CHAPTER III

ANALYSIS

This chapter answers the problems as mentioned earlier in chapter one by

applying the Postcolonial Approach. The analysis explains the phenomena of the

British Imperialism in India and Rudyard Kipling‘s perception about the influence

of British Imperialism towards Indian society in his novel Kim. This chapter will

be divided into two sub – chapters. First, the phenomenon of the British

imperialism and its influence towards Indian society in the novel Kim are

explained in the first sub - chapter. Then, it is followed by analyzing Rudyard

Kipling‘s perception about the influence of the British imperialism towards Indian

society in his novel Kim.

A. The Influence of the British Imperialism towards Indian

Society in the Novel Kim

Novel is a long fictional story, which consists of several elements inside it

such as plot, point of view, character, setting and theme. In this part, I describe the

elements of novel, Kim in order to give a clear understanding for the readers about

Kim. Kim is one of famed British novels, which explore about India and

imperialism matters. The novel explores a situation where the British Empire

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dominates some fields in India such as economic, religious, educational and

political fields. The way of Kipling mixes the English and native language of

India in the novel makes the reader can feel the atmosphere of India when India is

colonized by the British Empire. Moreover, Kipling, the author creates many

characters in Kim. Character is the fictional figures in a narrative work such as

novel, play and movie that develops the story by exploring their conflict. There

are two types of character, the main or round and minor or flat character. The

main character is a major character that faces conflict and develops the story of

the fictional work (Perrine, 1966). Meanwhile, the minor character is a supporting

role of the main character in developing the story of the fictional work. Kipling

creates Kim as the main character in the novel who has multiple identities because

he is an Irish but he is living in India and his skin is black like the native of India.

The novel Kim tells us a story about life of Kim, a young Irish boy as the

main character and his adventure in his journey as the discipline of Lama and his

mission as spy for British government. Kipling also creates many minor

characters in the novel that represent both the native of India and British people.

Kipling designs several characters that represent the native Indian such as the

Teshoo Tibetan Lama, Mahbud Ali, the Babu Hurre Chunder Mookerjee, the

Lahore museum curator, a spy agent E23, Hindu farmer, Hindu boy, the Old man

soldier, the Amritzar courtesan, the Kulu woman and the woman of Shamlegh.

While the minor characters that represent British people are Colonel Creighton,

Lugan Sahib, Father Victor, Reverend Arthur Bennett and the drummer boy.

Kipling also creates French and Russian spy agents who are the rivals of the

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British Empire. Therefore, Kipling creates so many characters in the novel that

makes the story of novel has complex conflict that develop the story of novel.

Kipling divides his novel into fifteen chapters. The synopsis novel is very

complex because every chapter in the novel seems have their own story.

Therefore, I make a plot overview in order to give a clear understanding for the

readers about the story of Kim. This synopsis overview contains the whole story

of the novel in a short description. The first chapter introduces the readers about

the main character, Kim. Kim is an orphan who has grown up in a street of Lahore

city and has risen by a native in India. Kipling portrays Kim as a person who has

unique physical appearance because his skin has black skin like native Indian and

he speaks Indian vernacular (Chap. I, p. 1).

Moreover, Kim is so curious about his father‘s prophecy about ‗Red Bull

on a green field‘. Then, he meets a Tibetan Lama, Teshoo Lama who is looking

for the mystic river ‗River of Arrow‘ to completeness his pilgrimage (Chap. I, p.

23). Thus, he joins to Lama‘s pilgrimage as Lama‘s disciple in order to quest his

father prophecy. Besides, he also uses his journey as a way to conduct his side job

as spy. Kim meets his friend who is a Pasthun or Afghan horse trader and also

British Secret Agent, Mahbud Ali. He asks to Kim to deliver his secret message to

a specific officer in the army in Umballa (Kipling, Chap. I, p. 26). Then, Kim and

Lama have a trip to Umballa by train.

In chapter five, Kim finds his quest about ‗Red Bull on a green field‘

while he and Lama are resting along the Grand Trunk road. Kim finds the

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meaning of his quest when Kim notices the all officers of the regiment camp

standing around a statue of the Red Bull (Chap. 5, p. 118). Thus, ‗Red Bull on a

green field‘ is a symbol of the statue of the Irish Mavericks. At the time, Kim

meets the Anglican chaplain, Reverend Arthur Bennett and the Catholic chaplain,

Father Victor. Father Victor believes that Kim is an Irish boy because he finds

document of Kim‘s father in Kim‘s pouch (Chap. 5, p. 119). Then, he wants Kim

to attend to school because he is a son of Irish man so that he should have good

education.

Moreover, Lama decides that Kim should attend school. Father Victor tells

that he gets money from Lama to pay school for Kim so Kim can attend to St.

Xavier‘s school, the best school in India (Chap. 5, p. 134). Furthermore, Kim

sends Mahbud Ali a letter about the successful mission in carrying Mahbud‘s

secret message to a specific officer in the army in Umballa and he has new

information about it. Besides, he also tells his plan to go school and he wants to

escape from regiment camp because a drummer boy always mocks him in

regiment camp (Chap. 6, p. 143). After three days, Mahbud Ali sees Kim with his

boss, Colonel Creighton, an Englishman who is an Ethnologist in the Survey of

India. Mahbud Ali tells to Creighton about life story of Kim and he believes that

Kim is a good candidate to be a soldier for them (Chap. 6, p. 153).

Colonel Creighton is interested in the cleverness and the physical

appearance of Kim. He thinks that Kim is the best candidate as spy agent because

the appearance and skill of Kim, which is suitable for future employment as, spy

agent. However, he thinks that Kim needs training from professional spy agent

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because Kim is too young and does not have experiences as spy. Therefore, he

wants Kim to attend school to improve his skill and knowledge. But, Kim is still

doubted because he does not want to leave Lama. Colonel tries to convince him

that his school in Lucknow is closer to Lama‘s place and he will protect Kim

when Kim is at school. Therefore, he agrees to attend St. Xavier School.

Though Kim is studying at school, he still keeps communicating with

Mahbud Ali and Colonel Creighton. He feels bored at school but he tries

becoming a smart student because Creighton states that he will get better life as a

chainman and money if he passes the proper examination (Chap 7, p. 167).

However, sometimes Kim is bored at school then escapes from school to native

bazaar (Chap 7, p. 181). Moreover, he follows Mahbud Ali when he sells his

horse to Simla. The goal of their journey is to teach Kim about the situation and

condition of India so Kim can make map of India rightly for Colonel Creighton.

One day, Creighton asks Kim to meet Lugan Sahib who is the other spies

for Creighton. Mahbud Ali says that this moment is beginning for Kim to join

their mission in Great Game as a secret agent. Lugan Sahib teaches Kim how to

disguise; act likes several native of India as the way to support his disguise and

make good strategy in the Great Game through the Jewel Game (Chap 9, pp. 224-

225). At the time, Kim also makes a friendship with the other spies for Creighton,

Hurree Chunder Mookerjee or the Babu. He teaches Kim how to make medicine

and disguise too (Chap 9, p. 234). After three years, Kim passes his school

examination with good score and he completely becomes a Sahib.

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Furthermore, Lugan Sahib, Mahbud Ali and Babu say to Colonel

Creighton that Kim is ready to train in the Great Game mission directly (Chap. 10,

p. 246). Therefore, Creighton asks Babu to accompany and protect Kim in this

mission. Their mission is to steal a document of a Russian agent. Moreover, they

have idea that Kim should conduct his mission when he travels with Lama so that

Kim is safer (Chap. 10, p. 247). Then, Kim meets and says to Lama that he comes

back as Lama‘s disciple to accompany him to look for Lama‘s quest (Chap. 12, p.

268).

At the moment, they make a trip to Himalayas. There, they meet Russian

and French spy agents with their native bearers (Chap. 13, p. 337). The Russian

and French spy agents are interested to Lama‘s picture of Wheel of Life and they

want to buy it. However, Lama refuses them and it makes the agents angry and

tries to grab it. Unfortunately, the Russian spy agent hit Lama‘s face and all of

guards who guard the suitcase run off the hill because they do not want to get a

curse because they believe that hitting a Holy is very bad luck (Chap 13, p. 348).

Then, Ao –Chung and Ooray bearer help and run off Lama. Moreover, Kim and

Babu take advantage of the chaos and they steal the agent‘s suitcase which

consists of important documents. The agents realize that their suitcase is stolen

then they and their guard try to catch Kim and Lama (Chap. 13, p. 350). Kim and

Babu decide to separate. Then, Babu joins Russian and French spy agents in order

to get more information and he asks Kim to keep the suitcase.

Furthermore, Kim, Lama and the bearers arrive in one of the villages in

Himalaya named Shamlegh (Chap 14, p, 361). In there, they meet the Woman of

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Shamlegh who takes care of Lama and Kim. In private time, Kim opens the

suitcase. He finds letter, maps and message from the member of Five Kings, Hilas

and Bunar abut conspiracy to collapse British government in India by

collaborating with the Tzar or Russian. Furthermore, Woman of Shamlegh helps

Kim to meet Babu. He shows the Russian document to Babu. Then, Babu brings

the document to Colonel Creighton (Chap 14, p, 399). He promises to Kim that he

will tell to Colonel Creighton how the role of Kim in this mission is very good

and he will get place in the Indian Survey. Afterward, Kim and Lama leave

Shamlegh village in order to continue their journey to find Lama‘s quest.

When they travel down the Himalaya Mountain, Kim has written a letter to

Woman of Kulu in order to ask her to send a litter to carry Lama. Then, Woman

of Kulu arrives and carries them to her house. However, Kim is sick and he takes

care by Woman of Kulu. During Kim illness, Lama continues his meditation that

attains the great vision about his quest (Chap 15, p, 410). Finally, Lama finds his

quest, River of Arrow. Moreover, he declares his quest is over and he has attained

Deliverance from sin for both himself and his disciple, Kim (Chap 15, p, 413).

Moreover, the setting of place of the novel is in India. In this novel,

Kipling portrays several places in India, i.e. Lahore, Grand Trunk Road, Lucknow

and Himalaya. For example, Kipling depicts Grand Trunk Road in his novel in

chapter 3 and 4:

―And now we come to the Big Road … The Great Road which is

the backbone of all Hind. For the most part is shaded, as here, with

four lines of trees; the middle road - all hard – takes the quick

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traffic. In the day before rail – carriages the Sahibs travelled up

and down here in hundreds.‖ (Chap. 3, p. 80).

―And truly the Grand Trunk Road is a wonderful spectacle. It runs

straight, bearing without crowding India‘s traffic for fifteen

hundred miles – such a river of life as nowhere else exists in the

world. They looked at the green –arched, shade-flecked length of it

white breadth spectacled with slow – packing folk; and the two

roomed police station opposite.‖ (Chap. 3, p. 81).

―The Grand Trunk at this point was built on an embankment to

guard to against winter floods from the foothills, so that one

walked, as it were a little above the country, along a stately

corridor, seeing all India spread out to left and right. It was

beautiful to behold the many yoked grain and cotton wagons

crawling over the country roads; one could hear their axles,

complaining a mile away, coming nearer, till with shouts and yells

and bad words they climbed up the steep incline and plunged on to

hard main road, carter reviling carter. It was equally beautiful to

watch the people little clumps of red and blue pink and white and

saffron, turning aside to go their own villages, dispersing and

growing small by two and three across the level plain.‘ (Chap. 3, p.

89).

Lama and Kim are passing by the several place of India when they conduct

the journey to find their quest. One of places that they pass is Grand Trunk Road.

It is a longest road routes in India connects South Asia with Central Asia. It runs

from ―Bangladesh to west India into Pakistan then to Afghanistan and it is around

1, 500 miles‖ (http://www.mylearning.org/migration-from-india-and-pakistan/p-

3191/). Historically, it was established during the Maurya Empire around 291 to

321 B.C. It ran from Ganges which is now known as Calcutta to Peshawar, the

North – West Frontier District of Pakistan. In the 16th

Century, the Mughal

Empire took control Indian. The Mughal Emperor, Sher Shah Suri rebuilt the road

for economic and military reason. The road connected Agra, his capital, with

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Sasaram, his hometown. Then, he also extended the road westward Pakistan to

Afghan. Furthermore, the Grand Trunk road became the predominant trade routes

in the region because the other regions in India‘s subcontinent such as

Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghan could pass the road to conduct trading activities

(http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5891/). Based on explanation of setting of

place, it shows that the places in the novel are not imaginative or fictitious.

Kipling‘s way to represent the condition and geographic of India is very detailed

and vivid. His life experiences in India support him in writing this novel so it can

portray India and its society in very much detail and very clearly. Therefore, the

readers can sense the condition of India and British in India through the very

detailed description of places in India.

