Chapter 2 - The Pagoda Tree: 1857

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Questions and Answers

What was a primary reason for the demand for English knowledge among Indian clerks and officials?

To help in translating ancient texts.

To gain higher social status.

To secure jobs in administration. (correct)

To serve as interpreters for travelers.

What did the missionaries believe was the purpose of imparting Western education to Indians?

To provide vocational training.

To promote literacy without cultural change.

To preserve local customs.

To challenge the religious beliefs of Hinduism. (correct)

Which of the following was a viewpoint of Charles Grant regarding English education in India?

It was unnecessary for the empire's stability.

It would corrupt Indian values.

It would help assimilate Indians to Western culture. (correct)

It should be limited to elite classes only.

What were the Orientalists' concerns regarding English education in India?

It was an impractical approach to educating the populace. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the general trend in Indian education noted after 1824?

An increasing emphasis on teaching Western science and literature. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following figures is noted for having a reformist approach to education in Bengal?

Bentinck (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the goal expressed by the imperialists regarding the spread of English among Indians?

To civilize the 'lesser breeds without the law.' (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did most Indian intellectuals perceive the rise of English education?

They consistently supported it. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did mission schools adopt in the South before the end of the eighteenth century?

Offering education in both English and vernacular. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What did H.H. Wilson argue about the effectiveness of English language education?

It would enlighten people through their own language. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did the Indian renaissance compare to the European renaissance?

It was more similar to the Celtic movement in Ireland. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What two perspectives did India embrace during her awakening?

A look towards the West and a look at her own past. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which East India Company official founded the Bengal Asiatic Society?

Sir William Jones (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial British policy towards education in India after the East India Company took control?

No official education policy for several years. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which languages were revived for study among Indians as part of the new educational policies?

Sanskrit and Persian (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was a practical consideration that influenced British education policy in India?

The need for Indian scholars to assist in judicial matters. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What key role did early officials of the East India Company play during the renaissance?

They facilitated the rediscovery of India's past. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What change in perspective occurred by the turn of the century among British officials regarding education?

Second thoughts about educational policies began to prevail. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which official is noted for authoring a significant work relating to Hindu law?

H.T. Colebrooke (C) Signup and view all the answers

What approach to culture did the early British officials adopt?

They engaged deeply with oriental culture. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the East India Company when it was initially granted its charter?

To engage in trade and commerce (B) Signup and view all the answers

What crucial event allowed the British East India Company to gain significant power in Bengal?

The Battle of Plassey (1757) (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'shaking the Indian 'Pagoda tree' of its treasures' symbolize?

The British East India Company's involvement in the Indian economy. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the author's use of Kipling's words in the excerpt?

To highlight the gradual shift from trade to empire building by the British. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a contributing factor to the modernization process in India during the nineteenth century?

The establishment of a parliamentary democracy in India. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the excerpt, how did the British involvement in India evolve over time?

From traders to rulers. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea of the excerpt?

To trace the history of British involvement in India from the 16th to the 19th century. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a valid interpretation of the phrase 'manifest destiny' as used in the context of the excerpt?

The British East India Company's initial goal of establishing a trading post in India. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What significance can be attributed to the mention of Sigelm's pilgrimage to India in the 9th century?

It demonstrates the early presence of British influence in India. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred from Clive's statement, 'I stand astonished at my own moderation'?

He believes that he was justified in taking the wealth, but could have taken even more. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 2 - The Pagoda Tree: From the Beginnings to 1857

The British connection with India significantly began in the 17th century, though English presence was documented as early as AD 883.
Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India in 1498 brought Portuguese and Dutch traders earlier than the British. British interest, however, remained nascent in the mid-16th century.
A petition to King Henry VIII in 1511 expressed desire for exploration of the Indies and securing its treasure.
The East India Company, chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in the late 16th century, marked a new era in East-West relations.
The Company's initial goal was commerce, but the vacuum left by the Mughal Empire's disintegration in the late 18th century led them to take control of India.

Indian Renaissance and the Rise of English Literature

The Indian renaissance, according to Sri Aurobindo, was less a copy of European movements but an expression of self-renewal. It aimed at reshaping Indian society.
The period was marked by a dual focus: looking internally at India’s past and engaging with the West. This dual approach helped in the rediscovery of India's past.
British officials of the Company who were scholars of Indian culture played a role in this rediscovery process.

British Education Policy in India

Early British policies on Indian education oscillated between two approaches: either ignoring or advocating for the spread of Western education.
Initial lack of an official government education policy, coupled with the need for Indian clerks, led to the establishment of institutions teaching Sanskrit and Persian.
The 1780s and 1790s saw the rise of the Orientalist school of thought, which advocated the importance of Indian languages and cultures in education. This led to the establishment of the Calcutta Madarasa and Sanskrit College.
However, by the 1820s, British policies began increasingly favoring the spread of Western education in India.
Missionary efforts played a significant role in introducing English schools in India.

The Emergence of Indian English Literature

Indian individuals like Raja Rammohun Roy advocated for the spread of English education.
They argued that English education could integrate Indians better and support the progress of Indian societies.
Early works in English by Indians predominantly consist of translations and documents rather than original creative works.
The establishment of three Indian universities in 1857 marked a key turning point in the development of Indian English writing.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between Britain and India from the beginnings up to 1857. This chapter discusses the early exploration efforts, the establishment of the East India Company, and the impact of these events on Indian history and literature. Delve into the Indian renaissance and its unique identity.