Education during British rule

    For the East India Company 'educating Indians' was not an interest area. In earlier time Company supported the oriental learning. In 1781, Warren Hasting founded Calcutta Madarasa. In 1784 and 1791, the Asiatic Society and Sanskirit College was founded. There was a pressure from Christian missionaries to introduce Christianity and English education in India, but it was turned down. In 1800, Wellesley established Fort William College in Calcutta. The "charter act of 1813" provided a lakh rupees for improvement in literature and promotion of knowledge in science among Indians. Anyway this fund was kept unspent till 1823. Meanwhile many initiatives were taken by missionaries and others to bring in modern education. Robert Mayo, a missionary established a school in Chinsura. In 1817, Hindu College was established, which was the brain child of Raja Rammohan Roy and David Hare. After that, many institutions and societies were formed to promote modern liberal education. In 1818, "Calcutta school society" was formed with three-fold policy, 1. Supervise the limited number of model schools. 2. Improving existing indigenous schools. 3. Facilitate learning in English at higher education. Early in 1814, Thomson - a missionary proposed first comprehensive plan for education in Bengal, but in vain. 

    In 1823, General Committee of Public Instruction was formed. Till then, company's policy was in favor of oriental learning. But under the influence of James Mill, Court of Directors sent a Despatch, which favored western education. In 1829, Govt. policy declared that English should be the public business language eventually. Bentinck convinced that English is the key to all improvement. He was supported by James Mill and Rammohan Roy. In 1834, Macaulay arrived as a law member in Governor General's Council and made the indecent comment about oriental learning - "A single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole literature of India and Arabia". In 1835, Bentinck took the resolution that Govt's object should be promoting English literature and science and the funds would be used in English education alone. This resolution gave impetus to Education in India and many colleges were founded (Calcutta Medical College, Elphinstone Institution of Bombay, Hooghly college). In 1837, Persian language was replaced by English as official language. In districts, vernaculars and English were replaced the Persian language. In 1842, the General Committee on Public Instruction was replaced by powerful Council of Education. In 1844, English became the passport for public employment.

    In 1854, the famous "Wood's Despatch" was laid down. It is considered as th Magna Carta of English education in India. The recommendations were, 

1. Its government's responsibility to safeguard educational interests of Indians.
2. The aim of educational system is to produce trustworthy men for holding office  (clerks) under the Company.
3. English should be used as the medium of language, but not in all levels. English should be used only when people have gained sufficient knowledge in it.
4. Study of Indian language should be encouraged to make Govt-people communication easier.
5. Abandoned the Filtration Theory of Macaulay - "Education should be imparted to upper classes only and it would automatically filter down to lower masses"
6. System of grants-in-aid for education was introduced.
7. At lower level - vernacular education, then Anglo-Vernacular High Schools and affiliated colleges at district level.
8. Emphasis on vocational training in agriculture, medicine and teaching ...etc.
9. Special facilities for femal education.
10. Introducing comprehensive scholarships for deserving.
11. Establishment of universities in India on the pattern of London University.
12. Dept. of Public Instruction under the Director General of Education.

This scheme was criticized on the grounds that it was a slavish imitation of English model and this scheme makes education as a routine matter of administration. However, this system laid foundation for English education in India and continued as a base for next five decades.

Okay, to remember the above things in order....

First - Phase of oriental learning - Asiatic Society & Sanskirit College

Second - 1 lakh for Indian education- Charter act 1813, but still nothing happens

Third - Private initiatives and missionary efforts to bring liberal English education

Fourth - General Committee on Public Instruction and James Mill for western education

Fifth - Macualay comes, English to be official language

Lastly - Woods Despatch. :-)

"Buxar confirmed the decisions of Plassey"

    V A Smith, a historian and an indologist, in his writings tells us that the Buxar war completed the work of Plassey. Lets analyse the facts which led him to conclude this way.

The battle of Plassey: 
    The name Plassey is angliced version of Palashi, a place situated on the bank of Bagirathi. In this place in 1757, war between the British and the Nawab of Bengal was happened. First, in 1756, Siraj-ud-daula became Nawab of the Bengal. His relation with the British strained due to their support to the revalary Shaukat Jung who claimed the throne. The previleges conferred to the British were misused by them which led to loss of revenue to the Nawab. The Nawab has prohibited British from fortifying their settlements. Because of these reasons Robert Clive wanted to do away with the Nawab and conspired with Mir Jafar, the commenter-in-chief of the Nawab army. As a result war happened in Plassey. And Mir Jafar became the Nawab.

    But Mir Jafar could not manage the heavy demand for money from the British. Soon he was also ditched by the British and Mir Kasim, the son-in-law of Nawab came to the throne. Mir Kasim was a talented person and he was not acted like puppet of British. He reorganised troops, set up factories to manufacture arms, strengthened financial position and he stopped the company personnel from doing illegal private trade. So the British defeated him and reinstated Mir Jafar to the throne.

The battle of Buxar:

    Mir Kasim got shelter in Oudh. And he conspired with Nawab of Oudh and Mughal Emperor Sha Alam II to defeat the British. In 1764, the battle was fought at Buxar and ultimately the British won. Through this war the Mughal Emperor also was defeated. The British acquired commanding position in north west Bengal and got connection with upper India.

    The battle Plassey was a conspiracy of the British. Through that the British wanted to keep the Nawab as figurehead and the wanted to hold the real power. But the Buxar war proved their military superiority and confirmed the company's rule upon Bengal. And also in 1765, Clive came to a settlement with the Mughal emperor and Nawab of Oudh which is know as reaty of Allahabad. Through that British obtained Diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Thus, Buxar has completed the work of Plassey.