English Education in India, 1715-1835: Half-Caste, Missionary, and Secular Stages

This book explores the first stage of English education in India, including charity schools, asylums, and orphanages opened by the Church of England. It examines the influence of the 'half-caste community and missionaries on the demand for English education and employment opportunities. It also re-examines the pre-history of Hindoo College Calcutta and analyzes the shifts in educational policies by British colonial administrators.

Format: Hardback
Length: 198 pages
Publication date: 11 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the initial stages of the emergence and development of English education in India. The inception of the first schools in India can be traced back to charity schools, asylums, and orphanages established under the auspices of the Church of England. These institutions were primarily designed to provide religious instruction, training, and care to "half-caste or mixed-race children," who were the offspring of Protestant fathers from Indian women. The book explores the profound influence exerted by the "half-caste community" and missionaries on the growing demand for English education and employment opportunities in India.

Furthermore, it critically examines the historical narratives surrounding Hindoo College Calcutta, re-examining them in the light of new evidence presented for the first time. The book also analyzes the significant shifts in educational policies implemented by the British colonial administrators and the interventions by notable figures such as Trevelyan, Macaulay, and Bentinck.

In-depth and insightful, this volume holds immense appeal to students and scholars of history, literature, postcolonial studies, cultural studies, colonial expansion, and South Asian studies. It offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of cultural, social, and political factors that shaped the early stages of English education in India and its enduring impact on the region.

Weight: 448g
Dimension: 204 x 241 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367322632