Why were vernacular novels valuable for colonial administration?

Vernacular novels were valuable for the colonial administration because-

1. They acted as an excellent source of information on local lifestyle and customs.

2. They made governing the largely diverse Indian society easy.

3. Their (the British) knowledge regarding Indian life was sparse, as they were outsiders.

4. They depicted the many intricacies of Indian life including dressing sense, ways of worship, food etc.

Hence, vernacular novels helped the British to understand the Indians and their mentality better.