CLASS 8 GEOGRAPHY · NCERT · CH 6: CIVILISING THE "NATIVE", EDUCATING THE NATION (NCERT CLASS 8 — OUR PASTS III)
NCERT-aligned Class 8 Geography topic. Every item is anchored to a real location on India's map — built for boards (CBSE, ICSE, state) and UPSC aspirants.
When + why was the CALCUTTA MADRASA established?
Founded 1781 by WARREN HASTINGS (Governor-General) — to encourage scholarship in ARABIC, PERSIAN + ISLAMIC LAW. The aim was to train Indian + European officials in the LANGUAGES + LEGAL TRADITIONS that the Mughal-era courts still operated in — particularly important because the Company had taken over revenue + judicial administration in Bengal + needed officials fluent in Mughal court conventions. The madrasa later evolved + still operates as Aliah University. Hastings' parallel founding of the BENARES SANSKRIT COLLEGE (1791) reflected the same "ORIENTALIST" preference for engaging Indian intellectual traditions on their own terms — before MACAULAY'S 1835 MINUTE reversed direction toward English-medium education.
Benaras Sanskrit College — when?
Founded 1791 by Jonathan DUNCAN — to encourage the study of Hindu scriptures and law.
What was the ORIENTALIST view (William Jones, Henry Colebrooke)?
Believed India had a great ancient heritage; Indians could be best educated in their own classical languages — Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian. Jones founded Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784).
CALCUTTA MADRASA — when + by whom?
Founded 1781 by WARREN HASTINGS (1st Governor-General). Purpose: educate MUSLIM elite in PERSIAN + ARABIC + Islamic law (so they could serve as munsifs / judicial officers under British). Persia was court language of Mughals + Sultanates — knowledge needed for COURTS that British were inheriting. Madrasa is STILL operational today as ALIAH UNIVERSITY (Kolkata, est. 2008 from the original madrasa). Also called CALCUTTA ARABIC MADRASA. Hastings ALSO founded ASIATIC SOCIETY 1784 (Sir William Jones) — to study India's LITERATURE + SCIENCE.
BANARAS SANSKRIT COLLEGE — when + by whom?
Founded 1791 by JONATHAN DUNCAN (Resident at Banaras + later Governor of Bombay). Purpose: educate HINDU elite (Brahmins) in SANSKRIT + Hindu law texts (Manusmriti, Yajnavalkya, etc.) + classical learning. Reason: British needed to KNOW Hindu law to ADMINISTER Hindu cases in courts. The college is STILL operational as SAMPURNANAND SANSKRIT UNIVERSITY (Varanasi). Together with Calcutta Madrasa, these were the FIRST British-funded oriental higher-education institutions in India — reflecting "ORIENTALIST" educational policy: respect Indian classical learning, train Indians in their own scriptures.
Who was Thomas Babington Macaulay?
Member of the Governor-General's Council; in 1835 wrote the famous "MINUTE ON EDUCATION" arguing that India should be educated in ENGLISH (not Sanskrit/Arabic).
Macaulay's most famous (controversial) line?
"A single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia." Wanted to create "a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, opinions, morals and intellect."
What did the English Education Act of 1835 do?
Made ENGLISH the medium of higher education in India; stopped funding for Oriental institutions; English seen as the path to "civilising" Indians.
MACAULAY'S MINUTE 1835 — what did it propose?
THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY (1800-59) — British politician, on the Supreme Council of India. Wrote "MINUTE ON INDIAN EDUCATION" 2 Feb 1835. Proposed: (i) ENGLISH should replace Persian + Sanskrit as the medium of higher education; (ii) Govt funds for ENGLISH education only — not for oriental colleges; (iii) Goal: create a "CLASS of persons INDIAN IN BLOOD + COLOUR but ENGLISH IN TASTES, OPINIONS, MORALS, INTELLECT" — to act as INTERPRETERS between British rulers + Indian masses (FILTRATION THEORY). Famous + UPSC-favored quote: "I have never found one among them [orientalists] who could deny that A SINGLE SHELF OF A GOOD EUROPEAN LIBRARY WAS WORTH THE WHOLE NATIVE LITERATURE of India + Arabia." (Reflects Macaulay's racism + ignorance.)
What was the BENTINCK'S RESOLUTION 1835?
On 7 March 1835, GOV-GEN WILLIAM BENTINCK ENDORSED Macaulay's Minute via official RESOLUTION: HENCEFORTH British funds for "European literature + science" only — not oriental learning. Existing oriental institutions kept but no expansion. ANGLICISTS (those favouring English) WON over ORIENTALISTS (Wilson, Prinsep). RESULT: (i) ENGLISH became the prestige language of higher education + administration; (ii) Indian elites adopted English; (iii) Generations of educated Indians became fluent in English; (iv) IRONICALLY, this created the very class that LED Indian nationalism (Gandhi, Nehru, etc. were all English-educated); (v) ENGLISH still co-official in independent India + remains language of higher courts + sciences.
What was WOOD'S DESPATCH + why is it called the Magna Carta of Indian English Education?
WOOD'S DESPATCH (1854) was the first comprehensive policy statement on Indian education, authored under CHARLES WOOD, who chaired the British government's Board of Control overseeing the East India Company. Key recommendations: (i) ENGLISH for higher education + INDIAN LANGUAGES for primary education. (ii) Establish UNIVERSITIES in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras (founded 1857). (iii) State financial support + grants-in-aid for private schools. (iv) Female + technical education. (v) Establishment of education departments in each presidency. It was called the MAGNA CARTA of English Education because it laid the institutional foundation for India's modern university + school system that — with modifications — survives today.
Key recommendations of Wood's Despatch?
(i) Universities at Calcutta, Bombay, Madras (founded 1857); (ii) English higher + vernacular primary; (iii) Education department in each presidency; (iv) Promote female education; (v) Grants-in-aid to private schools.
This topic is part of the NCERT Class 8 History syllabus, drawn from the chapter Ch 6: Civilising the "Native", Educating the Nation (NCERT Class 8 — Our Pasts III). Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works.
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