This volume comprises a report of a commission appointed by the missionary societies in Great Britain, to enquire into the conditions of education in the villages in India. The commission travelled through various parts of India for five months and their report was first published in 1920. The greatest hindrance to the progress of India and eradication of many social evils of her people is illiteracy of the masses. The report presents an objective picture of the depth of this social handicap and its causes. The picture has not much changed even after fifty-six years of our independence. The report also presents a study of the establishments of education, both academic and vocational, existing in the villages, their mode of the teaching, curricula, medium of instruction, future prospects of the students, etc. Conditions of female education and related problems have received due place in the report. In brief the report is informative and educating and its value is still undiminished. It is a living presentation of the real life and needs of rural India. Whatever view may be taken of the conclusions at which the commission have arrived, it will not be questioned that they have been clearly and as a result have enlightened the reader various issues discussed in the report simply, directly and with admirable conciseness. The avowed purpose of sending out of the commission was to find out way and means to spread Christianity in Indian villages through education and organize and educate the Christian communities already existing in rural India, nevertheless the contents of the report are useful to the planners and policy makers in the field of education in India, even today.
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