The Raj

[MsLinnet]

Originally posted on MsLinnet Thread but i feel this has potential

Hi there this is a story I am just starting work on and relates to the life and times of the Raj 1861 approximately. If anyone has any ideas on how it should proceed I would love to see them. I am thinking along the lines of forbidden love rather than just sex.

I am primarily interested in the dress of a male of the time and woman of the time Hindu and Muslim also what the dress of an English woman would be?

A description for a 20 year old Hindu of the time would help also.

Any help would be appreciated from what ever quarter.


Love Lin.

The Story Start's

My name is Teresa Canning and the year is 1861 I have been assigned by the consulate to teach at the Empress of India Orphanage. I am 21 years old and a great believer in the right of India to govern herself, and I don’t agree with the British government idea of divide and rule.

India is a wondrous place full of mysticism and should be left that way, it's wealth should not be exploited by the western world. I am a great admirer of the work of Ishwarchandra Vidhyasagar in Bengal and Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra. There work and there positions, actively trying to improve the position of women, giving them education and recognizing their rights is one reason why I am in this amazing country.

India. She can move you to question what you have taken for granted, and touch you so deeply so as to remain a memory, for ever. I was told this on boat over hear by a merchant and it was only when I sampled her glory did I truly understand what the man said to me.

I walked to the Orphanage for my first day as a teacher; my husband was away on a survey mission for the East India Company. So this would be a post that should keep me out of trouble, or so he said before he left.

When I got there, and to my surprise it was a mixed class of older children the youngest girl was 18 and the youngest boy was 19 I had no idea that I was to teach an adult class but I was told by the house mistress that I was to teach the class the basics of British life, so they can go out and teach others the greatness of imperialism. This was not something I believed but I was not in a position to argue so I stood before the class for the first time and read out the diatribe that I was given to teach from.

The first to question what I was saying was a Hindu by the name of Daiwik he was the oldest of the group being only one year younger than myself, I seemed to take an instant fondness to this boy or should I say man as he was taller than I was...

 

[Guest]

I used have an Indian friend called Raj.

There is a restaurant named Raj in the town too.

 

[Guest]

He played guiter pretty good. And had that tune-up thingy.

 

[MsLinnet]

The Raj I was referring to was a period when the British ruled over India

or was that a joke?

 

[Tatewaki]

Originally posted on MsLinnet Thread but i feel this has potential

Hi there this is a story I am just starting work on and relates to the life and times of the Raj 1861 approximately. If anyone has any ideas on how it should proceed I would love to see them. I am thinking along the lines of forbidden love rather than just sex.

I am primarily interested in the dress of a male of the time and woman of the time Hindu and Muslim also what the dress of an English woman would be?

A description for a 20 year old Hindu of the time would help also.

Any help would be appreciated from what ever quarter.


Love Lin.

Good stuff!

Are you interested in exploring prostitution under the Viceroy, the English's preoccupation with stamping out the ritual of Suttee, or some other contemporay (Circa 1860!) issue?

There is a wealth of interesting subjects to choose from: The "recent" Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 and the dissolution of the British East India Company, the destruction of the Mughal Empire after the British exiled Emperor Bahadur Shah to Burma (and the subsequent appointment of Queen Victoria's own Raj/Viceroy) as well as the increasing tensions between Indians (Both native-asian and Caucasian Anglo-Indians) and the British. Good choice of topic, Lin! There was a lot of action happenin' in this timeframe.

Anyways, here are some pictures of dress from that period. I hope they help you out some.

Indian Dress from "The Raj" Period

Cheers!

-T

 

[Guest]

Menagerie availible upon request

All due respect to the talents and grace of Ms. Linnet and what will no doubt be a very immersive and entertaining story, that said I humbly offer my meager services as elephant wrangler and snake handler should she need them.....*bowing deeply and waving his top hat in a grand fashion known only to circus barkers*

 

[MsLinnet]

Re: Re: The Raj

Good stuff!

Are you interested in exploring prostitution under the Viceroy, the English's preoccupation with stamping out the ritual of Suttee, or some other contemporay (Circa 1860!) issue?

There is a wealth of interesting subjects to choose from: The "recent" Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 and the dissolution of the British East India Company, the destruction of the Mughal Empire after the British exiled Emperor Bahadur Shah to Burma (and the subsequent appointment of Queen Victoria's own Raj/Viceroy) as well as the increasing tensions between Indians (Both native-asian and Caucasian Anglo-Indians) and the British. Good choice of topic, Lin! There was a lot of action happenin' in this timeframe.

