Vernacular novels proved very useful for colonial administration. They were a valuable source of information on native life and customs of which they were ignorant. They learnt from the novels about how they dressed, forms of religious worship, beliefs and practices. They could govern a large variety of communities and castes with their help. Missionaries and British administrators translated them. For example, missionaries translated two Bengali novels, Phulmoni and Karuna. Most of the Indian novels were about the defects in society, like the novel Indirabai. It depicted the status of women in society. They gave a glimpse of Indian society and helped the colonial rulers. Chandu Menon, Bankim Chandra and Premchand grappled with social problems in a colonial society.