Welsh Missionaries and British Imperialism: The Empire of Clouds in North-East India

Description

In 1841, the Welsh sent their first missionary, Thomas Jones, to evangelise the tribal peoples of the Khasi Hills of north-east India. This book, available in paperback for the first time, follows Jones from rural Wales to Cherrapunji, the wettest place on earth and now one of the most Christianised parts of India. As colonised colonisers, the Welsh were to have a profound impact on the culture and beliefs of the Khasis. The book also foregrounds broader political, scientific, racial and military ideologies that mobilised the Khasi Hills into an interconnected network of imperial control. Its themes are universal: crises of authority, the loneliness of geographical isolation, sexual scandal, greed and exploitation, personal and institutional dogma, individual and group morality. Written by a direct descendant of Thomas Jones, it makes a significant contribution in orienting the scholarship of imperialism to a much-neglected corner of India, and will appeal to students of the British imperial experience more broadly. -- .

Andrew J. May is Professor of History in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne -- .

[...] This book is thus an important part of the history of both missions and empire. It is very carefully put together, with complexity and nuance-as well as a beautiful writing style that made it a pleasure to read., Emily Manktelow, Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History, Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History, 2013 'Andrew J. May's Welsh missionaries and British imperialism succeeds in terms of originality of topic, excellent methodology, readability of text, and richness of sources. Researchers and university students of every level will be able to use this monograph to develop a thorough idea of missionary history and colonial experience. Furthermore, his microhistory is both captivating and illuminating, engaging with broader imperial ideas of race, religion, and space. May's work deepens our understanding of British colonial experience in 19th-century northeast India.' Professor Andrew J. Avery, Reviews in History, July 2016 -- .