onialism, the British immigrants belief was that only two societies inhabited India: white and non white. Kim however, had an intimate bicultural knowledge to communicate on both sides of thedivide--the British colonial officials on one side and the Indians who had no direct dealing with their colonial rulers, on the other. Thus, Kim has the potential to serve as a vital link between two very different cultural worlds. Kipling wrote Kim at a time of rising Indian nationalism, a time when the relationship between the empire and colony had started to change, and when British rule was being overtly questioned. Hence, it is not surprising that we find Kipling exposing allaspects of British colonialism through Kims encounters with such a wide variety of people.From the beginning we see Kim learning about diverse Indian ways through his friendship with Mahbub Ali for whom he "executed commissions by night on thecrowded housetops," his travels with the holy Lama, and interaction with the natives during his travels. Mahbub Ali initiates Kim into the "great game" of the secret service. The spiritual Lama provides him with a sense of maturity and introduces him to new ideasand aspirations. And Kim's own curiosity for learning, his keen sense of observation and spirit of adventure instill in him self-reliance and resourcefulness. In consequence, by learning to manipulate people to his own advantage, Kim manages to earn his living and procure food for the Lama and himself. Because his early exposure to natives and their customs taught him the subtleties of Indian life: he knows the "breed" of farmers of theland; he understands the distinctions of caste and realizes that the Lama is the "most holy of holy men" because he is "above all castes." Kim's grasp of Indian life teaches him to process the native culture whereby he knows its strengths and weaknesses; to react with cleverness when the situation demands, appropriate the useful and dismiss ...
