6.1 - How the British Saw Education

The British view of education in India during the colonial period was shaped by their desire to control and exploit the country. Their approach to education was not aimed at the welfare of the Indian population, but at serving the needs of the British Empire. They believed that education should help in the governance of India and the spread of British culture. The British saw Indians as "uncivilized" and believed that their primary task was to "civilize" the native population.

One of the key elements of British education policy was to create a class of Indians who could assist the British in governing the country. These Indians, often referred to as the "Brown Sahibs," were educated to serve in the British administration. The British believed that by educating a small section of the Indian population, they would create a loyal class of clerks, officers, and soldiers who could help them rule over the vast Indian subcontinent.

In the early 19th century, education in India was largely under the control of traditional institutions like gurukuls, madrasas, and pathshalas. However, the British viewed these systems of education as outdated and ineffective. They argued that traditional Indian education did not provide the skills necessary for participation in the modern world. The British believed that the Indian system of education was too focused on religious teachings and lacked a scientific and rational approach to learning.

The British introduced a system of education that was modeled on the British system. They established schools that taught English, Western science, literature, and the arts. English was promoted as the medium of instruction, and Western ideas were presented as superior to Indian knowledge and traditions. This policy created a divide between those who received a British-style education and those who continued to follow traditional forms of learning.

One of the key figures in this educational policy was Lord Macaulay, who served as the head of the Education Department in British India in the 1830s. Macaulay's Minute on Education (1835) argued for the promotion of English education over traditional Indian languages and knowledge. Macaulay believed that the Indian population would be better governed by a small group of educated Indians who could understand Western ideas and could act as intermediaries between the British rulers and the local population.

Through policies like Macaulay’s, the British created a new class of Indians who were educated in Western ideas but alienated from their own culture and traditions. The aim was not to uplift the Indian masses but to create a small, educated elite who would serve the British Empire. This system of education played an important role in the British strategy of maintaining control over India.

At the same time, the British justified their actions by presenting themselves as the bringers of modernity and progress to a "backward" India. The idea was that British education would "enlighten" the natives and transform India into a more "civilized" nation. This view was rooted in a sense of racial superiority and a belief in the cultural dominance of Britain.

In essence, British education was a tool of colonial domination. It aimed to create a new social order that would support British rule and suppress any resistance to colonialism. By controlling education, the British sought to shape the minds of the Indian population and ensure that they remained loyal to the colonial government.