Anyways, here are some pictures of dress from that period. I hope they help you out some.

Indian Dress from "The Raj" Period

Cheers!

-T

Thank T this should help a lot and i will keep you posted as to progress

Love Lin

 

[MsLinnet]

Re: Menagerie availible upon request

All due respect to the talents and grace of Ms. Linnet and what will no doubt be a very immersive and entertaining story, that said I humbly offer my meager services as elephant wrangler and snake handler should she need them.....*bowing deeply and waving his top hat in a grand fashion known only to circus barkers*

fallen you know you will be in it some place you always are...

Love Lin

 

[Dreieck]

Hi, try the links in the thread "a victorian rape story"
Charm Brights had given some interesting sites about
dressing code in the victorian period.

I've just finished my victorian story and here's how I described the clothes of a young lady:

"Her gown's bodice had a centre front and was fully lined with tan polished cotton. The neckline of her gown was cut rather low and was similar to a sweetheart neckline. The material was gathered horizontally around the neckline and was accented with three material rosettes - one on each shoulder and one at the centre front. The bodice was well fitted and fully boned. The short sleeves were beautiful with drapes of material falling from the shoulders. The skirt felt straight in the front and was heavily gathered in the back. The skirt had a train and bustle ties which hold the train in place. The skirt was also fully lined and had a scalloped ruffle attached to the hemline on the lining of the skirt. Over her waist she had a belt. This belt was wide and fitted that tightly laced waistline. The buckle was made out of a heavy wool fabric. On her feet she had high heeled shoes. They were pewter coloured suede. They had a button T-strap closure. Her hair was plaited over pads in a chignon, worn at the back of the head. In her hair she wore a blue ribbon. Her hair was stuck up with a silver comb. Her uncle wondered what kind of undergarments she had on."


good luck

 

[Rainbow Skin]

My anachronism antennae are twinkling.

Queen Victoria was not created Empress of India until 1877.

In those days she would have said she was English, and would be unlikely to say British: except perhaps in formal reference, but 'the British government' sounds odd there. The two peoples and cultures were called Europeans and natives, if there was no specific reason to mention Punjabis, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, or whatever.

Muslims would have been called Mohammedans or Mussulmans (or some spelling variant), not Muslims. But since the term Mohammedan is now (2002) considered offensive, perhaps she could early on have one of them explain why they don't like the term, which would justify her adopting the modern term instead.

The 'western world' sounds odd. The West and the East, I think they would have said.

I was hoping there'd be the letters of the Hon. Emily Eden (1797-1869) on line. She was first lady to her brother, governor-general Lord Auckland. But I couldn't find any significant extracts. (She was an artist and novelist too, so you can find drawings e.g. of the ruler of Punjab.)

At http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/steel/punjab/punjab.html you'll find Tales of the Punjab (1894) by Flora Annie Steel (1847-1929). She went out in 1868 and was quite sympathetic to the natives, so her language might be useful.

 

[Tatewaki]

My anachronism antennae are twinkling.

Queen Victoria was not created Empress of India until 1877.

True, but Viscount (Earl) Canning was given direct rule of India on November 1st, 1858. Even before this, he was Governor-General of the same. Although she officially claimed the title "Empress of India" Jan 1, 1877 Victoria held sway over her Eastern Possessions for a much longer time than this.

Is it the name of the orphanage that you are protesting to?

You've raised some interesting points and supplied some good info, Rainbow Skin. I'm sure that it will help Linnet out.

Regards,


-T

 

[MsLinnet]

My anachronism antennae are twinkling.

Queen Victoria was not created Empress of India until 1877.

In those days she would have said she was English, and would be unlikely to say British: except perhaps in formal reference, but 'the British government' sounds odd there. The two peoples and cultures were called Europeans and natives, if there was no specific reason to mention Punjabis, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, or whatever.

Muslims would have been called Mohammedans or Mussulmans (or some spelling variant), not Muslims. But since the term Mohammedan is now (2002) considered offensive, perhaps she could early on have one of them explain why they don't like the term, which would justify her adopting the modern term instead.

The 'western world' sounds odd. The West and the East, I think they would have said.

I was hoping there'd be the letters of the Hon. Emily Eden (1797-1869) on line. She was first lady to her brother, governor-general Lord Auckland. But I couldn't find any significant extracts. (She was an artist and novelist too, so you can find drawings e.g. of the ruler of Punjab.)

At http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/steel/punjab/punjab.html you'll find Tales of the Punjab (1894) by Flora Annie Steel (1847-1929). She went out in 1868 and was quite sympathetic to the natives, so her language might be useful.

