8th Social Science – Our Pasts lll – Chapter 6

Topics to study from the chapter and their summaries:

1. Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation: The British in India aimed to not only conquer territories but also to civilize and educate the Indian populace, sparking debates on how to achieve this goal.

2. How the British saw Education: Explores the British perspective on education in India and the evolution of educational ideas over the last two hundred years, including Indian reactions and the development of indigenous views.

3. The tradition of Orientalism: Discusses the arrival of William Jones in Calcutta, his linguistic expertise, and the establishment of the Asiatic Society of Bengal for the study and translation of ancient Indian texts.

4. Criticism of Orientalism: Highlights the critique of Orientalist learning by British officials in the early nineteenth century, advocating for practical education in science and technology over the study of Eastern literature and languages.

5. Thomas Babington Macaulay's Views: Macaulay's perspective on Indian education as uncivilized, advocating for the teaching of English to introduce Indians to Western literature, science, and philosophy for cultural transformation.

6. English Education Act of 1835: Introduces the decision to make English the medium of instruction for higher education, replacing Oriental institutions with English education and textbooks in schools.

7. Education for commerce: Describes the educational despatch sent to the Governor-General in India in 1854, focusing on the promotion of practical education for commercial purposes.

These topics and summaries provide a concise overview of the key points covered in the chapter for students to study and revise effectively.