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Development of Education in Modern India (British Period)

Foundational Policies & Theories

• Downward Filtration Theory
  • Proposed by: Lord Macaulay.
  • Concept: Education should first be imparted to the elite upper classes, who would then “filter” this Western knowledge down to the masses.
  • Motive: To create a class of educated Indians for minor administrative posts to reduce the cost of administration.
• Charter Act of 1813
  • First official allocation of funds (Rs. 1 Lakh) by the British government for the education of Indians.
  • Allowed Christian missionaries to propagate English and their religion.
• Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy (1823-1835)
  • A 12-year debate on the medium and content of education.
  • Orientalists: Promoted Oriental learning in classical Indian languages (Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit).
  • Anglicists: Promoted Western sciences in English.
  • Resolution: Lord Macaulay’s Minute of 1835 resolved the debate in favor of the Anglicists.
• Introduction of English Education
  • Macaulay’s Minute (1835): Foundation of the modern educational system. Recommended English as the medium of instruction for higher education and a focus on Western sciences.
  • Implemented by: Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India.
• Wood’s Despatch (1854)
  • Known as the “Magna Carta of English Education in India”.
  • Key Recommendations:
    • Create a structured education system (Primary -> High School -> University).
    • Establish Universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay (founded in 1857).
    • Introduce a Grants-in-Aid system to fund private schools.
    • Promote vernacular languages at the primary level.
    • Promote women’s education.
  • Note: It did NOT recommend English as the medium of instruction at all levels.

Key Commissions

• Hunter Commission (1882)
  • First Indian Education Commission.
  • Appointed by Ripon, chaired by William Hunter.
  • Laid special emphasis on the development of Primary Education.
• Sadler University Commission (1917)
  • Appointed to review the problems of Calcutta University.
  • Conclusion: Improvement of secondary education was essential for improving university education.
  • Its recommendations were applicable to other universities in India.

Early Orientalist Institutions (Focus on Indian Languages & Culture)

Major Educational Institutions

• Colleges:
  • Hindu College, Calcutta: Established first in 1817 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff.
  • Delhi College: Founded in 1824.
  • Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO College): Founded in Aligarh in 1875 (later became Aligarh Muslim University).
  • Mayo College, Ajmer: Also established in 1875.
• Universities:
  • The first three universities were established in 1857 in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay (as a result of Wood’s Despatch).
  • Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi:
    • Established in 1916 by Madan Mohan Malviya.
    • First to be declared a Central University.
    • The foundation stone was laid by Viceroy Hardinge on February 4, 1916.
  • First Women’s University (SNDT University): Founded in Mumbai in 1916 by D.K. Karve.
• Societies:
  • Deccan Education Society: Formed in 1884 by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, and others.

Key Personalities & Their Contributions

Nationalist Response

• National Council of Education (NCE)
  • Established on 15th August 1906.
  • Purpose: To provide literary, scientific, and technical education “under national control” and free from government influence.
  • It established the Bengal National College and School.

Know More About Development of Education in Modern India:

• Development of Education in Modern India – Old Year Questions and Answers
• Development of Education in Modern India One Liner Questions & Answers

Summary in form of One Liners

1. Who proposed the Downward Filtration Theory? – Lord Macaulay.
2. Which act was the first to allocate funds for Indian education? – The Charter Act of 1813.
3. What amount was allocated for education by the Charter Act of 1813? – Rs. 1 Lakh.
4. Which document is known as the ‘Magna Carta of English Education in India’? – Wood’s Despatch of 1854.
5. Which commission laid special emphasis on Primary Education? – The Hunter Commission (1882) appointed by Ripon.
6. The Sadler Commission of 1917 was appointed to review which university? – Calcutta University.
7. Which was the first college established in 1817 in Calcutta? – Hindu College.
8. Who collaborated to establish the Hindu College in Calcutta? – Raja Ram Mohan Roy, David Hare, and Alexander Duff.
9. Which college was established to train British civilians in Indian languages? – Fort William College (1800).
10. Which was the first Women’s University in India and who founded it? – SNDT University, Mumbai, founded by D.K. Karve (1916).
11. Which society was formed in 1884 by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar? – The Deccan Education Society.
12. Which were the first three universities established in India in 1857? – Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay.
13. Who founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784? – Sir William Jones.
14. Which institution was founded by Warren Hastings in 1780 to teach Arabic and Persian? – Calcutta Madrassa.
15. Who first translated the Bhagavad Gita into English? – Charles Wilkins.
16. Who was the first to translate Kalidasa’s ‘Shakuntala’ into English? – Sir William Jones.
17. Who was the founder and first Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University? – Madan Mohan Malviya.
18. Who implemented Macaulay’s Minute of 1835? – Lord William Bentinck.
19. When was the National Council of Education (NCE) established? – 15th August 1906.
20. What was Lord Macaulay’s official role when he wrote his famous Minute? – President of the General Committee of Public Instruction.
21. Who had a significant contribution in the preparation of Wood’s Despatch? – John Stuart Mill.