question_answer 8)

In what ways was the novel in colonial India useful for Indian the colonizers as well as the nationalists?  

Answer:

Colonial administrators found useful information for governing society in the 'Vernacular' novels, as these novels were a valuable source of information on Indian life and customs. The British knew very little about life in an Indian family, which was depicted in these novels. Many of the novels were translated into English and so they could understand them. For in the nationalists, the novels were used as a powerful medium to improve Indian society, as well as creating a sense of national pride by recounting glorious tales of the past. As long as people shared a common language, the novels created a sense of collective belonging. The novels also made the readers familiar with the ways in which people in other parts of India spoke their language.   All these reasons made the novel useful for the nationalists.