ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 presents a brief overview of the history of Gujarat until the mid-nineteenth century. The evolution of Gujarat into a distinct political and linguistic region before the arrival of the British is discussed here. The author also demonstrates some of the unique features of this society, especially its mercantile tradition. British rule had a significant impact on the commercial activities of the Gujarati merchants, and also led to the development of the textile industry in this region. This chapter provides readers with a general social and historical background of Gujarat before they proceed onto the following chapters, which analyse debates on language and literature in colonial Gujarat.