Thanks and I see your point thanks for the infomation

 

[MsLinnet]

Hi, try the links in the thread "a victorian rape story"
Charm Brights had given some interesting sites about
dressing code in the victorian period.

I've just finished my victorian story and here's how I described the clothes of a young lady:

"Her gown's bodice had a centre front and was fully lined with tan polished cotton. The neckline of her gown was cut rather low and was similar to a sweetheart neckline. The material was gathered horizontally around the neckline and was accented with three material rosettes - one on each shoulder and one at the centre front. The bodice was well fitted and fully boned. The short sleeves were beautiful with drapes of material falling from the shoulders. The skirt felt straight in the front and was heavily gathered in the back. The skirt had a train and bustle ties which hold the train in place. The skirt was also fully lined and had a scalloped ruffle attached to the hemline on the lining of the skirt. Over her waist she had a belt. This belt was wide and fitted that tightly laced waistline. The buckle was made out of a heavy wool fabric. On her feet she had high heeled shoes. They were pewter coloured suede. They had a button T-strap closure. Her hair was plaited over pads in a chignon, worn at the back of the head. In her hair she wore a blue ribbon. Her hair was stuck up with a silver comb. Her uncle wondered what kind of undergarments she had on."


good luck

I always talk to charm

 

[Guest]

I always talk to charm

But I don't always answer!

 

[Rainbow Skin]

I thought this Aryan idiocy was all irrelevant rubbish, but naked Negroes in forests, raped and enslaved by Europeans and Arabs...

It's not your intention but you're starting to turn me on. Hmmm

 

[Guest]

As I have been asked to post how I was geting on with this I throught would post the bit I have done (Not a lot)

This is a work of fiction all events within this story are fictional and apart from the names Ishwarchandra Vidhyasagar and Jyotiba Phule who’s work I greatly admire, all the other names in the story are fictions, any resemblance to any person or persons dead or alive is purely coincidental.

Authors Notes.

Please note that the language used within this story is not necessarily that which would have been used in the time period.
© Linnet Turns 20.09.2002

My name is Teresa Canning and the year is 1861 I have been assigned by the consulate to go and teach at the Empress of India Orphanage. I am 21 years old and a great believer in the right of India to govern herself, and I don’t agree with the British government idea of divide and rule.

India is a wondrous place full of mysticism and should be left that way and it wealth should not be exploited by the western world. I am a great admirer of the work of Ishwarchandra Vidhyasagar in Bengal and Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra. There work and there positions, actively trying to improve the position of women, giving them education and recognizing their rights is why I am hear.

India. She can move you to question what you have taken for granted, and touch you so deeply so as to remain a memory, for ever. I was told this on boat over hear by a merchant and it was only when I sampled her glory did I truly understand what the man said to me.

I walked to the Orphanage for my first day as a teacher; my husband was away on a survey mission for the East India Company. So this would be a post that should keep me out of trouble, or so he said before he left.

When I got there, and to my surprise it was a mixed class of older children the youngest girl was 18 and the youngest boy was 19 I had no idea that I was to teach an adult class but I was told by the house mistress (Miss Cockett) that I was to teach the class the basics of British life, so they can go out and teach others the greatness of imperialism. This was not something I believed but I was not in a position to argue so I stood before the class for the first time and read out the diatribe that I was given to teach from.

The first to question what I was saying was a Hindu by the name of Daiwik he was the oldest of the group being only one year younger than myself, I seemed to take an instant fondness to this boy or should I say man as he was taller than I was by a good inch and an half and his muscular body cut a fine form under his tunic.

He asked. “Why in my own country where I was born and raised, and which my family has lived for ten generations have to bow my head when a white man addresses me as boy.”

I smiled at Daiwik fully agreeing with him on his pleadings, but with the house mistress standing there watching my first class I couldn’t go against the ways of the British Empire. I said to him and the whole class, in my best condescending voice. “The British Empire and the East India Company have made India what it is today and all you natives should be grateful we are here to educate you, and bring you up-to-date with the ways of the world.”

I was embarrassed with the words that I had spurted out not believing that I was any better than any other person in the room but my words seem to make the house mistress happy as she dismissed the class.

Miss Cockett stood there in her finery, as the classroom emptied, and then she came over to me and said. “Well done, that boy I knew he was trouble you should have shut him down a lot harder send him to me after lunch and I will have (Hargrove) take his belt to him, he will think twice about questioning you again.” I hadn’t a clue who Hargrove was and why should he be allowed to take his belt to anyone puzzled me, but I dared not question this formidable woman.

