The Paradox of Colonial Compassion: Legality and the Question of Animal Sacrifice in Late Colonial India

Abstract This article examines the complex dynamics surrounding animal sacrifice in late colonial India, highlighting the tensions between a colonial discourse of a “cruel orient,” indigenous cultural traditions, and emerging animal welfare movements. While British authorities condemned animal sacrifice as a marker of Indian barbarism, their legislative attempts to prevent cruelty were limited by imperial ideology and concerns about interfering with native customs. Meanwhile, Indian intellectuals like Gandhi and M. R. Jayakar and organizations such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advocated for animal welfare, challenging entrenched customs and promoting alternative values of compassion and nonviolence. This study reveals the intricate interplay between colonialism, animal welfare, and cultural traditions in shaping India's complex history of animal sacrifice.