels to propagate their ideas about society and culture among their readers. Novels were also used to establish links with the past. Indian novelists tried to produce a sense of national belonging among Indian people towards their culture through writings. These novels created a sense of pride in the minds of Indians.