CHAPTER – 8
TOPIC: Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation
Level 1
I. Answer the following very briefly:
1. Name the institution that was set up in the 18th century by William Jones a British
official.
Asiatic society of Bengal
2. Name the college established in Banaras in 1791.
Hindu College
3. Name the person who was responsible for the Act of 1835 in India.
Thomas Babington Macaulay
4. “English education has enslaved us” who said these words?
Mahatma Gandhi
5. Name the place which was Tagore’s “adobe of peace”.
Shantiniketan
6. Mention the objective of starting the Hindu college at Banaras in 1791.
To encourage the study of ancient Sanskrit texts that would be useful for administration
of the country.
7. Name the two Indian leaders who reacted against the western education.
Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore
8. Where is Santiniketan located?
100km away from Calcutta
9. Define the term Verancular.
A term generally used to refer to a local language or dialect as distinct from what is
seen as the standard language. In colonial countries like India, the British used the
term to mark difference between local languages of everyday use and English- the
language of Imperial masters.
10. Who were known as Linguist and Orientalist?
Linguist- someone who knows and studies several languages
Orientalist- those with a scholarly knowledge of the language and culture of the
society.
1. Discuss the reaction of the British officials towards the Oriental’s vision of learning.
British officials began to criticise the orientalist version of learning
They said knowledge of the east was full of errors and unscientific
They argued that it was wrong on the part of British to spend too much effort in
encouraging the study of Arabic and Sanskrit language and literature
According to James Mill aim of education ought to be teach what was useful and
practical
Indians should be made familiar with the scientific and technical advances that the
west had made rather than with the poetry and scared literature of the orient.
2. Describe the reasons that Macaulay emphasized on, for teaching the English language.
He saw India as uncivilized country that needed to be civilized no branch of eastern
knowledge according to him could be compared to what England had produced
He felt that the knowledge of English would allow Indians to read some of the finest
literature the world had produced
It would make them aware of the developments in western science and philosophy
Teaching of English could thus be a way of civilizing people, changing their values and
culture
3. Explain in detail the functioning of the local schools during the 1830s.
No fixed fee, no printed books, no separate school building, no benches or chairs, no
blackboards, no system of separate classes, no roll call registers
In some place’s classes were held under a banyan tree, in other places in the corner of a
village shop or at guru’s house
Fee depended on the income of the parents. The rich had to pay more than poor
Teaching was oral and guru decided what to teach in accordance with the need of the
students
4. Describe the new measures undertaken by the company to improve vernacular education.
The company appointed a number of govt pandits each in charge of looking after four to
five schools
The task pf pandit was to visit pathshalas and try to improve the standard of teaching
Each guru was asked to submit periodic reports and take classes according to a regular
timetable
Teaching was now to be based on textbooks and learning to be tested through the system
of annual examination
5. Elaborate on the impact of the new measures adopted by the company on the education of
local population.
In the earlier system children from poor peasant families had been able to go to
pathshalas, since timetable was flexible
The discipline of the new system demanded a regular attendance even during harvest
time however the children of poor families had to work in the fields
Inability to attend school came to be seen as indiscipline as evidence of the lack of desire
to learn
Over time gurus who wanted to retain their independence found it difficult to compete
with the government aided and regulated pathshalas
6. Describe in detail the arguments given by Mahatma Gandhi opposing colonial education.
He argued that colonial education created a sense of inferiority in the minds of
Indians
It made them see western civilization as superior and destroyed the pride they had in
their own culture
There was a poison in this education, it was sinful, it enslaved Indians it cast an evil
spell on them
He said they focused on reading and writing rather than oral knowledge, it valued
textbooks rather than lived experience and practical knowledge
Level-2
7. Discuss the advantages that the local schools provided to the local population.
That the flexible system was suited to local needs. For instance, classes were bot held
during harvest time when rural children often worked in the fields
The pathshala started once again when the crops had been cut and sorted
This meant that even children of peasant families could study
8. Explain the arguments given by Wood’s Despatch for European Learning as a means of
improving moral character of Indians.
He argued that European learning would improve the moral character of Indians.
It would make them truthful and honest and thus supply the company civil servants who
could be trusted and depended upon
The literature of the east was not only full of grave errors, it could also not instill in
people a sense of duty and a commitment to work.
