Civilising The "native', Educating The Nation

William Jones – Respect for ancient cultures

Rabindranath Tagore – Learning in a natural environment

Thomas Macaulay – Promotion of English education

Mahatma Gandhi – Critic of English education

Pathshalas - Gurus

(a) (True)

James mill is regarded to be the first historian to write a detailed history of India in a chronological order.

(b) (True)

The 1854 Dispatch on education was in favour of English being introduced as a medium of higher education in India because it provides them more reliable and capable public servants.

(c) (False)

According to Mahatma Gandhi the most important aim of education is Self-realization. He thought that education ought to develop a person’s mind and soul. Simple learning to read and write by itself did not count as education.

(d) (False)

Tagore recognized that children are not unfinished adults but have to be seen in their own rights, so that their strengths become visible and can be developed. He also argues that the difference between children and adults requires different methods of learning.

William Jones felt that the study of Indian history, philosophy and law would not only help the British learn from Indian culture but it would also help Indians to rediscover their own heritage and understand the lost glories of their past.

Following are reasons:

(i) Respect: He had a deep respect for ancient cultures both of India and the West.

(ii) Need to rediscover the past: He felt that India had attained its glory in the ancient past but had subsequently declined.

(iii) To understand the Indians: He thought that in order to understand Indians, it was necessary to discover the sacred and legal texts that were produced in the ancient period.

(iv) To make others aware: William Jones went about discovering ancient texts, understanding them and making their finding known to other.

James Mill and Thomas Macaulay both British officials were great critic of Indian education system. They criticized the orientalist vision of learning. They thought that education should be useful and practical. According to them Indians should be made familiar with the advances being made by the West. They thought that the Indians were uncivilized and needed to be civilized and English education will be the best way to civilize them.

According to James Mill:

(i) He criticized the orientalist vision of learning.

(ii) The aim of education should not only be to teach the poetry and sacred literature of the Orient.

(iii) The knowledge of the East was full of errors and unscientific thoughts.

(iv) The education should provide useful and practical knowledge to the students.

According to Thomas Macaulay:

(i) He saw India as an uncivilized country that needed to be civilized.

(ii) Oriental learning was of no practical use.

(iii) He emphasized the need to teach English language.

(iv) The teaching of English thus could be a way to civilize the people of India.

(v) The English education was better because it would allow Indians to read some of the finest literature of the world.

(vi) It would also make them aware about the development in Western Science and Philosophy.

Mahatma Gandhi gave more emphasis on skill development rather than an ability to read and write. He felt that a person should learn the necessary skills to earn livelihood and to be independent.

The main reasons were:

(i) This would develop a person’s mind and soul.

(ii) Western education focused on reading and writing rather than oral knowledge which do not count as education.

(iii) Education ought to develop a person’s mind and soul. Simple learning to read and write by itself did not count as education.

(iv) If people are allowed to work with hands, learn a craft and know how different things operated, this would develop their mind and their capacity to understand.

Mahatma Gandhi thought English education developed a sense of inferiority among Indians. He believed that English education had enslaved the Indians.

His concerns about the English education system were as below:

(i) It made them see Western civilization as superior and destroyed the pride they had in their own culture.

(ii) It created a sense of inferiority in the minds of Indians.

(iii) Charmed by the West and after getting western education some Indians began admiring British rule.

(iv) It had poisoned their minds and soul.

(v) Some Indians after getting educated in English began to see the other Indians with scorn.

So, he called it sinful, he wanted a system that could help Indians recovers their sense of dignity and self-respect.