This novel is published in 1901, therefore it can be concluded that the

setting of time of the novel is in 1880 until 1900s when the British and Russian

had a conflict about the territory of colony in Central Asia. As the proof about the

setting of time in Kim, Kipling presents fictitious history about the treason of Five

King or British Raj toward the British Empire.

―When everyone is dead the Great Game is finished. Not before.

Listen to me till end. There were Five Kings who prepared a

sudden war three years ago, when thou wast given the stallion‘s

pedigree by Mahbud Ali. Upon them, because of that news, and ere

they were ready, fell our Army.‖ (Chap 12, p. 316)

―… Look, here is the letter from Hilas! ... Mister Rajah Sahib has

just about put his foot in holes. He will explain offeecially how the

deuce-an-all he is writing love letter to the Czar. And they are very

clever maps and there is three or four Prime Ministers of these

part. By Gad, sar! The British Government will change the

succession in Hilas and Bunar, and nominate new heirs to the

throne.‖ (Chap 15, p. 398).

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The story of the novel depicts the adventure of Kim and the other spies to

complete their mission in the Great Game. They want to make the mission of the

Five Kings especially Hilas and Bunar fail in signing illegal agreement with the

Russian.

Originally, the term the Great Game was created by British intelligent

officer, Captain Arthur Connolly in order to depict the rivalry and conflict

between the British and Russian Empire (Hodge, 2008, p. 286). Historically,

British and Russian had rivalry relationship in diplomacy, politics and military

since the early nineteenth century until 1907. Both the British and Russian

Empires feared that the other side would attack their territories. Since the Russian

Empire took control Afghanistan and Tibet, the British Empire believed that the

Russian Empire would attack India through Afghanistan and Tibet (Hodge, 2008,

p. 287). The prejudice led British to have ambition to take control of Afghanistan.

In 1834 until 1880, both the British and Russian Empires fought in the first and

second Afghan wars. These wars took place in the south of Afghanistan and the

border of both territories. This case shows that the setting place and time of Kim is

related with fact of history in reality roughly in between 1880 and 1900s.

Therefore, it can be concluded that Kipling imitates the social condition and

situation of Indian under the control of the British Empire as set in his novel.

Based on the explanation, Kim is a story with full of imperialism matters.

Its plot, setting and characters have relationship with imperialism. Thus, Kim is

catagorized as a colonial text, which tries to portray and explore the situation

where the British Empire dominates in nearly all aspects of life in India. As we

65

know, India has a long history of the British imperialism. India is one of the most

important countries of the British empire.

British established its crown in India in the early 1600s to trade and

business. Moreover, India was known as the Jewel in the Crown of the Empire

because India was the major supplier of raw materials such as chintzes, rice,

saltpeter and sugar cane for industries of the British Empire (Johnson, 2003, p.24).

Besides, the British Empire as the colonist could spread their ideology, custom,

culture and belief toward Indian in order to destruct the original ideology, belief

and culture in the inferior nation by especially in belief, religion and culture. The

domination of the British Empire gave influence towards Indian society in several

fields in India such as economic, religious, educational, socio – cultural and

political.

Those phenomena of the influences of the British imperialism in India are

reflected in Rudyard Kipling‘s Kim. They are the influences of the British

imperialism in economic, religious, educational, socio – cultural and political

fields of India.

1. The Influence of the British Imperialism towards Indian Society in

Economic Field

Economic motive is the major motivation of imperialist‘s expansion.

Actually, the goal of the Empire or Nation in finding the new spaces is

maintaining their industries and markets. Thus, the Empire begins to colonize

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another nation to take control of another nation for cheaper natural resources or

material and labor to develop its economy (Bush, 2006). The motive and goal of

economy leads the British Empire to search new territory for new wealth and

settlement. Therefore, in the reign of Elizabeth I supported the naval to sail around

the world in order to expand the territory for its trade market and settlement

(Johnson, 2003).

The British Empire was established in India in the 1600s when the British

East India Company or EIC built trading posts in three areas in India, i.e. were

Bombay, Madras and Calcutta (Suwarno, 2012, p. 106). This company was built

by merchants of London under the control the British government in order to

develop its economy. Historically, EIC was established in India when India was

suffering politically and economically caused by flawed government after the

dynasty of Mughal King, King Aurangzeb died in the eighteen century (Stein,

2010). The three sons of King Aurangzeb, Mu‘azzan, Azam and Kambakh

continued his father‘s crown however there was rebellion of Sikh ethnic and

Gobind Singh was its leader. The Mughal crown became more suffered caused by

its government which was led by Emir or the confidant from Sikh ethnic

especially from Afghan. Thus, though the Mughal King was an authority figure in

India but he was controlled by another foreign power. In this era, Indian people

were very suffering because their government asked them to pay highest tax for

their land and there were several government officers practiced corruption. This

case gave EIC a chance to take over India‘s government. Finally, EIC took over

Indian government in 1700s (Stein, 2010).

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Robert Clive was the predominant figure of EIC. He was a captain in the

Company Army. Clive defeated France in Carnatic War and took control

Benggala in 1757. As the result EIC got diwani right, a right for collecting

outcome from three regions Benggala, Bihar and Orissa (Suwarno, 2012). At that

time, EIC was the prominent power in India. The other predominant figure in the

development of the British Empire in India was the governor of EIC, Lord

Wellesley. Wellesley set up the rule for British Raj or King of the India Empire

who consolidated with British power. The rule was that British Raj should pay

tribute for British Empire and rejected the other European country in India. EIC

was stronger because it could monopolize the trade market in India under the

reign of Wellesley. As the result, EIC was known as the great merchant company

in the world in eighteenth century.

On the other side, Indian people felt suffering and painful because they

lived in poverty and famine. The goal of the British Empire colonizing India was

increased the British‘s income by improving the British Empire‘s industry in

Indian. It made India as raw material supplier for British‘s industry. Then, the

British Empire tried to get a lot of money to invest in its industry. Thus, Indian

farmers should pay high tax of farmland, which was owned by the British

Government. Besides, the British Empire forced Indians to sell their farm product

cheaply then if the Indian need food stock, they should buy the product by

expensive price. Furthermore, industry of the British Empire in India was growth

rapidly. However, the British Industry in India destroyed the agricultural of

Indians. As the result, it destroyed the Indians economic because Indians had no

68

stock of food and money while the British Empire refused to help them in finance

because it only gave its money to its industry and military. This case caused the

famine in India. In 1770, many people in Bengal died caused by the famine

(Johnson, 2003).

The novel Kim describes about the influence of the British imperialism in

economic field. Kipling represents the condition of the natives Indian during the

British Empire has taken over India.

―He stared dizzily in all directions, but none looked at him save a

Hindu urchin in a dirty turban and Isabella – coloured clothes.‖

(Chap. 1, p. 22).

―Hardly had the fall figure shown in the door way that the Jat ran

before him, and lifting up child, cried: ‗Look upon this Holy One;

and if the Gods will, he lives – he lives!‖

―He fumbled in his waist – belt and drew out a small silver coin.‖

―It is no more than a fever,‘ said Kim, ‗The child is not well fed.‖

(Chap. 11, p. 267).

―…Along their track lay the villages of the hill – folk mud and

earth huts. … And the people – the sallow, greasy, duffle –clad

people with short bare legs and faces almost Esquimaux.‖ (Chap.

13, p. 331)

Based on the explanation above, Kipling represents the real condition of

Indians during the British imperialism. The change occurs in the economic field

because the British Empire monopolizes the economics of India. Thus, Indian

people feel suffering and painful because they live in poverty. In the story,

Kipling shows the condition of Indians who live in poverty. The scarcity of

money and food is the usual condition of Indians. They do not have a lot of

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money to buy their needs such as clothes, housing and food. As the result, they

cannot maintain their health caused by famine and ill.

Moreover, Kipling also represents the diversity and condition of diverse

group of Indian people. He creates several characters that represent several

professions of Indians. It is the other clue that shows Indian people who live in

poverty.

―So did, Jawahir Singh, the Museum carpenter, bent over new

packing cases.‖ (Chap. 1, p. 5).

―He trotted off to the open shop line down a Kunjri, a low - caste

vegetable – seller, which lay opposite the belt – tramway the

Motee Bazaar. She knew Kim of old (Chap. 1, p. 19).

―The Lama jibbed at the open door of a crowded third class

carriage. ‗Were it not better to walk?‘ said he weakly.

A burly Sikh artisan thrust forth his bearded head. ‗Is he afraid?

Do not be afraid. I remember the time when I was afraid of the te –

rain. Enter! This is the work of Government.

‗There is no room even for a mouse‘ shrilled the wife of well – to –

do cultivator – a Hindu Jat from the rich Jullundur district. ‗Oh,

mother of my son, we can make space said the blue – turbaned.

…An Amritzar courtesan near the window sniffed behind her head

drapery.

‗Enter! Enter! cried a fat Hindu money lender. It is well to be kind

to the poor.

‗Ay, at seven per cent a month with a mortgage on the unborn

calf,‘ said a young Dogra soldier. (Chap 2, p. 39)

The explanation about the profession of several characters in the novel describes

that though Indians are the native in India but the British Empire become the

superior clan whereas the colonized people become the secondary class or

subordinate people in their own nation. Kipling represents that the professions of

the natives are not promising professions because they did not produce a lot of

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money. They are vegetable sellers, artisans, cultivators, courtesans, moneylenders

and soldiers. This shows that Indians are subordinate people in their nation

because the British Empire takes control of the economic field in India. Then, they

have no promising job for better life. Therefore, they are still very poor and

cannot reach their wealth.

The British imperialism did not only give negative influences but also

positive ones. The British Empire in India focused on increasing his economic

income by improving the industry of Indian textile because India was rich of

cotton. The British Empire wanted to reach the highest profit in global market by

sold its product of textile and cotton in around the world (Johnson, 2003). Thus, it

should provide transportation and its infrastructure for transporting its product to

the other places around the world quickly and easily. Then, the British Empire

invested its money to build and improve infrastructure of transportation in India.

In 1853, the British Empire developed its economy by building railway and

railway station networks in India. Moreover, Indians got advantage from it

because they also could use the train to carry them from one place to the other

places. Furthermore, India had fourth largest railway system in 1910. As the

result, Britain became the centre of economic prosperity in the world. In addition,

the impact of the improvement the transportation and its infrastructure were not

only in economic but also in political field. By using train, the British Empire

provided its soldiers wherever in India or other country quickly (Stein, 2010).

The domination of colonist was never absolute because there were risks

that may involve, for example the expansion of the other superior nation. Thus,

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the colonist should improve its national security. In order to control and maintain

its business and military in its territories, the British Empire tried to improve its

communication with its government in its colony through telegraph.

―Major political and economy consequences followed upon the

improvement of communication between Europe and Asia through

telegraph: London and Calcutta were connection by telegraph in

1870 and Calcutta with other capitals in India from 1854.

…Consequently it became possible for closer policy control to be

exerted by London upon Calcutta and later New Delhi and also for

the penetration of world economic forces to be intensified.‖ (Stein,

2010, p, 248).

Kipling represents the phenomena of the development of transportation

and communication in India through Kim. In the journey to quest the River of

Arrow and Red Bull in the Green Field, Lama and Kim use train as their

transportation to reach their destination. Besides, Kim also takes the trip by train

when he conducts his mission as spy.

―And how wilt thou go? It is a far cry to Delhi and farther to

Benares.‖

―By road and the trains. From Pathankot, having left the hills, I

came hither in a te – rain. It goes swiftly.‖ (Chap. 1, p. 15).

―Kim, fending the lama between exited men and exited beasts,

sidled along the cloisters to the far end nearest the railway station,

where Mahbud Ali, the horse trader, lived when he came in from

that mysterious land beyond the Passes of the North.‖ (Chap. 1, p.

25).

―They entered the fort – like railway station, black in the end of

night; the electrics sizzling over the goods – yard where they

handle the heavy Northern grain – traffics.‖ (Chap. 2, p 37).

―Hurree Babu stepped back a pace or two into the crowd at the

entrance Lucknow station and was gone.‖ (Chap. 10, p. 62).

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Based on the explanation Kipling represents that the development of infrastructure

of transportation in India, especially in railway, train and rail and railway station.

In Kim, Kipling represents that the development of infrastructure of transportation

has good influence to Indian people. They achieve benefits of the development of

infrastructure of transportation by using the train to carry them from one place to

another. Besides, Indians do not need much time to go somewhere or business by

using the train than by road. For example in the novel, Lama and Kim from

Lahore want to go Benares; it will spend weeks to reach Benares on foot but if

they go there by train, it takes a few days. Therefore, the transportation is very

important and advantageous to the natives of India because they can go

everywhere easily.

