British Education Policies in India
48 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was the primary argument made by Christian missionaries regarding education in nineteenth-century India?

  • Education should be accessible to all social classes.
  • Education should emphasize the local languages.
  • Education should focus solely on practical skills.
  • Education should improve the moral character of people. (correct)

    • Until what year did the East India Company oppose missionary activities in India?

  • 1800
  • 1900
  • 1857
  • 1813 (correct)

    • Where did the missionaries first establish a mission in India?

  • Calcutta
  • Serampore (correct)
  • Bombay
  • Delhi

    • What significant institution was established by missionaries in 1818?

    <p>A college</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the British government's stance on missionary education after 1857?

    <p>They were reluctant to support it directly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was NOT a concern of the East India Company regarding missionary activities?

    <p>Encourage local educational initiatives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the missionaries manage to establish education after being restricted by the East India Company?

    <p>They set up in areas controlled by other companies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major fear of the East India Company regarding missionary education?

    <p>It would make locals suspicious of British intentions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary objective of Wood's Despatch of 1854 regarding education in India?

    <p>To disseminate European knowledge and arts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following cities established universities in 1857 amid rising tensions?

    <p>Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criticism was leveled against Eastern literature according to the content?

    <p>It was filled with grave errors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What measure was implemented as a result of Wood's Despatch to control education in India?

    <p>Establishment of education departments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant consequence of the 1854 Despatch for university education in India?

    <p>It marked a shift towards European-style education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a purpose of the proposed education system outlined in Wood's Despatch?

    <p>The promotion of Eastern arts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During what significant event were the universities established in India?

    <p>The Sepoy Rebellion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key skill that the Eastern literature was criticized for failing to develop?

    <p>Skills for administration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one defining feature of the early educational system described?

    <p>Oral teaching methods</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How was the fee structure arranged for the education system mentioned?

    <p>The rich paid more than the poor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where were classes typically held in the described educational system?

    <p>Under banyan trees or in village corners</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the learning environment adapt to local agricultural practices?

    <p>Classes were canceled during harvest time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant change did the Company implement after 1854 in regards to vernacular education?

    <p>Imposition of strict government oversight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did government pandits play in the educational system introduced by the Company?

    <p>They oversaw groups of schools for inspections</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was NOT part of the early educational structure?

    <p>Regular time-tables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of the teaching method allowed flexibility in addressing student needs?

    <p>The guru's discretion in teaching based on students' abilities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the main points emphasized in Wood's Despatch regarding education?

    <p>The practical benefits of European learning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of education did the Court of Directors aim to influence in India according to Wood's Despatch?

    <p>Improving the moral character of the population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one economic benefit mentioned in Wood's Despatch about European learning for Indians?

    <p>Indians would recognize the advantages of trade expansion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way did Wood's Despatch suggest that European learning would influence Indian society?

    <p>By changing Indian tastes and desires.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the ultimate aim of promoting European learning in India, as suggested in Wood's Despatch?

    <p>To create a workforce that can be depended upon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant concern regarding the local dialects pointed out in the content?

    <p>They lacked literary and scientific expressions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who issued the educational despatch known as Wood’s Despatch?

    <p>Charles Wood, President of the Board of Control.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is emphasized about teaching handicrafts?

    <p>It should be taught scientifically, focusing on understanding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect was European learning expected to have on the consumption of goods in India?

    <p>Indians would start buying more British goods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of education did nationalist thinkers aim to establish?

    <p>A completely different system reflecting national identity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who established Santiniketan?

    <p>Rabindranath Tagore</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Tagore feel about traditional schooling?

    <p>He felt it was similar to a prison.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What element in Tagore's upbringing influenced his educational philosophy?

    <p>His unpleasant school experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is suggested about the environment at Santiniketan?

    <p>It featured open spaces and natural surroundings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of handicraft education does the quote imply is important?

    <p>Understanding the rationale behind processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feeling did Tagore experience as a student?

    <p>Boredom and distraction from lessons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of Mahatma Gandhi's major criticisms of Western education?

    <p>It promoted a sense of inferiority among Indians.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following did Gandhi believe was a consequence of English education?

    <p>Admiration for British rule.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What alternative did Gandhi suggest regarding the medium of teaching?

    <p>Use Indian languages as the medium of instruction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Rabindranath Tagore's views on education were similar to Gandhi's in that they both

    <p>Believed in the importance of self-reliance through local education.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Gandhi mean by saying there was 'poison' in English education?

    <p>It created a false superiority over local cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the national movement, what action did Gandhi encourage students to take?

    <p>Withdraw from educational institutions to demonstrate resistance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the thoughts of some Indians regarding Western education in the early nineteenth century?

    <p>It was essential for India's modernization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One outcome Gandhi believed would result from English medium education was that it would make Indians

    <p>Strangers in their own lands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    British Education Policies in India

    • The British in India aimed to "civilize" the native population, changing their customs and values.
    • They sought to educate Indians to be "good subjects."
    • Diverse approaches to education were debated over decades.

    British View of Education

    • British officials believed in promoting Indian languages and culture.
    • William Jones, who arrived in Calcutta, studied Sanskrit, grammar, and other languages.
    • He, along with Henry Colebrooke and others, worked to understand and translate ancient Indian texts.
    • Many British officials desired to understand and appreciate the existing Indian cultures.
    • They encouraged institutions like the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Asiatick Researches.
    • Some emphasized promoting Indian rather than Western learning.
    • Ideas about appropriate educational content for Indians were debated.

    Orientalists and Critics

    • Orientalists championed the study of ancient Indian texts.
    • They believed studying indigenous languages and cultures would enhance understanding of the region.
    • People like James Mill critiqued the Orientalists, arguing that Oriental knowledge was full of errors and unscientific.
    • Thomas Macaulay argued against Eastern knowledge, preferring Western learning as more practical. He felt Eastern knowledge was not as valuable as English knowledge.

    Wood's Despatch (1854)

    • Wood emphasized the practical value of European learning.
    • This learning could enhance India's economic development and promote trade by connecting with European markets.
    • The emphasis was on promoting European learning over Indian learning.
    • Influenced British policies in Indian education.

    The Role of Missionaries

    • Christian missionaries established schools focused on moral education.
    • They prioritized teaching Christian values alongside practical skills.
    • The British government was initially hesitant to fully support missionary efforts and some missionaries struggled to set up schools due to restrictions placed by the British government.

    Local Schools (Pathshalas)

    • Pre-British India had widespread local schools (pathshalas).
    • These were small, community-based institutions with flexible schedules and oral teaching methods.
    • They adapted to the needs of local communities, including children from poor families.
    • The British made demands for more established institutions with standardized teaching and reporting.

    Mahatma Gandhi's Views

    • Gandhi believed that British education created a sense of inferiority and destroyed the pride of Indian culture.
    • He saw English education as a tool for cultural enslavement, damaging Indian identity.
    • Gandhi advocated for Indian languages as the medium of instruction rather than English.
    • He believed Indian education should focus on moral development, practical knowledge, and a connection to local culture.

    Rabindranath Tagore

    • Tagore disliked the rigid structures and felt stifled in traditional schools.
    • He established the school, Shantiniketan, as an alternative system of education.
    • He viewed education as a process of self-learning within a natural environment.
    • He desired more creative and flexible education.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Civilising the "Native" - Educating the Nation PDF

    Description

    Explore the impact of British education policies on Indian society during colonial rule. This quiz delves into the views of British officials, the role of orientalists, and the debates surrounding educational content in India. Test your knowledge on how these policies aimed to transform native customs and promote cultural understanding.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser