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Abstract
Medicine played a major role in missionary work in Travancore, and in the informal partnership between the missionaries and the state. Both shared the view that dispensing western medicine constitutes charity work. From their Hindu perspective as well as their modernizing stance the Maharajas and the Travancore government had an idea of a charitable state and made great efforts to introduce western medicine. In this the missionaries were seen to be valuable allies rather than competing adversaries. The medical mission was more useful to the people through medical relief as one of the main function of the state. The state and the missionaries than maintained a more favorable relationship in the area of medicine than in that of education. With the help of the sovereigns of Travancore the missionaries could the sickle, assisted necessary help and made Travancore a charity state.
Medicine played a major role in missionary work in Travancore, and in the informal partnership between the missionaries and the state. Both shared the view that dispensing western medicine constitutes charity work. From their Hindu perspective as well as their modernizing stance the Maharajas and the Travancore government had an idea of a charitable state and made great efforts to introduce western medicine. In this the missionaries were seen to be valuable allies rather than competing adversaries. The medical mission was more useful to the people through medical relief as one of the main function of the state. The state and the missionaries than maintained a more favorable relationship in the area of medicine than in that of education. With the help of the sovereigns of Travancore the missionaries could the sickle, assisted necessary help and made Travancore a charity state.