‘Roots of today’s society can be found in 19th century’

AHMEDABAD: The period from 1801 to 1900 in the history of India and Gujarat is marked by the strengthening of British Empire’s roots in the country, the first wave of social reforms, and rise of social leaders educated abroad and influenced by European philosophy and values.
Historians, sociologists and experts from other fields discussed far-fetching impact of events in the19th century on the first day of a two-day seminar titled ‘Gujarati Society of 19th Century’ at HK Arts College on Saturday.The event has been organized by Gujarat Vidhya Sabha, Darshak Itihas Nidhi and BJ Institute.
Bhikhu Parekh, member of the UK House of Lords, delivered the inaugural speech where he elaborated on how India under the British rule started seeing herself through the eyes of other cultures.
Other speakers at the event include Makrand Mehta, Chandrakant Topiwala, RT Savaliya, Arun Vaghela, Rizwan Kadri, Vidyut Joshi among others. tnn