Question

With the reference to the rise of ‘National Consciousness’ in India, explain the influence of western education

Answer 1

Hint: The feeling of national consciousness was a growing feature in India during the latter half of the 19th century. The struggle for independence before that did not include all the areas in India. The influence of western education in India was a major reason for building national consciousness.

Complete answer:
Previously in India although political union had occurred under great kings like Ashoka and Akbar they were not everlasting. Due to the spread of western education the Indians underwent changes in their thinking and political outlook. The British who came to India to rule, established english medium schools so that the Indians could learn the language and communication between their rulers and subjects became easier.

Thomas Babington Macaulay established a system of western education in India and played a major role in making English language a medium of instruction in India’s higher education system. His main aim was to construct a group of elite english speaking Indians who would help the British to rule over the natives more efficiently. However this idea boomeranged and the Indians who were exposed to western education became more informed about European ideas of democracy, liberalism and rationality.

A group of people like Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji became the face in the freedom struggle of India and pioneers of modern education in India. They instilled in the masses a sense of nationalism and national consciousness which later influenced the Indian struggle for independence. With the Western education the orthodoxy and superstitions of the older system of education could be identified. With the ideas of democracy, liberty and rationality the educated Indians began building up India with such outlooks to free the country from the British rule.

Note: Famous thinkers like J.S Mill, John Locke, Rousseau influenced the growth of national consciousness in India. Western education helped the Indians to communicate easily with the British. It became easier to understand the tactics the rulers were using against them and make the masses aware to fight the national movement for the cause of their freedom.