Kipling does not only represent the positive influence in transportation but

also in communication. Kipling adds the development of wire or telegraph as the

development in communication field.

―At first I was amazed to see those tall poles by the side of the road

snatching up and snatching up their thread,‖ – he illustrated the

stoop and whirl of a telegraph – pole flashing past the train.‘

(Chap. 1, p. 15).

―…when we think that there was than being handed in at the Simla

a code wire reporting the arrival of E. 23 at Delhi and more

important , the whereabouts of a letter he had been commission to

– abstract.‖ (Chap. 11, p. 300).

The description shows that there is development of communication, especially

telegraph in India. Telegraph was established in India during 1850s when the

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British East India Company started to use it in order to maintain and control its

economic activities on the other place (Stein, 2010). In 1854, telegraph system

was opened to the public of India. Then, the British East India Company built the

telegraph line and finished 4000-mile Indian Telegraph network that connected

Calcutta, Peshawar, Agra, Mumbay and Madras.

(http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1380.htm).

Telegraph is not only profitable for the British Empire but also Indians

because telegraph enables India to modernize. Besides, telegraph is their device of

communication over long distances. Communication is an important thing of

personal life where people communicate each other to give or exchange

information includes talking or writing for their life. Furthermore, people need to

communicate with other people who live in across distance or time. Indian people

should meet directly or send a letter when they want to communicate with other

people across distance before the existence of telegraph. This case shows that it so

complicate to communicate with other people across distance because it needs lot

of money and time to meet other people in different area. Besides, it takes a few

days if people send a letter for someone in the other place. It makes people in

disadvantage situation because people could loss lot of time to send or receive the

letter. Moreover, they can send a message for someone across continent and

oceans quickly and easily by using telegraph. Therefore, telegraph is very

important and advantage for communication of the natives of India because they

can keep communication and send a message to other people in everywhere easily

and cheaply.

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2. The Influence of the British Imperialism towards Indian Society in

Religious and Educational Field

The other influence of the British imperialism towards Indian society that

is represented in the novel is Christianization. India is known as a spiritual state

that has various religions in its area. Since long time ago, India was a colony of

many foreign countries such as Aryan, Greece, Arab, Persian, Turkey, Mongol

and British (Suwono, 2012). The foreign people who have lived in India brought

ethnic and cultural diversity to India. Thus, India has various ethnic groups, which

had their own customs and beliefs. This case leads India to become the birthplace

of some religions that are spread by some ethnic groups in India such as

Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, and Christian. Religion is

important for people in the world because it is the way of people life. Therefore,

many colonists spread their religions to disrupt the belief of the native people so

the colonists can take control the other country easily.

In the novel, Kipling constructs the diversity of religious in India. He

creates characters that represent the ancient Indian religions such as Teshoo

Tibetan Lama who is representing Buddhism; Mahbud Ali is representing Islam;

Hindu farmers and Hindu boys are representing Hindu, and the cultivator is

representing Sikhism. Kipling also represents the religions and its practices in his

novel:

―There were hundreds of pieces, friezes of figures in relief,

fragments of statues and slabs crowded with figures that had

encrusted the brick walls of Buddhist stupas and viharas of the

North Country and now, dug up and labeled, made the pride of

Museum.‖ (Chap. 1, p. 9).

75

―The huge, mouse – coloured Brahmini bull of the ward was

shouldering his way through the many coloured crowd, a stolen

plantain hanging out of his mouth. He headed straight for the shop,

well knowing his privileges as a sacred beast…‖ (Chap. 1, p. 19).

―Nay, but in my mind was the thought of a certain River of

healing.‘ said Lama ‗That is Gungas. Who bathes in her is made

clean and goes to Gods. Thrice have I made pilgrimage to

Gungas.‘ (Chap. 2, p. 45)

―But thou and thy husband hoped to get the cow cured for a

handful of thanks.‘ The shot told; they were notoriously the

closest- fisted couple in village. ‗It is not well to cheat the temples.

Give a young calf to thine own priest, and, unless thy Gods are

angry past recall, she will give ilk within a month.‖ (Chap. 3, p.

69)

Based on the description and conversation of the novel, Kipling represents the

belief and practice of religions of Indians. It is the evidence of the existence of

diversity of religions in India. Kipling spends a lot of time in India so he can

portray the diversity of religions in India. Thus, the readers can find that Kipling

wants to show that India is a place of numerous religions, which can live together

in the social space in India.

Moreover, in his novel, Kipling represents the existence of Christianity

and its influence to Indians as the influence of the British imperialism in India.

The British Empire does not only try to develop its economic but also its belief in

India in order to disrupt the belief of Indians. Thus, the British Empire begins to

destruct the original ideology, belief and culture by spreading its belief, Christian,

in India during the 18th

century.

76

Historically, Christianity in India was introduced by the Apostle Thomas

who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ since 50 A.D. Apostle Thomas

arrived in Malankara which is located not far from Muziris, India. He focused on

the south – west of India in spreading Christianity. Furthermore, he had 1.400

followers and he built seven churches in Malankara, Chayal, Kotamamgalam,

Niranam, Paravur, Palayu and Quilon. In 73 AD, St. Thomas died; he was killed

by the local king of Madras because he declined the command of Brahmans to

lead a sacrifice to the goddess Kali. Then, the Roman Catholic missionaries came

to India in order to spread their faith in the 16th

century after the Roman built

colonies in the south of India (Frykenberg, 2008).

In the beginning of 17th

century, the British Empire began to civilize

Indian with its faith, Protestant Christian. Protestant Christian was one of the

branches of Christian religion that declined the doctrine of Roman Catholic and

the predominant figure of this religion was a reformer from Germany, Martin

Luther(http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/protestantism.ht

m). Moreover, the British Empire had strategy that he could take control India

government easily by convert Indian to his faith. Religion was the important thing

in India because they used religion as their way of life and the basic system of law

and education. Besides, the goal of the British Empire in spreading his faith in

India was to take control of the other Christians like Thomas tradition or Syrian

Christian and Roman Catholic under his rule.

The British Empire sent the voluntary of Evangelical missionaries to India

in order to spread Protestant Christian during 1700, which was sponsored by

77

British religion agencies, ‗the Society for Promoting and Christian Knowledge

and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel‘. The first voluntary of

Evangelical missionaries were two chaplains from Germany, Bartholomäus

Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plütschau landed in Tranquebar in 1705. They used the

native language, Tamil language to communicate with the native Indian when

they taught the religion. Besides, they also translated Bible into Tamil language so

the native could understand the religion doctrine more easily. Afterward, there

were many missionaries who came to the other parts of India such as Calcutta,

Madras, Tirunelveli, Travancore, and Bengali (Frykenberg, 2008). Thus,

Protestant Christian grew rapidly in India.

In his novel, Kim, Kipling constructs the existence of Christianity in India

as the influence of the British imperialism towards Indian society. Moreover, he

creates characters that represent the figure of Christian in the novel such as Father

Victor and Reverend Arthur Bennett. Besides, he puts the description that shows

the existence of Christian religion in India.

―The half - caste woman who looked after him …told the

missionaries that she was Kim‘s mother sister; but his mother had

been nursemaid in a Colonel‘s family… Societies and Chaplain,

anxious for the child, tried to catch him but O‘Hara drifted away.‖

(Chap. I p 2)

―Look! Look! Look! Clucked the Lama. ‗Yonder comes a priest.‘

It was Bennett, the Church of England Chaplain of the regiment,

limping in dusty black. One of his flock had made some rude

remarks about the Chaplain‘s mettle; and to abash him Bennett had

marched step by step with the men that day. The black dress, gold

across on the watch – chain, the hairless face, and the soft black

wide-awake hat would have marked him as a holy man anywhere

in India.‖ (Chap 5, p. 115)

78

―He showed nothing of his mind when Father Victor, for three long

mornings, discoursed to him of an entirely new set of Gods and

Godlings, notably of a Goddess called Mary, who, he gathered was

one with Bibi Miriam of Mahbud Ali‘s theology.‖ (Chap. 7, p 166)

The explanation above shows that Christian religion existed in India. There were

missionaries and chaplains, Arthur Bennett and Father Victor who settle in India

and conduct the religion activities. The foremost influence British rule on India is

the religious influence. The missionaries established Christianity and they built

churches in every possible corner of the country. Christianity developed during

the British imperialism because the missionaries actively spread the religion,

which was supported by the British Empire. Therefore, Christian can coexist

together with the other religions in India.

Furthermore, the British Empire tried to resist and disrupt Indian‘s

tradition and education by applying the British methods of education under

Christianity influence in British schools. In the first time Christian existed in

India, the relationship between Christian with the other religions in India was

harmonic without any conflict because the British Empire stood on the neutral

position. The British Empire was not too aggressive, forces the native of India in

spreading its faith, and built many churches. It only put chaplain in the south of

India and Calcutta and in British army camp in India. Moreover, the British

Empire gave financial support to some Hindu temples in India in order to attract

Indians to support the British Empire in India. Besides, the British Empire also

supported courts in using Islam or Hindu law in Indian courts (Johnson, 2003).

79

However, the British Empire started to criticize and intervene the Indian

government when the British Empire‘s company EIC took control of India. EIC

set Lord William Bentinck as Governor in Madras. Bentinck made rule in

education system in school and college of India, which was based on British‘s

religion and tradition so the school in India replaced the native language to

English as the official language in school (Suwarno, 2012). Then, in 1827, he also

criticized and prohibited the Indian tradition suttee. Suttee was ―the Indian custom

of a wife immolating herself either on the funeral pyre of her dead husband‖

(www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/575795/suttee). Besides, he permitted the

Evangelicals to spread Christian belief to Indians in order to save the British

Empire‘s rule in India through Christian.

As the result, there were many missionaries from Europe who came to

India for spreading religion through education at school. Furthermore, there were

many Christian schools and colleges that were established in several regions of

India such as Punjab, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras during. By 1850 around 30,

000 children of native Indians from upper and higher caste attended the British

school of which its learning was based on British‘s tradition 1780 (Frykenberg,

2008). The British Empire gave promising job in the British Government in India

for children who studied in the British schools so many graduates from the British

schools became British civil servants.

Kipling represents the phenomena of development of Christianity, which it

sets up in the education system of British school in India. He describes the

existence of British education in the novel.

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―Kim loafed over to the nearest tobacco seller, a rather lively

young Mohammedan woman and begged a rank cigar of the brand

that they sell to student of the Punjab University who copy English

Custom.(Chap. 1, p. 21)

―Ask them for how much money do they give a wish and suitable

teaching? And in what city is that teaching?‖

―Well.‘ said Father Victor in English…the best schooling a boy

can get in India is of course at St. Xavier in Partibus at Lucknow.‖

(Chap. 5, p. 132)

―Now we will go to the school. Said Kim at last. The great old

school of St. Xavier‘s in Partibus, block on block of law white

buildings stands in vast ground over against the Gumti River, at

some distance from the city.‖ (Chap. 7, p. 171)

The explanation shows that the school based on British‘s system is established in

India. Kipling puts the factual school that is established in India like Punjab

University and St. Xavier in the novel. In fact, Punjab University is the oldest

University, which is located in Lahore, Punjab Pakistan. It is established by the

British Government in 1882 (http://pu.edu.pk/page). Meanwhile, St. Xavier is a

school which is located in Bombay, India. It was established in India 1860. In

fact, St. Xavier is a Jesuit saint who lands in India during 16th

Century

(http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/rg_kim_notes5.htm). The factual place in the

novel displays that the British schools are establish in India and Christians begins

to spread their faith at the schools. Moreover, Kipling creates the main character

in the novel, Kim who attends to Christian school, St. Xavier after he meet the

Anglican chaplain, Reverend Arthur Bennett and the Catholic chaplain, Father

Victor who recognizes him as the son of Irish regiment. This fact shows that

81

Kipling constructs the establishment of the British school in India as the influence

of the British imperialism in educational field. It proves that the power of the

British Empire can take control Indians so it can establish the school based on

British tradition.

Furthermore, Kipling does not only represent of existence of British

school in India but also constructs the disruption of Indian culture by Christianity

through British school:

―I don‘t believe it; but we‘ll see. You were goin off to – day to

Military Orphanage at Sanawar, where the Regiment would keep

you till you were old enough to enlist. Ye‘d be brought up to the

Church of England. Bennett arranged for that. On the other hand, if

ye go to St. Xavier‘s ye‘ll get a better education ‗an - an‘ can have

the religion. D‘ye see my dilemma?‖ (Chap. 6, p. 148)

―Glory, leaving you the religion. Quite so! As a matter of fact I

don‘t think Bennett will mind. Put the blame on me. I – er –

strongly recommend sending the boy (Kim) to St. Xavier‘s. He can

go down on pass as a soldier‘s orphan, so the railway fare will be

saved, you can buy him an outfit from the Regimental subscription.

