Professor Anna Suvorova is currently the Head of the department of Asian Literature at the Institute of Oriental Studies (Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow). She is the author of 16 monographs on Literature, Culture, Society, and Gender issues in South Asia. Address: Moscow, Moscow City, Russian Federation
The article highlights the role of female servants in pre-colonial and colonial India. The most s... more The article highlights the role of female servants in pre-colonial and colonial India. The most significant transformation was experienced by wet nurses who for centuries were a privileged trade group among different categories of female servants. Maternal breastfeeding was not advocated healthful for mother, so wet nursing was supported as a reasonable alternative. The wet nursing practice indeed flourished in times and places of sharp class distinctions. In some lands there were customary or ritual methods of sequential feeding for future rulers whilst in others the wet nurses of the kings such as the Great Mughal might be consecrated. Milk interpreted as a different form of the mother's blood, was seen the transmission not only nourishment but also central traits of character. This had consequences for the choice of wet nurse. This type of ‘wet nursing’ indeed had an important function in strengthening kin ties. With the growth of the British presence, the role of wet nurse did change dramatically: she lost her high social status and privileges, moving into the category of ordinary domestic servants, often being an object of cruel exploitation. From the beginning of the nineteenth century onwards, British memsahibs, the wives of officials, military officers, and merchants, consistently expounded an image of Indians nurses to the female reading public in Britain through their letters and diaries. The servants’ dark skin and their religious, social, and linguistic differences contributed to the negative attitudes of the memsahibs towards them. The Indian rebellion of 1857 and the emergence of social Darwinism further heightened memsahibs’ beliefs that Indians were subhuman savages. Furthermore, by writing about their Indian servants, memsahibs identified themselves as active participants in Britain’s imperial venture in India.
... South Asian saints were remembered, above all, because they participated in the same distinct... more ... South Asian saints were remembered, above all, because they participated in the same distinctly Muslim quest that all Sufis pursued. ... al-Dīn Nagaurī, could be a Suhrawardi adept and also a friend of Chishtis, a pious judge when presiding at court, and an ecstatic dervish at a ...
The article highlights the role of female servants in pre-colonial and colonial India. The most s... more The article highlights the role of female servants in pre-colonial and colonial India. The most significant transformation was experienced by wet nurses who for centuries were a privileged trade group among different categories of female servants. Maternal breastfeeding was not advocated healthful for mother, so wet nursing was supported as a reasonable alternative. The wet nursing practice indeed flourished in times and places of sharp class distinctions. In some lands there were customary or ritual methods of sequential feeding for future rulers whilst in others the wet nurses of the kings such as the Great Mughal might be consecrated. Milk interpreted as a different form of the mother's blood, was seen the transmission not only nourishment but also central traits of character. This had consequences for the choice of wet nurse. This type of ‘wet nursing’ indeed had an important function in strengthening kin ties. With the growth of the British presence, the role of wet nurse did change dramatically: she lost her high social status and privileges, moving into the category of ordinary domestic servants, often being an object of cruel exploitation. From the beginning of the nineteenth century onwards, British memsahibs, the wives of officials, military officers, and merchants, consistently expounded an image of Indians nurses to the female reading public in Britain through their letters and diaries. The servants’ dark skin and their religious, social, and linguistic differences contributed to the negative attitudes of the memsahibs towards them. The Indian rebellion of 1857 and the emergence of social Darwinism further heightened memsahibs’ beliefs that Indians were subhuman savages. Furthermore, by writing about their Indian servants, memsahibs identified themselves as active participants in Britain’s imperial venture in India.
... South Asian saints were remembered, above all, because they participated in the same distinct... more ... South Asian saints were remembered, above all, because they participated in the same distinctly Muslim quest that all Sufis pursued. ... al-Dīn Nagaurī, could be a Suhrawardi adept and also a friend of Chishtis, a pious judge when presiding at court, and an ecstatic dervish at a ...
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transformation was experienced by wet nurses who for centuries were a privileged trade group
among different categories of female servants. Maternal breastfeeding was not advocated healthful for
mother, so wet nursing was supported as a reasonable alternative. The wet nursing practice indeed flourished
in times and places of sharp class distinctions. In some lands there were customary or ritual methods
of sequential feeding for future rulers whilst in others the wet nurses of the kings such as the Great
Mughal might be consecrated. Milk interpreted as a different form of the mother's blood, was seen the
transmission not only nourishment but also central traits of character. This had consequences for the
choice of wet nurse. This type of ‘wet nursing’ indeed had an important function in strengthening kin ties.
With the growth of the British presence, the role of wet nurse did change dramatically: she lost her high
social status and privileges, moving into the category of ordinary domestic servants, often being an object
of cruel exploitation. From the beginning of the nineteenth century onwards, British memsahibs, the
wives of officials, military officers, and merchants, consistently expounded an image of Indians nurses to
the female reading public in Britain through their letters and diaries. The servants’ dark skin and their
religious, social, and linguistic differences contributed to the negative attitudes of the memsahibs towards
them. The Indian rebellion of 1857 and the emergence of social Darwinism further heightened memsahibs’
beliefs that Indians were subhuman savages. Furthermore, by writing about their Indian servants,
memsahibs identified themselves as active participants in Britain’s imperial venture in India.
transformation was experienced by wet nurses who for centuries were a privileged trade group
among different categories of female servants. Maternal breastfeeding was not advocated healthful for
mother, so wet nursing was supported as a reasonable alternative. The wet nursing practice indeed flourished
in times and places of sharp class distinctions. In some lands there were customary or ritual methods
of sequential feeding for future rulers whilst in others the wet nurses of the kings such as the Great
Mughal might be consecrated. Milk interpreted as a different form of the mother's blood, was seen the
transmission not only nourishment but also central traits of character. This had consequences for the
choice of wet nurse. This type of ‘wet nursing’ indeed had an important function in strengthening kin ties.
With the growth of the British presence, the role of wet nurse did change dramatically: she lost her high
social status and privileges, moving into the category of ordinary domestic servants, often being an object
of cruel exploitation. From the beginning of the nineteenth century onwards, British memsahibs, the
wives of officials, military officers, and merchants, consistently expounded an image of Indians nurses to
the female reading public in Britain through their letters and diaries. The servants’ dark skin and their
religious, social, and linguistic differences contributed to the negative attitudes of the memsahibs towards
them. The Indian rebellion of 1857 and the emergence of social Darwinism further heightened memsahibs’
beliefs that Indians were subhuman savages. Furthermore, by writing about their Indian servants,
memsahibs identified themselves as active participants in Britain’s imperial venture in India.