Page 63 - SST Class 08
P. 63
mendations for training in various grades nous system of education.
required in mechanical engineering. They also established
As a result of this colonial education policy Kashi Vidyapeeth at
illiteracy among masses particularly in rural areas Banaras in 1920-21 and
was on a very high scale. There was increase in later Gujarat Vidyapeeth,
rural landless labourers and they did not partici- Bihar Vidyapeeth and
pate in public life. other national schools of
Some of the freedom fighters had formed the all grades at different
National Council of Education as a revolt against places. Addressing the
the British. They set up national schools and graduates of the
colleges and universities based on indigenous Allahabad University in Sri Aurobindo
system of education like the Kashi Vidayapeeth 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru,
at Banaras established in 1920-21. the first Prime Minister of India, said, “Universi-
ties are places of ideals and idealism. If the
A few enlightened Muslim leaders like Sir Syed
universities discharge their duties adequately,
Ahmed Khan born in 1817 established English
then, it is well with the nation and the people.”
medium schools in 1875. The National Muslim
In the 20 century, Mahatma Gandhi had enunci-
University, later known as Jamia Millia Islamia,
ated his ideas and education in his young India.
was established at Aligarh in 1920 (‘Jamia’
means university and ‘Millia’ means national). A He proposed ‘Nai Talim’ or New Education
national College was set up by nationalist leaders system at a conference at Wardha in 1937. The
in 1906 at Calcutta under the principalship of Sri goals of his Nai Talim were:
Aurobindo. Later, some other institutions, too, 1. all round development of personality;
came to be established. Rabindranath Tagore 2. craft training;
(1861-1941) had particular interest in educa- 3. character building,
tional reforms. He established Visva Bharati 4. promotion of non-violence,
University at Shanti Niketan in Bengal in 1921.
5. it should be rural based.
The university acted as a link between India’s
The scheme of Nai Talim was adopted in many
past and present and helped to revive ancient
British India Provinces where the Congress had
glory of India. Some of the freedom fighters had
formed its governments. Mahatma Gandih’s Nai
formed the National Council of Education as a
Talim was also translated into action with the
revolt against the British. These leaders set up
founding of Modern School in 1921.
national schools and colleges based on indigenous
EDUCATION, POLITICS AND CULTURE
India has had a long tradition of inquiry and
articulation of concepts of universe, self, role of
state, economy, social order and other related
matters. It was in view of this that some princely
states paid particular attention to education. At
the same time education was used as a tool to
further political interests. Baroda and Aligarh are
studies in contrast in the field of education,
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) cultural and political life of the people.
Social Science-8 63