The Lodge will be saved the expense of his education, and that will

put the Lodge in a good temper. It‘s perfectly easy. I‘ve got to

down to Lucknow next week. I‘ll look after the boy on the way –

give him in charge of my servants.‖ Said Colonel Creighton.

(Chap. 6, p. 159).

―They‘ll make a man o‘ you, O‘Hara, at St. Xavier – a white man,

an‘ I hope, a good man… I‘ve give you a notion of religious

matter, - at least I hope so, - and you‘ll remember, when they as

you your religion, that you‘re a Cath‘lic. Better say Roman

Cath‘lic, tho‘ I‘m not fond of the world.‖ (Chap. 7, p. 166).

Kim is a white boy but he does not have religion like the other white man because

he is an orphan who lives alone in India and enjoy the diversity of India. He is

82

introduced to Christian religion by Bennett when he will attend the school.

Bennett and Colonel Creighton as Christian followers try to convince Kim to

convert to Christianity and study at Christian school. They say to Kim that he will

get better education, manner and prosperity if he wants to attend the school. This

case shows the effort of the British Empire to attract people to join its faith. It is

promising prosperity for people who want to join his way. As the result, many

Indians attend the British schools to reach the better life. Therefore, the British

Empire can maintain its tradition and get the intelligent human resources from the

British school students.

3. The Influence of the British Imperialism towards Indian Society in

Socio – Cultural Field

Since the British Empire colonized India during the sixteenth until

nineteenth centuries, the British Empire became the superior clan in India. It took

control the government system in all over India regions. As the result, the British

imperialism produced discrimination among Indians because British as the

superior clan could do anything to Indians. This created boundary between the

colonist, the British Empire and the colonized, India.

Moreover, Kipling represents the social condition of Indians during the

establishment of the British Empire. He shows the domination of the British

Empire in India society as the superior clan in India.

83

―He sat, in defiance of municipal orders, astride the gun Zam –

Zamah oh her brick platform opposite the old Ajaib – Gher –the

Wonder House, as the natives call the Lahore Museum. Who hold

Zam – Zamah, that ‗fire breathing dragon,‘ hold the Punjab; for the

great green bronze piece is always first of the conqueror‘s loot.‖

(Chap. 1, p. 1)

The description displays the establishment of the British Empire in India.

According to Keskas the gun Zam – Zamah was:

―The cannon earned several nicknames including ―the Lion‘s

Roar‖; it was used in the third battle of Panipat in 1761 by Ahmad

Shah of Afghanistan, when he defeated the Mahrattas, and then left

in Lahore. When the Afghans retreated, the Sikhs used it against

them, and renamed it Bhangian-wala Toph. [toph=gun). After

suffering damage the cannon was left in the Sikh‘s Holy City,

Amritsar, till it finally fell into British hands after they defeated the

Sikhs and annexed the Punjab.‖

(http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/rg_kim_notes1.htm).

It can be concluded that that the gun Zam – Zamah is actual symbol the power of

the British Empire, which can take control of the region of India, Punjab. Thus, it

is a proof that the British Empire success in colonizing India and has authority

toward Indian government.

―There were justification for Kim – he had kicked Lala Dinananth‘s

boy off the trunnions, - since the English held the Punjab and Kim

was English.‖ (Chap. 1, p. 1)

―One must never forget that one is a Sahib, and that someday, when

examinations are passed, one will command natives. Kim made a

note of this, for he began to understanding where examinations

led.‖ (Chap. 7, p. 177).

―So Kim lifted up his voice and called aloud ‗Lurgan Sahib! Oh

Lugan Sahib! Is it an order that thy servant does not speak to me?

84

‗It is an order,‘ The voice came from behind him and he started.

‗Very good. But remember,‘ he muttered, as he resought the quilt.

‗I will beat thee in the morning. I do not love Hindus.‖ (Chap. 9, p.

213).

The explanation above shows the superiority of the British Empire to Indian

society. Kipling constructs the superior attitude toward the inferior. For instance,

Kim can do anything to Indian people because he feels that he has authority to the

native Indian. Sometimes he is unkind to Indians. He kicks the native boy who

annoys him and he is so unkind with the servant of Lurgan Sahib, a Hindu boy.

He still realizes that he is a figure of white man who has authority in India

although his appearance looking Indians and he is part of low caste because he is a

beggar who lived in India. Thus, he thought that he has authority toward the

native and he wants Indians respect him.

Kipling also gives representation about discrimination of British people

who settle in India to the native. The native India gets unfair treatment of white

man because their position was subordinate in their own country.

‗I want your advice, Father Victor said Bennett. I found this boy in

the dark outside the Mess – tent. Ordinarily I should have chastised

him and let him go because I believe him to be a thief. But it seems

he talks English, and he attaches some sort of value to a charm

round his neck. I thought perhaps you might help me.‘

‗…I did not thieve.‘ protested Kim. ‗You have hit me kicks all

over my body. Now give me my charm and I will go away.‘

‗Power of Darkeness below! said Father Victor, passing all over to

Mr. Bennett, ‗Do you know what these things are?‘

‗I do not quite understand.‘ said Mr. Bennett ‗He probably brought

them on purpose. It may be a begging trick of some kind.‘

‗…Kimball O‘Hara! And his son! But then he‘s a native and I saw

Kimball married myself to Annie Shott. ‗

85

‗…You see, Bennett, he‘s not very black. What‘s your name?

‗Kim.‘

…Bennett interrupted. It is possible I have done the boy an

injustice. He is certainly white though evidently neglected. I am

sure I must have bruised him. I do not think sprits…‘

‗Get him a glass of sherry, then and let him squat of the on the cot.

Now, Kim‘ continued Father Victor, ‗No one is going to hurt you.

Drink that down and tell us about yourself. The truth, if you‘ve no

objection.‘

…..‗A phenomenal little liar.‘ muttered Bennett. (Chap. 5, pp. 119

- 123)

The conversation among Kim, Father Victor and Bennett chaplain show the

attitude of the white man to the native India. Though Kim is a white boy whose

his father is an Irish sergeant in Irish army, nobody believe that he is a white man.

It is because if he is seen from his appearance he looks like an Indian. It can be

said that Kim represents Indians in the eye of the British people. That is why

Father Victor and Bennett chaplain do not believe that he is the member of British

people. Father Victor and Bennett chaplain portray colonists who have bad

attitude towards Indians. When they meet Kim at the first time, they

underestimate him very much because they think that Kim is an Indian. They have

bad prejudice toward the native. They assume that Kim comes to their place to

steal something. They do not believe Kim when he says to them he is not a thief.

However, Father Victor becomes friendlier and believes Kim after Father Victor

realizes that Kim is part of his people, white man. While Bennett is still doubt

about Kim, he supposes that Kim creates fake story to get some money. It shows

that the colonists so arrogant and rude towards the inferior people. They assume

that the inferiors are not good man and only want to get their money. It is quite

86

different from their attitude toward their own people. They do not think that

something bad or underestimated toward their own people. Additionally, Kipling

does not only explore verbal intimidation but also physical intimidation or

bullying to Indians by British people.

―Hereupon the man caught him by ear, dragged him to a room in a

far off wing where a dozen drummer boys were sitting on forms,

and told him to be still if he could do.‖ (Chap. 6, p. 140)

―…They send me to a school and beat me.‖ (Chap. 6, p. 144)

―Three days of the torment passed in the big, echoing white room.

He walked out of afternoons under escort of the drummer boy, and

all he heard from his companion were the few useless words which

seemed to make two-thirds of the white‘s man abuse. The boy

resented his silence and lack of interest by beating him as was only

natural.‖ (Chap. 6 p. 150).

The description explains that Kim gets bullying from the other students at the

British school because he is from the low caste and his appearance looks like an

Indian. This case shows that British people has authority toward the native so they

think that they can do anything toward native, including bullying the native.

Besides, it is the way to show their authority and power to native so that they

wants that they can take control the native and the native respect them because

they are superior while Indians are inferior class in India.

Moreover, Kipling represents the huge mixture of people from different

ethnics group in the novel. As we know, that India is a state that has the diversity

of race and ethnic groups, which has their own traditions and custom. The readers

can find the diversity of race in India through the novel. Additionally, Kipling

87

uses several terms inside the novel to address the native of India and their

behavior of Indian. They are Oriental, Nigger man, Black man and Asiatic.

―Dynamite was milky and innocuous beside that report of C.25;

and even an Oriental, with an Oriental‘s views of the value of time,

could see that sooner it was in the proper hands the better.‖ (Chap.

2, p. 31)

―That would have been a fatal blot on Kim‘s character if Mahbud

had not known that to others, for his own ends or Mahbud‘s

business. Kim could lie like an Oriental.‖ (Chap. 2, p. 33)

―Trousers and jacket crippled body and mind alike, so he

abandoned the project and fell back, Oriental fashion, on time and

chance.‖ (Chap. 6, p. 150)

―Swiftly, as Oriental understand speed with long explanations,

with abuse and windy talk, carelessly, amid a hundred checks for

little things forgotten…‖ (Chap. 9, p. 202)

―Their native servants had gone sick at Leh…They bore a general

letter of introduction (the Babu salaamed to it orientally) to all

government.‖ (Chap. 13, p. 338)

‗What you bukkin‘ to that nigger about?‘ said the drummer boy

when Kim return to the veranda.

‗I was only talkin‘ to hi,‘

‗You talk the same as a nigger, don‘t you?‘(Chap. 7, p. 145)

‗Take it for gift, them‘ said Creighton, tossing it over. ‗There is a

good spirit in there. Do not let it be blunted at St. Xavier‘s. There

are many boys who despise the black men.‖ (Chap. 7, p 169)

―He threw the blanket off his face, and raised himself suddenly

with the terrible, bubbling, meaningless yell of the Asiatic roused

by nightmare.‖ (Chap. 8, p. 197)

―Sweetest of all he treated Kim as an equal on the Asiatic side.

(Chap. 9, p. 215)

―The Englishman is not, as a rule, familiar with the Asiatic, but he

would not strike across the wrist a kindly Babu who had

accidentally upset a kilta with a red oilskin top.‖ (Chap. 13, p. 338)

88

―Kissing is practically unknown among Asiatic, which may have

been the reason that she leaned back with wide – open eyes and a

face of panic.‖ (Chap. 14, p. 379)

Kipling frequently uses the term Oriental, black man, nigger and Asiatic in the

novel. Kipling uses these terms to represent many fields in India such as the

country, the native India, culture, custom, behavior and environment.

Then, I indicate that these terms define the racist idea because the terms

cause prejudice and stereotype toward Indians. For example, Kipling adds the

sentence, ‗Kim could be lie like an Oriental‘. It shows that the prejudice toward

Indians because it will be mean that Indians are always like to lie. Besides,

Kipling puts the terms ‗Nigger‘ and ‗Black man‘ to describe physical appearance

of Kim and Indians. As we know, they native of India have black skin. It shows

that the racist idea of white men to Indians because the terms are a verbal violence

toward Indian. The highest level and power leads white men to hold

discrimination and violence to Indians in any ways.

This case shows that Kipling gives deep comprehension about the

boundary between British people and native. In the eye of British people, they and

the natives of India are having quite different social status that the native of India

is the inferior clan. Thus, they create the terms to the natives as the boundary of

their status and to show that the domination of the British people.

89

4. The Influence of the British Imperialism towards Indian Society in

Political Field

The influence in political field is the last influence of the British

imperialism towards Indian society, which appears in the novel Kim. Moreover,

ideological motive has been used as the reason of imperial expansion. The reason

why the imperialist nations spread their ideology is to expand their ideology to

other nations so that they can maintain their ideology. Thus, the British Empire

leads Indians to follow the British Empire‘s attitude and custom especially in

extending English language to communicate in daily activities, school activities

and government administration.

‗A Punjabi constable in a yellow linen trousers slouched across the

road. He had seen the money pass. ‗Halt‘ he cried in impressive

English.‘ (Chap. 5, p. 85)

‗And now, go to the nearest letter writer in the bazaar and tell him

to come here. I would write a letter.‘

‗But – but what manner of white man‘s son art thou to need a

bazaar letter – writer? (Chap. 6, p. 142)

‗Late enough for me. I have learned to read and to write English a

little at the madrissah, I shall soon be altogether a Sahib‘ (Chap. 7,

p. 185)

‗How am I to fear the absolutely non – existent? said Hurre Babu

talking English to reassure himself.‘ (Chap. 11, p. 256)

Based on the explanation above, Kipling illustrates the result of the British

Empire‘s efforts to replace Indian custom with the British‘s custom. Kipling

created the characters Kim and Hurree Babu. Kim cannot to speak and write in

90

english even he is a white man. However, he can speak and write in English after

he attends the British school. Since Hurre Babu Mukerjee is a spy for Colonel

Creighton, he has to be able to speak and write in English although he was an

Indian. This case shows that the British Empires successful in changing Indians

custom into British custom. Western education and government administration

based on British system influenced the Indian society in using English as a means

of communication. Furthermore, Indians use English as their language to

communicate in daily activities. As the result, English ruins the native language so

it destroys the native culture of India.

