Educational Institutions in British India
During the colonial period, educational institutions in India emerged from three main sources:
- Colonial Government Initiatives — set up to serve administrative needs (training law officers, civil servants, etc.).
- Indian Reformers and Philanthropists — aimed at modern, scientific, or women’s education.
- Nationalist Initiatives — to resist colonial cultural dominance and build self-reliant education.
Colonial Government-Led Institutions
- Calcutta Madrassa (1781) – Warren Hastings established it to train Indians in Muslim law for functioning in the Company’s judicial system.
- Sanskrit College, Varanasi (1791) – Jonathan Duncan for Hindu philosophy and law.
- College of Fort William (1800) – Lord Wellesley to train civil service recruits in Indian languages and administration.
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) – Founded at Pusa in 1905 (grant by Henry Phipps, foundation laid 1904 by Lord Curzon) for agricultural science.
- Shifted to Delhi in 1936 after an earthquake.
Oriental and Scholarly Promotion
- Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784) – Founded by William Jones to promote Oriental studies, research in Indian history, languages, and culture.
Indian Reformers’ Institutions
- Hindu College, Calcutta (1817) – David Hare; a landmark in promoting modern Western education among Indians.
- English School (1817) – Raja Rammohun Roy; promoting secular, modern learning.
- Vedanta College (1825) – Raja Rammohun Roy; blending Indian philosophical traditions with modern science.
- School at Bhide Wada, Pune (1848) – Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule; India’s first girls’ school, also aimed at oppressed castes.
- Bethune School, Calcutta (1849) – John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune; pioneering institution for women’s education.
- Hindu Mahila Vidyalaya, Calcutta (1873) – Annette Akroyd; provided girls the same rigorous education as boys.
Nationalist Institutions
- Bengal National College (1906) – Satish Chandra Mukherjee and nationalists; part of the Swadeshi movement. Sri Aurobindo was first principal.
- Deccan Education Society (1884) – Founded by Lokmanya Tilak, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, G. G. Agarkar, M. B. Namjoshi, Vaman Apte.
- Managed the New English School (started 1880).
- Founded Fergusson College (1885) — associated with leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Dhondo Keshav Karve.
- Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj served as president (1885–1922).
Quick Memorisation Table for UPSC
| Institution | Year | Founder(s) | Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcutta Madrassa | 1781 | Warren Hastings | Teach Muslim laws |
| Asiatic Society of Bengal | 1784 | William Jones | Promote Oriental studies |
| Sanskrit College, Varanasi | 1791 | Jonathan Duncan | Study Hindu philosophy/laws |
| College of Fort William | 1800 | Lord Wellesley | Train civil service recruits |
| Hindu College, Calcutta | 1817 | David Hare | Promote modern education |
| English School | 1817 | Raja Rammohun Roy | Modern education |
| Vedanta College | 1825 | Raja Rammohun Roy | Blend Vedanta with modern science |
| School at Bhide Wada, Pune | 1848 | Jyotiba & Savitribai Phule | Girls’ education |
| Bethune School, Calcutta | 1849 | J.E.D. Bethune | Girls’ education |
| Hindu Mahila Vidyalaya, Calcutta | 1873 | Annette Akroyd | Girls’ education |
| New English School, Pune | 1880 | Tilak, Chiplunkar, Namjoshi | Affordable education |
| Deccan Education Society | 1884 | Tilak, Agarkar, Chiplunkar, others | Nationalist-led education |
| Fergusson College, Pune | 1885 | Deccan Education Society | Higher education, nationalism |
| Bengal National College | 1906 | Satish Chandra Mukherjee, others | Swadeshi/national education |
| Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Pusa Institute) | 1905 | Henry Phipps (grant), Lord Curzon (foundation) | Agricultural research |