Hinduism / by Monier Williams.

  • Monier Monier-Williams
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hinduism / by Monier Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    number of them are descendants of Hindus converted to Islam. Although they became politically supreme, they were never able to supplant the Hindus, as these had done their predecessors. Moreover, it was the policy of the Muhammadan conquerors to bend in many points to the prejudices of their Indian subjects. Hence the Muslims of India became to some extent Hinduized, and in language, habits, and character took from the Hindus more than they imparted. Nor has the Hindu element lost its ascendency in India, notwithstanding the accession of European in- gredients from Portugal, Holland, Denmark, France, and finally England. Albeit the English have spread themselves over the whole country, and achieved a political supremacy greater than that which once be- longed to the Musalmans, yet they have blended far less with the inhabitants. Oil and water do not keep more distinct than do the rulers and the ruled at pre- sent in India. The great bulk of the population is still essentially Hindu, and the moral influence of what may be called the Indo-Aryan race is still para- mount. Nevertheless, this race by no means forms one united nation. Differences distinguish it, as great as those which once divided and still distinguish European Aryans. Many causes have combined to produce such di- versities. The Indo-Aryans entered India by suc- cessive incursions, so that the earlier arrivals differ from the later as widely as Greeks and Romans from Kelts and Teutons. Then, variety of climate has had its effect in modifying character. Moreover, contact with the non-Aryan aboriginal races and with Mu-
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