Moreover, as the superior clan in India, the British Empire can take control

and dominate all fields in the nation that were colonized, for example in political

and administrative institutions. Though the political native like the British Raj is

still existed but Indian king should follow the British Empire rules. As the result,

there is a distance between the British and Indians in society. In government

office, the amount of staffs of Indians is very small and they are placed in low

position. Meanwhile, the British Empire places many British people as the leaders

or heads and staffs in government office in order to control the external and

internal security in India.

―The Lama not so well used to trains as he had pretended, started

as the 3.25 A.M, south bound roared in. The sleepers sprang to life,

and the station filled with clamour and shoutings, cries of water

and sweetmeat vendor, shout the native policemen.‖ (Chap. 3, p

38)

―A Punjabi constable in yellow linen trouser slouched across the

line the road. He had seen the money pass. ‗Halt! He cried in

impressive English. ‗Know ye not that there is a takkus of two

91

annas a head, which is four annas, on those who enter the road

from this side – road. It is the order of Sirkar, and the money is

spent for the planting of tress and the beatification of the ways.‖

(Chap. 6, p. 85)

―…At the end of that time entered a hulking, obese Babu whose

stocking legs shook with fat, and Kim opened on him with a

shower of wayside chaff.

―… Thou wilt understand many things later. He (Babu) is a writer

of tales for a certain Colonel. His honor in Simla, and it is

noticeable that he has no name but only a number and a letter –

that is a custom among us.‘(Chap. 10, p. 227)

The explanations above show that the colonized people become the secondary

class or subordinate people in their own nation. Kipling represents that the

positions of the natives are subordinate in the government institution such as

police institution. Based on the explanation above, it finds that the native figures

are placed in low position because the native policemen are only placed in stations

and roads. Besides, Kipling constructs that the native policemen have bad attitude

because they ask money to Indians who want across the road.

Moreover, the character Hurre Babu Mukerjee is the other proof that

shows the positions of the natives are subordinate in the government institution. In

fact, Babu means ‗an Indian clerk in a low – level government position‘

(http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/rg_kim_notes5.htm). This case shows that the

British Empire places staffs of Indian in low position in administrative

institutions.

92

Additionally, the British Empire maintains its power by developing and

deploying its military in all regions in India to secure India from external and

internal disturbance. Kipling depicts the existence of the British military in India:

―Kimball O‘Hara, a young color sergeant of the Mavericks, an

Irish regiment. He afterward took a post on the Sind, Punjab and

Delhi railway.‘ (Chap. 1, p. 2)

―…It was no more that an ordinary camp marking – flag; but the

regiment, always punctilious in matters of millinery, had charged it

with the regimental device the Red Bull, which is the crest of the

Mavericks – the great Red Bull on a background of Irish green.‖

―...They are soldiers – white soldiers. The sign over against the

Bull is the sign of War and armed men.‖ (Chap. 5, p. 112)

The British Empire is not only recruiting the white man as its military but also

requires the native as its troops to expand its power in military aspect. Besides, the

British Empire recruits Indians as its troops to secure his territory around the

world so Indian troops automatically joined the war.

―It was an old man, who had served the Government in the days of

the Mutiny as a native officer.‖

―…Kim had enjoyed a most interesting evening with the old man,

who brought out his cavalry sabre and, balancing it on his dry

knees told tales of the Mutiny and young captains thirty years in

their graves.‖

―…I would set thee on thy road for a little, Friend of all the World

– thou and thy yellow man.‘ The old soldier ambled up the village

street, all shadow in the dawn, on a gaunt, scissor – hocked pony.

‗Last night broke up the fountains of remembrance in my so –dried

heart, and he was as a blessing for me. Truly there is war abroad in

the air. I smell it. See! I have brought my sword.‘

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―The sword,‘ he said fumbling it. ‗Oh, that was a fancy of mine –

an Old man‘s fancy. Truly the police orders are that no man must

bear weapon throughout Hind, but‘ – he cheered up and slapped

the hilt – ‗all constables here about know me.‘ (Chap. 3, pp. 65 –

73).

In the novel, Kipling creates a character the old soldier that representative of the

native troop for the British military. He joins Mutiny war to assist the British

Empire. Mutiny war is the war of rebellion of Sepoy or Indian soldiers against the

British East Indian Company in 1857 (Suwarno, 2012). The reason why Indian

soldiers revolt the British Empire is that there are no freedom and satisfaction with

the British Empire especially toward Sepoy, Hinduism and Islamism. Then, the

Indian soldiers or Sepoy begin to disobey the rule and command of the British

Empire.

This case shows that the British Empire forces the native Indian to join in

its military to support his power in order to maintain its power and territory in

India. Thus, it is possible for Indian troops join to war to defend the British

Empire despite of should attack the Indian. In Addition, the characters in the

novel, Mahbud Ali, Hurree Babu Mukerjee and the secret agent, E.23 also

represents the native Indian who is recruited by the British government as its spy

agents to give a lot of information for the British government. Therefore, it can be

concluded that the British Empire will do anything to defend its territory and

power despite having to recruit the native Indian as its soldier or agent.

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B. Rudyard Kipling’s Perception on the Influence of the

British Imperialism towards Indian Society in the Novel

Kim

In this sub chapter discusses Rudyard Kipling‘s perception about the

British imperialism in India in the novel Kim. Rudyard Kipling was an English

short-story writer, poet and novelist. He was born on December 30, 1865; in

Bombay, India. He spent his childhood in India, until five years old. When he was

six years old, his parent sent him to boarding school in South Sea. Then, when he

was sixteen in 1882, he returned to Lahore, India to work as a journalist at the

Lahore Civil and Military Gazette and the Allahabad Pioneer. Furthermore, he

began to write verses and short stories for newspapers. Working as a journalist

gave him many experiences to see the real condition in India and improve his

creativity in his writing skill. As a journalist in India, Kipling had the opportunity

to explore Indian and white people‘s life in India. The combination of his life and

job experiences often influenced his idea or thought in his life and then result on

the reflection on the creation of his works.

Moreover, Kipling lives in a period when the British Empire dominated

India. Therefore, it is possible that his work‘s theme or topic is related to the

values and attitudes of the Victorian Era and the British Empire during the late

eighteenth until nineteenth century. His literary work, Kim, is a novel that

explores the the issue of the British imperialism in India. He wrote it in 1901. In

this novel, Kipling attempts to show that Kim imitates the social condition in India

when the British Empire dominates nearly all fields of life in India. He represents

95

India‘s social condition including culture, politic and economy of India and also

the diversity of cultures of Indians during the British Empire occupation in India

in very much detail and very clearly in the novel. Therefore, Kipling tries to

convey his perception to the issues in the novel. Kim. In this analysis interprets

what is Rudyard Kipling‘s perception about the influence of the British

imperialism towards Indian society in his novel Kim. It is described as follows:

1. Rudyard Kipling’s Perception on the Influence of the British

Imperialism towards Indian Society in Economy Field

After the influence of the British imperialism towards India as seen in the

novel is analyzed, it finds that Kipling explores the influence in economic field in

India during British colony in Indian society. He represents the influence of the

British imperialism in economic field is not only in negative influences but also

positive ones. However, it is found within the novel that he describes the

condition of Indians in contrast way which is different from the real condition of

Indians. In the novel, he seems hide the truth of condition and situation during the

British Empire dominates India.

In fact, during the 1800s until the nineteenth century, the British East

India Company took control of the economy of India. EIC was a company that

was built by merchants of London under the British government‘s control. Under

the reign of Wellesley, EIC monopolized the trade market in India. Therefore, EIC

could exploit the natural resources of India. Therefore, Indians were very poor and

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suffering in finance because EIC forced Indian farmers to pay expensive land

taxes to EIC. Besides, the Indian farmers suffered for their land revenue because

the British Government took the land revenue to supply of the British industries.

As the result, many Indians died because of famine. In addition, there was the

cholera, which spread in India. This epidemic killed many Indians that made

people in India more suffering.

Based on the explanation above, there is indication that Kipling describes

about Indian condition is quite different from the factual event that happens in

India. It can be interpreted that Kipling has his own perception about the influence

of British imperialism in economic field. Thus, he creates the fictional condition

in describing the condition of Indians in the novel.

Moreover, Kipling was born on 30th

December 1865 and lived in India

until age five. Then, in 1882, he returned to India for his job as assistant editor

and journalist of The Civil and Military Gazette in Punjab until 1888. Then, he

published his novel Kim in 1901, around twelve years after he left India. The

setting of time in the novel was during 1880 until 1900s. Based on the author‘s

background information and the setting of time in the novel, as a person who ever

lived and had experiences in India, Kipling can recognize and see the real

situation and condition of India. However, he does not explore the issue of

exploitation of wealth of India by the British Empire from economic field that

made Indians collapse and face the poverty. He celebrates the success of the

British Empire of improving the economic field in India by building the

infrastructure of transportation and communication. He repeatedly describes the

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development of transportation and communication in the novel as can be seen

below.

‗And how wilt thou go? It is a far cry to Delhi and farther to

Benares.‘

‗By road and the trains. From Pathankot, having left the hills, I

came hither in a te – rain. It goes swiftly.‘ (Chap. 1, p. 15).

Kim, fending the lama between exited men and exited beasts,

sidled along the cloisters to the far end nearest the railway station,

where Mahbud Ali, the horse trader, lived when he came in from

that mysterious land beyond the Passes of the North. (Chap. 1, p.

25).

They entered the fort – like railway station, black in the end of

night; the electrics sizzling over the goods – yard where they

handle the heavy Northern grain – traffics. (Chap. 2, p 37).

‗At first I was amazed to see those tall poles by the side of the

road snatching up and snatching up their thread,‘ – he illustrated

the stoop and whirl of a telegraph – pole flashing past the train.‘

(Chap. 1, p. 15).

‗…when we think that there was than being handed in at the Simla

a code wire reporting the arrival of E. 23 at Delhi and more

important , the whereabouts of a letter he had been commission to

– abstract.‘ (Chap. 11, p. 300).

It can be concluded that Kipling does not explore deeply about the real influence

of the British imperialism in the novel because there are only few description

about Indians suffering in finance. Moreover, he represents that the British

imperialism gives advantage in economic field of India. In the novel, he adds that

the Indians appreciate the British Empire in improving Indians infrastructure:

The lama jibbed at the open door of a crowded third – class

carriage. ‗Were it not better to walk?‘ said he weakly.

A burly Sikh artisan thrust forth his bearded head. ‗is he afraid?

Do not be afraid. I remember the time when I was afraid of the

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te – rain. Enter! This thing is the work of the Government.‘

(Chap. 2, p.39).

‗Great is the speed of the te –rain,’ said the banker, with a

patronizing grin. ‗We have gone farther since Lahore than thou

couldst walk in two days: at even, we shall enter Umballa.‘

(Chap. 2, p. 44)

And truly the Grand Trunk Road is a wonderful spectacle. It

runs straight, bearing without crowding India‘s traffic for

fifteen hundred miles – such a river of life as nowhere else

exists in the world. They looked at the green –arched, shade-

flecked length of it white breadth spectacled with slow –

packing folk; and the two roomed police station opposite.

(Chap. 3, p. 81).

The Grand Trunk at this point was built on an embankment to

guard to against winter floods from the foothills, so that one

walked, as it were a little above the country, along a stately

corridor, seeing all India spread out to left and right. It was

beautiful to behold the many yoked grain and cotton wagons

crawling over the country roads; one could hear their axles,

complaining a mile away, coming nearer, till with shouts and

yells and bad words they climbed up the steep incline and

plunged on to hard main road, carter reviling carter. It was

equally beautiful to watch the people little clumps of red and

blue pink and white and saffron, turning aside to go their own

villages, dispersing and growing small by two and three across

the level plain. (Chap. 3, p. 89).

‗Then, in the name of Gods, lets us take the fire – carriage. My

son is the best in his mother‘s arms. The government has

brought on us many taxes but it gives us one good thing – the

te – rain that joins friends and unites the anxious. A wonderful

matter is the te- rain (Chap. 12, p, 282)

The description of the novel shows that Kipling wants to show the

advantage of the development of infrastructures in India by the British

government. He constructs that Indians appreciate the British Empire in

improving Indian infrastructures because they support the activities of Indians so

that they can live in comfortable place. There is no conflict in economic field

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between the superior and inferior; and rich and poor because Kipling constructs

that Indian appreciate and satisfy the British Empire‘s effort in improving the

infrastructures in India in order to support the economic activities in India.

