With the advent of British Regime to the land of Orissa, there started proselytizing and reforming activities by the Christian Missionaries which led to the significant change in woman’s social condition, emergence of a native intelligentsia, formation of socio-political associations, socio-religious reform movements and growth of a few urban centers and elimination of rigidity in the caste system. Even these changes were reflected on the contemporary official records, Oriya newspapers and periodicals, Oriya literature and accounts of the Missionaries.

Although some of the predecessors have made attempts to throw light on the social changes under the British Crown but none has made a holistic study of the various aspects of the social life of the then people. Hence an humble approach has been made in this treatise to highlight the social changes under the British Crown during 1803-1903. This book will be of immense help to the scholars of Modern Indian History as it contains the historical background, development of the educational system, growth of printing press and news papers, emergence of associations, spread of religious cults and the change of social structure which culminate in the rapid growth of modernization through the evolution of social consciousness.

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Development of modern education. 3. Growth of press and newspapers. 4. Public association. 5. Urbanization. 6. Socio-religious movements. 7. Towards women’s uplift. 8. Caste system and social mobility. 9. Conclusion. Glossary. Bibliography. Appendices. Index.