Indian Diary

Sidney and Beatrice Webb, the Fabian socialists who founded the London School of Economics and the "New Statesman", travelled extensively in India for four months in 1911-12. During this period they confided their observations in great detail to a diary which was maintained by Beatrice Webb. This Indian Diary, having lain virtually unnoticed for 75 years, was first published in 1987. Alongside the normal travel curiosity towards historical sites and people, the Webbs have a serious interest in India's politics, religions, philosophies and associated institutions. Almost on arrival in India they attend the 26th session of the Indian National Congress, subsequently meeting political figures such as Gokhale, Tilak, Annie Besant and C.F. Andrews. They stay and hold extensive discussion with Maharajas, Nawabs, Begums, Residents and ICS officials. They visit madrassas and gurukulas, Arya Samajists and Brahmo Samajists, Mrs Besant's College (now the Banaras Hindu University) in Banaras, St Stephen's and Hindu College in Delhi, Jagdish Chandra Bose at Calcutta University and Fergusson College in Poona.
They camp in the hinterland with district officers in order to see the nitty-gritty of imperial rule, watch feudalism in operation within the princely states, and go off to the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad to witness unfamiliar rituals and mass devotion.