Therefore, the readers notice that Kipling creates the peaceful and fair atmosphere

between the colonist and the colonized in the novel. Additionally, Jonah Raskin

notes the Kipling‘ perception towards the British Empire especially the economic

field in his book The Mythology of Imperialism:

―Rudyard Kipling‘s monument to the empire. Kipling‘s wall hide

the truth of imperialism…He was enthusiastic about efficiency,

industrial, production, the machine… Kipling is antagonist, he

reveals the broad and deep tension within the culture of British

imperialism. He indicates the conflicted attitudes about race,

industrial, and commercial society, technology, communication,

England. He was a spokesman for the empire. He accepted the

values and limitations imposed upon him by establishment.‖

(Raskin, 1971, pp. 14, 29, 36).

Besides, H.G Wells in Raskin states that:

―Kipling was a national symbol that the English ism was

Kiplingism, Kipling engineered the entrenchment of the ruling

class. He defended autocracy and the white race, industrialism and

conservatism. In the marketplace he hawked the white man‘s

burden, the official myth of the British Empire. He maliciously

neglected economic exploitation and advertised empire as heroic

endeavor of fraternal white me, enslaving themselves to free Black

men and Brown men from poverty and tyranny. The big lie.‖

(Raskin, 1971, p. 53)

This fact shows that the reason why Kipling constructs the condition of Indians

in contrasts way is different from the factual condition of Indians in the novel

100

because he has his own propaganda. His propaganda is he wants to underline that

British as the superior nation has good rules for his colony because British‘s

colonization gives advantage to his colonies instead of giving pain and suffer to

his colonies. Besides, Kipling has affection and loyalty toward the British Empire

because he is the representative of white man. He believes that the British

Empire is good to India. Therefore, it can be concluded that Kipling wants to

show his loyalty to the British Empire through the story line the Indians

appreciate the British Empire in improving Indians infrastructure.

2. Rudyard Kipling’s Perception on the Influence of the British

Imperialism towards Indian Society in Religious and Educational

Fields

The other influence of the British Imperialism towards Indian society

which is explored by Kipling in the novel Kim is the influence in religious and

educational fields. In term of religious, Kipling seems to support the existence of

Christianity in India because he shows the harmonious condition of religious

groups in India. Furthermore, Kipling creates the peaceful situation that all

religions in India such as Hindu, Islam, Christian and Buddhist can live together

in the same place peacefully.

Kim had had many dealing with Mahbud Ali in his little life… and

the big burly Afghan, his beard dyed scarlet with lime… ‗Allah! A

lama! A Red Lama! It was far from Lahore to the Passes.‘… I do

not give to a lousy Tibetan. But ask my Baltis. They may value

your blessing. Oh, horse boys; here is a countryman of yours. See

if he be hungry.‘

101

‗...We go to Benares.‘ said the lama, as soon as understood the

drift of Mahbud Ali‘s questions. He is my disciple.

‗And his name?‘

‗That I did not ask. Is he not my disciple?‘

‗His country – his race – his village? Mussalaman – Sikh – Hindu

– Jain – low caste or high?‘

‗Why should I ask? There is neither high nor low in the Middle

way if he is my chela – does – will – can anyone take him from

me?

…The lama sumptuously fed by Mahbud‘s Baltis, was already

asleep in a corner of one the stalls. (Chap. I, pp. 25 – 29)

‗… The long Road the overpasses all the rivers of Hind,‘ said the

lama gaily. ‗Let us go. But how thinkest thou, chela, to

recompense these people, and especially the priest, for their

kindness? (Chap. 3 p. 71)

These merry – makers stepped slowly, calling one to the other and

stopping to haggle with sweetmeat – sellers, or to make a prayer

before one of the wayside shrines - Sometimes Hindu, sometimes

Mussalman – which the low caste of both creeds share with

beautiful impartiality…‖ (Chap. 3, p. 87).

Based on the explanation above, Kipling sets his idea about the harmonious

situation of religious groups in India. Kipling designs the main character, Kim, a

white boy who lives in India and his skin is black looking like Indians. This case

makes he has multiple identities. Although he is a white boy, his multiple

identities make him easier to socialize with anyone from different castes, races

and religions. There are a lot of people such as the Lama who is Buddhist from

Tibetan and Mahbub Ali who is Muslim from Afghanistan and he called him

Friend of all the World because he can make friends with anyone (Chap I, p. 14).

Besides, Kipling creates a minor character, Teshoo Lama, the Indian native as a

neutral person who is always friendly to the other people who have different

religions.

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However, the situation that is represented in the novel was quite different

from the reality because there are many conflicts among the followers of religions

in India. Kipling hides the factual events about conflict of religion in India. For

example, there is a religious conflict among Hindu, Muslim and Christian. The

Great Mutiny of 1857 is a war between Hindu and Muslim troops and British

government, EIC. Since the 1800s, EIC dominated several fields of India. As the

result, EIC set up the rule based on its tradition and religion, Christian. However,

many Hindu and Muslim Indians who were employed in EIC felt disappointed

toward EIC because its rules failed to respect Indian tradition in religion. There

was issue that Indian troop‘s bullet was greased with pork and cow fat was the

predominant cause of the rebellion of Hindu and Muslim troops toward EIC

(Hodge, 2008). As we know that cow is a sacred animal for Hindu while pork is

sinful for Muslim.

Actually, Kipling definitely know about the history of the Great Mutiny

war because he was born in 1865 in India and lived in India for a long time.

Besides, he also creates a character old soldier who joins in 1857 war (Chap. 3, p.

65). He describes that the old soldier is a native soldier of British army and he

joined the war. Kipling has information about the conflict between the religious

groups in India and the British Empire but he does not explore it in his novel.

Thus, he hides the factual event about conflict of religious groups in India. This

case shows that Kipling has his own imagination about religious groups in India.

He tries to emphasize his vision that all of religious groups of India including

white man can live together at the same place without any conflicts. Then, he

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creates a white boy, who can easily to socialize with anyone from different castes,

races and religions as the main character in the novel. Therefore, in Kipling‘s

perception, the existence of white man in India does not disrupt the native religion

in India because white man adds the diversity of religion in India. Then, white

man and the religion groups in India can coexist at the same place.

Moreover, Kipling seems ambivalent about his perception in term of

religion. He does not only create imagination about the harmonious situation

between white man and religious group in India but he is also criticizes the

Indian‘s tradition of religion:

The huge, mouse – colored Brahmini bull of the ward was

shouldering, his way through the many colored crowd, a stolen

plaintain hanging out of his mouth. He headed straight for the

shop, well knowing his privileges as a sacred beast, lowered his

head, and puffed heavily along the line of baskets ere making his

choice.‘ (Chap. 1, p 19)

‗Surely, Child; from Kulu to Pathankot – from Kulu, where my

first chela died. When men were kind to us we made offerings, and

all men were well disposed throughout all the Hills.‘

‗It is otherwise in Hind,‘ said Kim drily. ‗Their Gods are many

armed and malignant.‘ (Chap. 3, p. 71)

‗Humph! Consider, brat, that I am an old woman and not

altogether a fool. Lama I know and to these I give reverence, but

thou art no more a lawful chela than this my finger is the pole of

this wagon. Thou art a casteless Hindu – a bold and blushing

beggar, attached, belike, to the Holy One for sake of gain…‘

(Chap. 4, p. 96)

‗True – oh, true. But perhaps that will come. Certainly those

country Brahmains are utterly useless. I sent gives and moneys and

gifts again to them, and they prophesied.‘ (Chap. 4, p. 98)

‗She asked me many questions and propounded many problems –

the most of which were idle tales which she had heard from devil –

serving priests who pretend to follow the way. Some I answered,

and some I said were foolish.‘ (Chap. 4, p.101)

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‗… I think the Bull shall help me. The Holy man said so too…‘

Sahibs praying to a bull!‘ What in the world do you make of that?‘

said Bennett (Chap. 4, p. 101)

Based on the explanation above the readers can find that Kipling underestimates

and criticizes the tradition of religions of Indian. As we know, bull or cow is

sacred animal for Hindus but Kipling constructs that bull is a thief because it eats

anything what its finds. Besides, when Kim and Lama have conversation about

the offerings for Gods which is the tradition of Hindu, Kim comments that the

Gods need many offerings from their followers and it sounds the Gods have desire

to harm their followers because they have to provide a lot of money for buying the

offerings. Moreover, the comment of Bennett underestimates Kim because Kim

prays to the bull when Kim meets Bennett, the Anglican chaplain and tells about

his father‘s prophecy about Red Bull in the green field. The description of

tradition of Hindu, which is described by Kipling, shows that he is unpleasant and

disrespectable with the tradition of Hindu because people who are praying to bull

and giving the offerings for Gods are so unreasonable because they have to

provide a lot of money for buying the offerings. This way, Kipling represents

Indian people as uncivilized people because Indian people are holding on their

belief and culture. For white people, Indian‘s belief is illogical.

In addition, Kipling adds the story about the Kulu Woman. She is a

wealthy widow from the hill. She asks many priests from many religions in India

to give her charm or praying for her because she wants a grandson. However,

many priests lie to her and they only want to take her money and gift. Kipling

105

produces prejudice that the spiritual leaders of religions in India are not good

persons because they always have to do anything to get profit from their

followers. This case shows that though Kipling wants harmonious condition in

religion group in India, he criticizes tradition of religions of India that some

traditions are unreasonable because it spends a lot of money for the religion

ceremony and the offerings food. Besides, the Indian religions are quite different

from his religions, Christian and Freemasonry.

In fact, Christian was Kipling‘s religion before he converted

Freemasonry. His parents were the member of Christian so Christian influenced

him through his parents. In 1885, Kipling joined Freemasonry when he became

secretary at the Lodge of Hope and Perseverance, No. 782, English Constitution in

Lahore, Punjab, India (http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/kipling.html).

Freemasonry is a religion which is devoted to fraternity, equality and peace. Thus,

it was possible that Christian and Freemasonry influenced his life and his way of

thinking.

In the novel, he puts the influence of Christian and Freemasonry. He adds

the Freemasonry term in the background of Kim‘s father. Kipling portrays that

Kim‘s father is the member of Freemason. Besides, Kipling‘s vision that all

religion groups can live together without conflict is the influence of Freemason

tenet, morality and equality. Moreover, Kipling also put the practice of

Christianity in the British school in India through his novel. T S Elliot, an

American writer and poet argues in Raskin about Kipling vision about religion:

… It is not Christian vision, but it is at least pagan vision – a

contradiction of the materialistic view; it is the insight nto a

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harmony with nature which must be re – established if the truly

Christian imagination is to be recovered by Christians. What he is

trying to convey is… a point of view unintelligible to

industrialized mind. (Raskin, 1971, p. 33)

Then, it can be concluded that Kipling‘s representation about religion may have

been influenced by Christian and Freemasonry tenets. This why Kipling has

imagination about the harmonious condition among religion groups and criticizes

the tradition of religion of India which is different from his moral view. Therefore,

Kipling indirectly shows that he supports the existence of Christianity and

Freemasonry in India because its tenet has good things for people‘s life.

The story line about Kim who attends Christian school is the other proof

that Kipling supports the existence of Christianity in India through education

system:

‗You will be sent to a school. Later on we shall see. Kimball, I

suppose you‘d like to be a soldier.‘

‗They say that money is paid to teacher but that money the

Regiment will give… What need? It is only for a night.‘

‗And the more money is paid the better learning is given?‘ The

lama disregarded Kim‘s plans for an early flight. It is no wrong to

pay for learning. To help the ignorant wisdom is always a merit.‘

(Chap. 6, p. 133)

‗.. I would write a letter.‘ said Kim

‗But – but what manner of white man‘s son art thou to need a

bazaar letter-writer? Is there not a schoolmaster in the barracks?

(Chap.7, p. 142)

―Bennett arranged for that. On the other hand, if ye go to St.

Xavier‘s ye‘ll get a better education ‗an - an‘ can have the

religion. D‘ye see my dilemma?‖ (Chap. 6, p. 148)

…Presently the Colonel sent for him, and talked for a long time.

