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In 1775, eleven Brahman pandits were asked by the Company to compile a digest of Hindu laws because:
AThey wanted to abolish Hindu law
BMultiple pandits gave different interpretations of local laws; a uniform code was needed for British courts to function consistently
CBrahmans were the only literate community
DIt was a tradition in England
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Multiple pandits gave different interpretations of local laws; a uniform code was needed for British courts to function consistently
The Company needed administering Hindu law in its civil courts, but found that pandits across the country gave different interpretations based on different dharmashastra traditions. To bring uniformity, 11 pandits were asked in 1775 to compile a single digest; N. B. Halhed translated it into English by 1778. A code of Muslim laws followed the same year. The exercise reveals both the colonial impulse to standardise India and the genuine textual diversity of pre-colonial law.
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