The History of Education in Modern India 1757-1986

The last few decades have witnessed significant changes in the concepts of education and history. This book presents a historical overview of education in modern India from its colonial beginnings in 1757 through the implementation of the new education policy in 1986. The manner in which our education system was imported and later adapted to suit Indian conditions, the initial reaction of the British and their hostility later, the subsequent reforms: their intentions and implications, their rebuttal by the rise of the unemployed and professional Indians, the reactions of our forefathers and the extent to which we have been able to alter the system to suit our needs, interests and aspirations have all been discussed in a style that is clear and concise. This study reviews controversial issues like the introduction of English education in India, the authorship of the education despatch of 1854, the Curzon University reform of 1899-1905 and also indicates how the new national policy of education promulgated in 1986 could be successfully implemented especially in view of the shifting political scenario in the country. Meticulously researched, the book is based on the critical use of archival sources and private papers and is essential reading not only for students at the graduate and post graduate levels but also for a larger audience with an interest in education in India.