So far as Kim could gather, he was to be diligent and enter the

Survey of India as a chain – man. If he were very good, and passed

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proper examinations, he would be earning thirty rupees a month at

seventeen years old, and Colonel Creighton would see that he

found suitable employment. (Chap. 8, p. 167)

Bennett and Colonel Creighton as Christian followers try to convince Lama to

send Kim to Christian school. They say to Lama that Kim will get better

education and manner if he wants to attend the school. However, it needs lot of

money for studying at a good school. Then, Lama agrees to pay Kim‘s school

cost. He thinks that Kim must get better school and learning for Kim‘s future life

although it spends lot of his money. Besides, Colonel Creighton informs Kim that

the British Government promises good job for people who has knowledge in

school. Thus, Kim should to attend the British school for reach better life and lot

of money.

Based on the explanation above, Kipling represents that Christianity

continued to spread its influence through educational institution. He argues that

education is very important for people because it introduces important knowledge

to the people who do not understand it. For example, Kim cannot to speak and

write in English even if he is a white man. Then, he can speak and write in

English after he attends the British school. This case shows that the British school

produces intelligent human resource to India so that it makes a better future and

life of the Indians. In addition, there is a basic purpose that Kipling wants to show

that the British school in India is provided by the British Empire in order to

support the existence of Christianity. The reason is the British Empire applies the

108

methods of learning and studying under Christianity influence at the British

schools.

The British Empire tries to attract people to join the faith. It is promising

prosperity for people who want to join its faith. As the result, many Indians attend

the British schools to reach the better life. Therefore, the British Empire can

maintain and spread the Christianity. It can be concluded that Kipling supports the

existence of Christianity and the British schools. In his perception, the British

Empire gives advantage to India because it provides better education for Indians.

3. Rudyard Kipling’s Perception on the Influence of the British

Imperialism towards Indian Society in Socio - Cultural Field

This sub – chapter discusses Kipling‘s perception about the influence of

the British imperialism towards Indian society in socio – cultural field when the

British Empire colonizes India. The change of socio – cultural has a great

influence towards the life of Indians including customs, status, values and

traditions. In the novel, Kipling constructs the change of class status of Indians.

As a person who lives in India for a long time and has many experiences

there, it is possible that Kipling admires India. However, it cannot be denied that

Kipling is the member of British society so he describes India from colonist‘s

perspective. He is never uncertain to proclaim the British people who are superior

class while Indians are inferior class. The characterization of Kim in the novel is

the proof that Kipling has perception that the white man is superior:

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Though (Kim) was burned black as any native; though he spoke the

vernacular by preference and his mother tongue in a clipped uncertain

sing-song; though he consorted on terms of perfect equality with the small

boys of the bazar; Kim was white—a poor white of the very poorest. The

half-caste woman who looked after him (she smoked opium, and

pretended to keep a second-hand furniture shop by the square where the

cheap cabs wait) told the missionaries that she was Kim's mother's sister;

but his mother had been nursemaid in a Colonel's family and had married

Kimball O'Hara, a young colour-sergeant of the Mavericks, an Irish

regiment. (Chap. 1, p.1)

There were justification for Kim – he had kicked Lala Dinananth‘s

boy off the trunnions, - since the English held the Punjab and Kim

was English.‖ (Chap. 1, p. 1)

Based on the description above Kipling wants to emphasize that Kim is the

member of British society even though his appearance looks like Indian and his

social status is at the lowest part of white elite. Thus, he has opportunity to do

anything toward Indians because he realizes that his social status is higher than

Indians. Moreover, Kipling puts several minor characters in the novel that show

the manner of superior white man to Indians. They are Father Victor, Bennett

chaplain and drummer boy. As we know, that Kipling creates the character Kim as

the product of hybridization. According to Barker in his book The Sage

Dictionary of Cultural Studies hybridity is:

―The concept of the hybrid made considerable strides into the

vocabulary of cultural studies during the 1990s in the context of

discussions about globalization, Diaspora cultures and post

colonialism. At its core, hybrdity involves the mixing together of

previously discrete cultural elements to create new meanings and

identities.‖ (Barker, 2004, p. 89)

110

Kim is an Irish but he is born and lived in India and his skin is black looks like an

Indian. Besides, he can speak in Indian vernacular (Chap. 1, p.1). Kim‘s

appearance and custom which is like native is the representation of Indians from

the white man‘s perspective. It makes Father Victor, Bennett chaplain and

drummer boy underestimates Kim very much. As the result, Kim gets bullying

from them. However, after they recognize Kim as the member of their clan, they

become friendlier toward Kim. It shows that Kipling clearly builds the atmosphere

of superiority of white man in his novel because he depicts how the colonist could

take control of Indians and could do anything toward Indians. Moreover,

Kipling‘s perception about British as the superior class in India displays that the

change of socio – cultural in Indian has changed as the result of British

imperialism. The Indians as the owner of India become the second-class or

subordinate people in their own country.

There are several terms inside the novel to address the Indians peoples and

their customs such as Oriental, Nigger man, Asiatic and Hillman. The terms are

the other proof that shows Kipling has perception about white man as the superior

class in India. Kipling uses these terms to show that white man and Indians are

having different social status; white man is superior while Indians are inferior

class. It can be said that Kipling categorizes the Indians as ‘the other’. Moreover,

Barker states that:

The notion of the other is closely linked to those of identity and

difference in that identity is understood to be defined in part by its

difference from the other. I am male because I am not female, I am

heterosexual because I am not homosexual, I am white because I

am not black and so forth. Such binaries of difference usually

involve a relationship of power, of inclusion and exclusion, in that

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one of the pair is empowered with a positive identity and the other

side of the equation becomes the subordinated other. (Barker,

2004, p. 139).

This is why Kipling creates several terms as the meaning to make boundary

between white man and the Indians. It could be concluded that although Kipling

admires India but Kipling never forget his truly root as a British so he has loyalty

and faith in the British Government and people. Therefore, Kipling explores his

perception about British as the superior class in order to show the power and

authority of his country.

Furthermore, it can be interpreted that Kipling used the terms Oriental and

Asiatic as definition of the racist idea because Kipling uses these terms when he

represents all fields of India such as the country, the Indians, culture, custom,

behavior and environment in the novel. Besides, the terms cause prejudice and

stereotype toward the Indian:

―That would have been a fatal blot on Kim‘s character if Mahbud

had not known that to others, for his own ends or Mahbud‘s

business. Kim could lie like an Oriental.‖ (Chap. 2, p. 33)

The description above shows that Kipling constructs an oriental or Indian or the

East people as people who likes to lie. Kipling seems to underline that the Indians

are uncivilized because Indian native liked to lie. Besides, Kipling constructs that

the East people are materialistic and do anything to get money and profit though

they should deceive other people:

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He returned the money, keeping only one anna in each rupee of the

price of the Umballa ticket as his commission – the immemorial

commission of Asia (Chap. 2, p. 38)

Moreover, Kipling also shows that Indians are passive and take a long time to

think and do something:

Dynamite was milky and innocuous beside that report of C.25; and

even an Oriental, with an Oriental‘s views of the value of time,

could see that sooner it was in the proper hands the better.‖ (Chap.

2, p. 31)

Trousers and jacket crippled body and mind alike, so he abandoned

the project and fell back, Oriental fashion, on time and chance.‖

(Chap. 6, p. 150)

Swiftly, as Oriental understand speed with long explanations, with

abuse and windy talk, carelessly, amid a hundred checks for little

things forgotten…‖ (Chap. 9, p. 202)

Based on the explanation above, Kipling successes to produce stereotype of East

people especially Indians. He marks that Indians have negative characteristic of

inside the novel such as lying, passive and materialistic. By exploring the Indian

customs and behavior in negative perspective, Kipling establishes stereotype

toward Indian. Besides, he has the goal that he wants to convince his readers that

British as the superior class is the best one because British culture, custom and

manner are better than Indian people. Moreover, Edward Said who has high

critical about Western Imperialism in Asia claims that:

Not only does Kipling reproduce a version of the argument of the so called

Orientalists in India, who believed that Indians should be ruled according to

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Oriental – Indian modes by India ‗hand‘ but in the process he dismisses as

academic all the philosophical or ideological approaches contending with

Orientalism… Kim is the major contribution to this orientalized India of the

imagination, as it is also to what historians have come to call the invention of

tradition. (Said, 1987, p.28)

Besides, Raskin in his journal The Mythology of Imperialism argues that:

Kipling believed that the white man‘s mind was superior to

Indian‘s mind, that the syntax of the English language and the

multiplication table were products of a rational and higher race…

Kipling wants us to think of the Westerner as confident, active,

extravert, aggressive, the Easterner as meditative, introvert and

passive. He uses the racist stereotypes. (Raskin, 1971, p. 107)

It can be concluded that Kipling intentionally creates the racist terms to show the

domination of British and he emphasized that Indians are only inferior class and

having different social status from British. However, he does not think that his

description about Indians that is caused negative characteristic to Indians. His

representation about Indians is only based on what he experiences and feels rather

than facts about the real characteristics of Indian. Therefore, Kipling clearly

supports the British Empire as superior class in India because he is the member of

British society. Besides, he wants to show to his readers that British culture,

custom and manner are better than Indians. Then, he puts his perception about

British as the superior class in the novel in order to show the power and authority

of his country.

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4. Rudyard Kipling’s Perception on the Influence of the British

Imperialism towards Indian Society in Political Field

The perception about the influence of the British imperialism towards

Indians society in political field is the last Kipling‘s perception about the

influence of the British imperialism towards Indians society. I find that Kipling‘s

perception in political field contradicts with the factual event, which happens in

India. In the novel, Kipling puts his perception India that the British Empire has

good relationship, and there is not conflict between them. Besides, he underlines

that India is not the real enemy of the British Empire but the Russian Empire.

Kipling creates story line that the Russian Empire wants to dominate India

and disrupt India. This is why Kipling is only explores the conflict between the

British and Russian Empire through story line where Kim joins to Great Game or

Great War with Colonel Creighton, Mahbud Ali, Lugan Sahib and Hurree Babu

Mukerjee. Their mission as spies in Great Game is to get information about areas

and Five Kings who are betraying the British government by signing illegal

agreement with the Russian:

―When everyone is dead the Great Game is finished. Not before.

Listen to me till end. There were Five Kings who prepared a

sudden war three years ago, when thou wast given the stallion‘s

pedigree by Mahbud Ali. Upon them, because of that news, and ere

they were ready, fell our Army.‖ (Chap 12, p. 316)

―… Look, here is the letter from Hilas! ... Mister Rajah Sahib has

just about put his foot in holes. He will explain officially how the

deuce-an-all he is writing love letter to the Czar. And they are very

clever maps and there is three or four Prime Ministers of these

part. By Gad, sar! The British Government will change the

succession in Hilas and Bunar, and nominate new heirs to the

throne.‖ (Chap 15, p. 398).

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Moreover, Kipling also constructs Russian as the perfect antagonistic

characters by describing Russian and his partner, French as despicable figures

who often behave violently to Indians:

The gentlemen were delighted. One was visibly French, the others

Russian, but they spoke English not much inferior to the Babu‘s.

Their native servants had gone sick at Leh. (Chap. 13, p. 337)

When he (Hurree Babu) presented himself again he was racked

with a headache – penitent, and volubly afraid that in his

drunkenness he might have been indiscreet. He loved the British

Government – it was the source of all prosperity and honor. Upon

this men (French and Russian spy) began to deride him and to

quote past words, till step by step, with deprecating smirks, oily

grins, and leers of infinite cunning, the poor Babu was beaten out

of his defences and forced to speak – truth. (Chap. 13, p. 340)

‗What is he (Lama) doing? It is very curious.‘

‗He is expounding holy picture – all hand worked.

…‗Look! Said the Frenchman. ‗It is like a picture for the birth of a

religion – the first teacher and the first disciple. Is he a Buddhist.

‗Of some debased kind,‘ the other answered (Russian spy) ‗There

are no true Buddhists among the Hills. But look at the folds of

drapery. Look at his eyes – how insolent! Why does this make one

feel that we are so young a people?

…‗I cannot understand him, but I want that picture. He is a better

artist than I. Ask him if he will sell it.‘

‗He says ―No, sar‖ the Babu replied. The lama, of course, would

no more have parted with his chart to a casual wayfarer than a

archbishop would pawn the holy vessels of the cathedral.

‗He (Russian) wishes it now, for money.‘

The lama shook his head slowly and began to fold up the Wheel of

Life picture. The Russian, on his side, saw no more than an

unclean old man haggling over a dirty piece of paper He drew out

a handful of rupees, and snatched half – jestingly at the chart,

which tore the lama‘s grip. A low murmur of horror went up from

coolies – some of whom were Spriti men, and, by their lights, good

Buddhists. The lama rose at the insult; his hand went to the heavy

iron pencase that the priest‘s weapon and the Babu danced in

agony.

