Education System in Nainital during the Nineteenth and Mid-Twentieth Century British India

This paper examines the intricacies and the legacy of the colonial British Educational System established in the nineteenth century India especially in the central Himalayan town of Nainital. It traces in detail the history of the growth of educational institutions between 1850 and Indian independence in 1947, including both European schools and the government-aided vernacular schools. It throws light upon the debate among Indians and the British, known as ‘Orientalists’ and ‘Anglicists’ about the type of education needed by the Indians and upon the view that the educational policy was designed to legitimise the domination of the British colonial needs. The introduction of British education was an event of great historical significance for India. Three main agencies were responsible for the spread of modern education in India: the foreign Christian missionaries, the British government and progressive Indians. Christian missionaries, who did extensive work in the sphere of spread of modern education in India, were inspired mainly by a proselytising spirit to spread Christianity among the people. These missionaries started educational institutions which along with imparting modern secular education also gave religious instructions in Christianity. The British Government was, however, the principal agent in disseminating modern education in India. It established a network of schools and colleges in India which turned out educated Indians well-versed in modern knowledge. The introduction of modern education in India was primarily motivated by political and public-administrative and economic needs of Britain in India. However, they were convinced that the spread of British culture would bring about a social and political unification of the world. British education was also the medium for spread of modern science and ideas of equality and liberty. It becomes less religious. Besides, many new branches of learning were introduced. The printing press revolutionised the educational system in which the emphasis shifted from personal, oral communication to impersonal communication of idea through books, journals and other media. Education became the basis of exploiting new economic opportunities which were to a large extent caste-free. It helps in familiarising of English language. Introduction of Western education here includes arts, science and medicine and exchange of new ideas.