Abstract

There are many narratives of European travelers visiting India in the eighteenth century, but there are only a few surviving reports of Indians who spent time in Europe. One such report is The Wonders of Vilayet by the Indo-Persian diplomat I'tesamuddin, who went to France and Britain 1766-67. In his travel narrative, available in two ideologically distinct English translations, he explores issues of identity, particularly pertaining to gender and religion. At first, I'tesamuddin is excited by the visibility of European women and highly complimentary about their beauty, and his Sunni Muslim ideas about male-female interaction are challenged. In the end, though, he cannot see himself with a British woman because of the religious difference. Similarly, I'tesamuddin initially tries to understand and displays a positive stance towards Anglican Christianity as he offers Muslim interpretations of Christian parables. At the same time, he insists on differences between Christianity and Islam, arguing that Christians are too materialistic and that Muslims are ultimately more devout. Thus, he holds fast to his spiritual beliefs and sustains his identity in the face of the challenge of European modernity.

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