Name: Establishing an Education Policy: Wood’s Despatch
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 6 min 8 s
Description: How did British officials work towards aligning an education policy that favoured European learning, ultimately helping them in all respects?

Question

"Education in ancient India was not meant for all. Similarly, education in British India was also not meant for all." What do you understand by this statement?

Accepted Answer

Ancient Indian society followed the ''Varnasharm" system. Society was divided into four varnas. Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras. Among these four, only Brahmanas and Khastriyas were getting an education. Vaishyas was business class. But the Shudras did not have any right to get an education. Women were also deprived of the education since later Vedic Period. They were not allowed to read Vedas. In ancient India, princes were sent to gurukul to acquire knowledge. This facility was restricted to the only upper class. So in ancient India, education was not meant for all.

In British India, the government neglected mass education. British thought their language and culture were progressive and superior to the Indian language and culture. So medium of instruction should be in English. They wanted to create a particular class that would be loyal to them. They wanted to educate a few upper and middle classes Indians.

"Education in ancient India was not meant for all. Similarly, education in British India was also not meant for all." What do you understand by this statement?

Important Questions on Education and British Rule

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