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India and Korea share a deep and enduring connection that defies geographical boundaries. This bond, forged through shared trauma, has its roots in the collective experiences of colonial subjugation, wartime suffering, and the aftermath of Partition. It is further strengthened by the spiritual and cultural heritages that both nations hold dear, with a special emphasis on their mutual reverence for Buddhism. The year 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the flourishing diplomatic relations between India and the Republic of Korea, a testament to the resilience of this bond.
Beyond the well-known figures like Gandhi and Tagore, lesser-known Indian intellectuals and writers, such as Sadhu Sunder Singh, Guru Charan Singh, Rahul Sankrityan, Hari Singh Gour, and Ramnath Biswas, also played a significant role in this relationship. They traveled to Korea via Japan, documenting their firsthand experiences and observations of colonial Korea and directly engaging with the local milieu. Korean newspapers and magazines extensively covered their activities and narratives, highlighting the importance of their contributions to the cross-cultural exchange between British-India and Colonial Joseon.
This paper delves into the cross-cultural exchange and interdisciplinary insight between Colonial Joseon and British-India. To achieve this, the study focuses on British-Indian writings to dissect and elucidate the intricate interaction between these two colonial entities. It is important to note that the researcher has uncovered some British-Indian literatures that shed light on the profound interest Colonial Joseon held among Indian intellectuals and writers. The primary sources for this research are British-Indian literature written in English, Bengali, and Hindi, complemented by secondary sources available in Hindi, English, Korean, and Japanese languages.