“You will lunch with us in the house.” She said, with a stone face look that would crack a pain of glass an I knew it was now I had to make a gesture of defiance if I was not to be in Miss Cockett’s shadow for the duration of this post.

I said.” No thank you Miss Cockett I have a pick nick lunch, and I would like to eat it out by the river if you don’t mind perhaps another day.”

“Perhaps?” She replied, somewhat put out by my refusal turning on her heals and marching out of the room.

I found my hamper and walked out of the back door of the classroom on to the field that lead down to the side of the river, I spread my blanket on the ground.

Not sure if i should continue withthis one?

 

[MsLinnet]

You might have guessed but this was my post
love lin

As I have been asked to post how I was geting on with this I throught would post the bit I have done (Not a lot)

This is a work of fiction all events within this story are fictional and apart from the names Ishwarchandra Vidhyasagar and Jyotiba Phule who’s work I greatly admire, all the other names in the story are fictions, any resemblance to any person or persons dead or alive is purely coincidental.

Authors Notes.

Please note that the language used within this story is not necessarily that which would have been used in the time period.
© Linnet Turns 20.09.2002

My name is Teresa Canning and the year is 1861 I have been assigned by the consulate to go and teach at the Empress of India Orphanage. I am 21 years old and a great believer in the right of India to govern herself, and I don’t agree with the British government idea of divide and rule.

India is a wondrous place full of mysticism and should be left that way and it wealth should not be exploited by the western world. I am a great admirer of the work of Ishwarchandra Vidhyasagar in Bengal and Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra. There work and there positions, actively trying to improve the position of women, giving them education and recognizing their rights is why I am hear.

India. She can move you to question what you have taken for granted, and touch you so deeply so as to remain a memory, for ever. I was told this on boat over hear by a merchant and it was only when I sampled her glory did I truly understand what the man said to me.

I walked to the Orphanage for my first day as a teacher; my husband was away on a survey mission for the East India Company. So this would be a post that should keep me out of trouble, or so he said before he left.

When I got there, and to my surprise it was a mixed class of older children the youngest girl was 18 and the youngest boy was 19 I had no idea that I was to teach an adult class but I was told by the house mistress (Miss Cockett) that I was to teach the class the basics of British life, so they can go out and teach others the greatness of imperialism. This was not something I believed but I was not in a position to argue so I stood before the class for the first time and read out the diatribe that I was given to teach from.

The first to question what I was saying was a Hindu by the name of Daiwik he was the oldest of the group being only one year younger than myself, I seemed to take an instant fondness to this boy or should I say man as he was taller than I was by a good inch and an half and his muscular body cut a fine form under his tunic.

He asked. “Why in my own country where I was born and raised, and which my family has lived for ten generations have to bow my head when a white man addresses me as boy.”

I smiled at Daiwik fully agreeing with him on his pleadings, but with the house mistress standing there watching my first class I couldn’t go against the ways of the British Empire. I said to him and the whole class, in my best condescending voice. “The British Empire and the East India Company have made India what it is today and all you natives should be grateful we are here to educate you, and bring you up-to-date with the ways of the world.”

I was embarrassed with the words that I had spurted out not believing that I was any better than any other person in the room but my words seem to make the house mistress happy as she dismissed the class.

Miss Cockett stood there in her finery, as the classroom emptied, and then she came over to me and said. “Well done, that boy I knew he was trouble you should have shut him down a lot harder send him to me after lunch and I will have (Hargrove) take his belt to him, he will think twice about questioning you again.” I hadn’t a clue who Hargrove was and why should he be allowed to take his belt to anyone puzzled me, but I dared not question this formidable woman.

“You will lunch with us in the house.” She said, with a stone face look that would crack a pain of glass an I knew it was now I had to make a gesture of defiance if I was not to be in Miss Cockett’s shadow for the duration of this post.

I said.” No thank you Miss Cockett I have a pick nick lunch, and I would like to eat it out by the river if you don’t mind perhaps another day.”

“Perhaps?” She replied, somewhat put out by my refusal turning on her heals and marching out of the room.

I found my hamper and walked out of the back door of the classroom on to the field that lead down to the side of the river, I spread my blanket on the ground.

Not sure if i should continue withthis one?

 

[Guest]

Elephants at the ready

Just revising my earlier offer to the Lady, Ms.Linnet that the previously mentioned elephants available to you can easily be fitted with armor and their howdaws armed to your specifications....Have your people wire my people, somewhere in that we'll make time for scones and tea....

 

[MissTaken]

And how is it going now, Linnet?