‗Now you see why I wanted witness. They (Russian and

Frenchman) are highly unscrupulous people. Oh sar! You must not

hit holy man. (Chap. 13, pp. 342-345)

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Based on the narration above, the readers can find that Russian and French people

are the perfect antagonistic characters in the novel. Kipling constructs that

Russian and French have bad and immoral attitudes. Moreover, he represents that

Russians practice slavery system and they force Indians as their servants. Besides,

Russians has bad attitude to Indians because they often behave violently toward

Indians. For example, they are beating Hurree Babu because he praises their rival,

the British Empire. Moreover, though Lama is the holy man, they are hitting

Lama because he refuses their request to sell his picture.

This case shows that Kipling wants to show that Russians are the real

enemy of Indians because they has bad attitude toward Indians. Kipling constructs

Russians are the real enemies to Indians in order to show that the British Empire

has good relationship with Indians and there is not conflict between them. In

addition, Raskin states that:

Kipling wants us to understand that Russians are Eastern

barbarians and that they will destroy the Western civilizers unless

the empire defended. The Russian has the power transform the

Westerner into an Easterner… Here again Kipling reverses the

relationship between the Indians and the English: he turns the

Brown victims into Brown victimizers, the white oppressors into

the white oppressed. (Raskin, 1973, p. 78)

Moreover, Kipling constructs that the relationship between British and

India as symbiotic mutualism because the relationship gives benefits to them.

Actually, the British Empire recruits Indians as its troops to secure its territory in

all regions in India and around the world. In the novel, Kipling puts the story line

about the British Empire which recruits the Indians as its soldiers and spies such

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as the old man who fight in 1987, Mahbud Ali and Huree Babu Mukerjee in order

to give information about the situation in all regions in India and also the Five

Kings who are betraying the British Government by signing illegal agreement

with the Russian. This case shows that the relationship between British and India

was symbiotic mutualism. The British Empire needs Indians for its soldiers and

spies to maintain its power in military in order to secure its territory. While

Indians want to join the British Empire in order to get a lot of money and good

position in government office for better life.

However, Kipling constructs that though the British Empire and Indians

has symbiotic mutualism relationship but Kipling emphasizes that British people

had higher level than Indians. For example, he represents that the position of

Indians are subordinate in the government institution because they were placed in

low position (1901, pp. 38, 85, 227). Besides, Kipling creates a character Colonel

Creighton, an Englishman who is an Ethnologist in the Survey of India as the

leader or boss of Kim, Mahbud Ali and Hurree Babu Mukerjee in the mission of

Great Game or Great War. It shows that Kipling frequently explores that the

British people has superior position in government institution.

Furthermore, Kipling also represents that the disruption of ideology of

Indians in the novel. The British Empire as imperialist nation tries to maintain its

ideology toward its colony. Then, the British Empire leads Indians to follow its

customs, traditions, attitudes, norms and values. It ruins the custom, ideology and

tradition of the Indians. Mahbud Ali, Hurree Babu Moekerjee and the old soldier

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are the examples of Indians who lose their Indian ideology, custom and tradition

are caused by the colonization.

Mahbud Ali is an Afghan Muslim and his official job is horse trader but in

secret, he is British Secret Agent for Colonel Creighton. His duties are getting

information about the situation, custom and tradition of India and about British‘s

enemy activities in the north border of India for Colonel Creighton. Moreover, he

often gives Kim missions for helping his espionage mission such as watching and

following someone then reports all information to Mahbud Ali and sending secret

message from Mahbud Ali to Colonel Creighton. Mahbud Ali enjoys his job as

spy because he will get lot of money if he succeeds his mission, even though his

job is very dangerous:

…Beyond, was registered in one of the locked books of the

Indian Survey department as C. 2.5.1.B. Twice or thrice yearly

C.2.5 would send in a little story, badly told most interesting and

generally – it was checked by statements of R 1.7 and M.4 – quit

true. It concerned of manner of out the way mountain

principalities, explores o nationalities other than English and the

gun trade…But recently, five confederated Kings, who had no

business to confederate, had been informed by a kindly Northern

Power that there was a leakage of news from their territories into

British India. They suspected among many others, the bullying, red

bearded horse dealer…Therefore, Mahbud had avoided halting at

the insalubrious city of Peshawur, and had come without stop to

Lahore…He had never passed the serai gate since his arrival two

days ago, but had been ostentatious in sending telegram to

Bombay, where he banked some his money… (Chap. 1, p 31)

Hurree Babu Moekerjee is the other character in the novel who is loyal to

the British Empire. He is from Benggali and a spy for Colonel Creighton. His

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duty for Colonel Creighton is collect information on various cultural practices of

India for the anthropological study.

―Thou wilt understand many things later. He (Hurree Babu) is a

writer of tales for certain Colonel. His honor is great only in Simla,

and it is noticeable that he has no name, but only a number and a

letter – that is a custom among us.‖ (Chap. 9, p. 227).

Moreover, he is not only loyal but he is very admiring the British Empire. He

always uses English when he speaks. Besides, he tries to act like British people

because he wants to be a part of British people and government institution.

Therefore, he will do anything to defend the British Government including

stealing the secret document of Russian for his leader:

‗Do you know what Hurree Babu really wants? He wants to be

made a member of the Royal Society by taking ethnological

note…‘ (Chap. 10, p. 247)

‗How am to fear the absolutely non - existent?‘ sad Hurree Babu,

talking English to reassure himself. (Chap. 10. p. 257)

He loved the British Government – it was the source of all

prosperity and honor. Upon this men (French and Russian spy)

began to deride him and to quote past words, till step by step, with

deprecating smirks, oily grins, and leers of infinite cunning, the

poor Babu was beaten out of his defences and forced to speak –

truth. (Chap. 13, p. 340)

Lastly, the old soldier is the last Indian who supports the British

imperialism. Kim and the Lama meet the old soldier when they across the Grand

Trunk Road. The old soldier tells Kim about his experience when he joins Mutiny

War to defend the British Government in 1857. In fact, Mutiny war is the war of

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rebellion of Sepoy or Indian soldiers against the British East Indian Company in

1857. However, Kipling creates a character Indian soldier, the old soldier as the

defender of British government and he fights Indian soldiers. As the result,

although the other Indians hate him, he gets better life because the British

Government gives him land and good position in government office:

It was an old man, withered man, who had served the Government

in the days of Mutiny as a native officer in a newly raised cavalry

regiment. The Government had given him a good holding in the

village… English officials – Deputy Commissioners even –turned

aside from the main road to visit him, and on those occasions he

dressed himself in the uniform of ancient days, and stood up like a

ramrod. (Chap. 3, p 66)

Kipling constructs that the British Empire has the power and authority in

India. By using its domination and superiority, it can take control and change the

ideology of Indians. Mahbud Ali, Hurree Babu Moekerjee and the old soldier are

the Indian employees of the British Government. They are very loyal to the

British Government, so instead of defending their country, India, they choose to

be the loyalists of the British Government. They do anything to defend the British

Government because the British Government will give financial and social

benefits for Indians who are not against the British Empire. This case shows that

British Government succeeds in changing their customs, ideologies and traditions

into British ideologies, customs and traditions by offering better life and position

to their followers. It can be concluded that Kipling supports the British

imperialism activities to many fields in India, including political field. In his

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perception, the British Empire gives advantage to Indians because it provides

better life to Indians.

Edward Said wrote his idea about Kipling‘s Kim in his essay Rudyard

Kipling: Kim in 1987. He stresses on the way of Kipling in representing the

Orient, which is similar to the attitude of the Westerner towards the Orient. In the

novel, Kipling represents that his idea engages with the authority of the Western.

Then, Said explains that Kipling explores the issue of superiority of white man.

According to Said, Kipling represents his idea of the authority by representing the

stereotypes of the Orient, which is derived from the Orientalist‘s belief.

Said notes that ―Kim is a major contribution to this orientalized India of

the imagination, as it is also to what historians have come to call ‗the invention of

tradition‘ … Dotting Kim‗s fabric is a scattering of editorial asides on the

immutable nature of the Oriental world.‖ (1987, p. 28). Said cites several

examples of stereotype of the Orient that appear in the novel. The example are

―Kim would lie like an Oriental‖; ―all hours of the twenty four are alike to the

Orientals‖ or ―the Oriental's indifference to mere noise‖. Said states that the

reason why Kipling puts the several stereotypes of the Orient in his novel is to

justify the rule of the authority figure, the British Empire over the Indian society

(p. 30). This case shows that Kipling directly gives his support toward Western

tradition about Orientalism especially in term of authority and superiority.

Therefore, according to Said, Kipling uses the several stereotypes of the Orient in

order to show that the Orient is the inferior people while the Occident is the

superior people.

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The essay of Said gives me inspiration to conduct this study about the

representation of Indian society in Kim from the point of view of the colonist.

However, this research will discuss different issues in the novel. This research

concerns to the representation of the influence of the British imperialism towards

Indian society. Moreover, Said only explore the issue of the superiority of the

Western through the the influence of the British imperialism in socio culture field.

Especially, he examines the stereotypes of the native India which is created by

Kipling as a mean to show the superiority of the British Empire. Meanwhile, this

research tries to examine the influence of the British imperialism towards Indian

society in several field in India such as economic, religious, educational, socio –

cultural and political fields of India in order to discover Kipling‘s representation

about the influence of the British imperialism towards Indian society.

Based on the analysis of Kipling‘s representation about the influence of

the British imperialism towards Indian society, I find that the goal of Kipling‘s

perception about the influence of the British imperialism towards Indian society

does not only want to show the Orient or Indian people as the inferior people but

he also construct the image of Indian people as primitive and uncivilized people.

There are several evidences show that Kipling illustrates Indian people as

primitive and uncivilized people. In economy field, Kipling represents India as a

modernity and development place when India is dominated by the British Empire.

It is indicated that Kipling does not explore the issue of exploitation of wealth of

India by the British Empire. He only explores the development of transportation,

railway and telegraph in India. This case shows that Kipling wants to show the

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British Empire as superior and hero for Indian people. Kipling expects India as

primitive place. Kiplings sees that the British Empire gives positive influene

toward India and its people as the result India becomes modern nation because if

the British Empire does not take control over India, India is still become primitive

place.

Next, Kipling has perception that the British Empire gives positive

influence in religious and educational field. It is because, for Kipling the British

Empire is the Enlightement for the Indian people. The readers can find that

Kipling underestimates and criticizes the tradition of religions of Indian. Kipling

represents that he is unpleasant and disrespectable with the tradition of Hindu

because Indian people are praying to bull and giving the offerings for their God. It

is so unreasonable because they have to provide a lot of money for buying the

offerings. Again, Kipling sees Indian people as uncivilized people because Indian

people are holding on their belief and culture which is for white people, Indian‘s

belief is illogical. Then, Kipling represents the British people as Enlightement for

India through story line about the existance of Christianity and Christian school in

India. Kipling puts story line about Kim attends to Christian school in order to get

better education and manner. Besides, the British Empire promises good job for

people who attend to the Christian school. It reinforces the believe that the white

people are seen as a civilized people because they provide better religion for the

native people because its tenet has good things for people‘s life than the native

people‘s belief. Besides, Kipling shows that the British Empire gives advantage to

Indian people because it provides better education for Indian people through the

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Christian school. For Kipling, Indian people are uncivilized people because they

do not have better knowledge. Therefore, they need the role of white man in order

to assist them to reach better education.

In socio – cultural field, Kipling constructs the change of class status of

Indian people. He expects Indian people as inferior and uncivilized people. He

creates several terms such as Oriental, Nigger man, Asiatic and Hillman. By using

these terms, Kipling success to generalize Easter people especially Indians. He

emphasizes Indian people as uncivilized people who have negative characteristics

in the novel such as lying, passive and materialistic. This representation implies

the degeneration of the Indian people and their inferiority to the white men, which

leads to the white men‘s desire to take control of them. It is because the white men

think that it was their duty to civilize the uncivilized, Indian people.

The last evidence is the Kipling‘s perception in political field. Kipling has

perception that the British Empire gives advantage to India because it provides

better life to Indians. Through the native characters in the novel, Mahbud Ali,

Hurre Babu and Old soldier, Kipling represents the position of Indians people are

placed in low position in the government institutions. However, the British

Government will give finance and social benefits to Indian people. This case

makes several Indian people admire and loyal toward the British Empire. It

reinforces assumption that Indian people are inferior people because they need the

role of white man in order to assist them to reach better life.

Through Kim, Kipling clearly supported the British Empire as superior

class in India. He might be born and spent his childhood in India, but he was

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raised in European‘s attitude and custom. It can be concluded that Kipling is pro

toward the British imperialism in India. It is because he repeatedly represent that

the British imperialism gives positive influences to Indians. However, he does not

explore deeply about several phenomena or events that occur in the novel when

the British Empire occupying in India, and he always represents that British

people as superior and civilized people or class in India.