Logo

Dimdima

Online Children's Magazine from India

Dimdima, Indian online Children's Magazine for Education, Learning, Fun, Knowledge and Sports.
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
  • dimdima
Menu

English Education

English Education: The High Road to Freedom


1857 witnessed two great events which greatly influenced the course of history in this country: the outbreak of the Great Revolt and the founding of universities at Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai. If the Great Revolt marked the end of one phase of the struggle for Independence, the birth of universities marked the beginning of another because those who came out of these universities, picked up the torch of freedom lit in 1857.
The birth of the three universities in 1857 marked the consolidation of Western education introduced at the beginning of the century. The young Indian minds were exposed to English education at a time when the English language and literature were enriched by the slogans and ideas of liberty and equality thrown up in the wake of the American Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution. It is significant that the first English school in Calcutta was started in 1800 barely a decade after the French Revolution.
Raja Rammohan Roy who strongly advocated the introduction of English education dreamt of "India speaking English" and "India possibly independent."
Macaulay who championed the cause of English education in India, in his spirited speech in the House of Commons said: "Having become instructed in European language, they may, in some future age, demand European institutions. Whenever it comes, it will be the proudest day in English history."
On 7th March 1835 William Bentinck the governor-general announced the education policy: "The great object of the British Government ought to be the promotion of European literature and science among the natives of India; and all the funds appropriated for the purpose of education should be employed on English education alone."
It was in pursuance of this policy that A.O. Hume had opened hundreds of schools in Etawah District of the United Provinces. While Hume, like other Englishmen, had fought Indians to put down the 1857 revolt, he was determined to give them education which would one day empower them to rule themselves.

Lover of Liberty

The ship carrying Raja Rammohan Roy to England, in 1830 had to put in at the Cape of Good Hope where a French ship was also anchored.
The Raja though ailing and in pain asked to be taken aboard the French vessel. The French received him warmly and were touched when he saluted their Flag of Liberty shouting: "Glory, glory, glory to France!"



Return Ticket

Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay worked hard to promote education in his presidency. Lt. Gen. Briggs who visited his camp one day saw in his tent a pile of Marathi books. When Briggs asked what the books were for, Elphinstone 
replied, "To educate the natives." Then he added with a grin, "But it is our high road back to Europe."

Intellectual Apathy

By 1857 there were hundreds of Indians educated in English and some of them had begun to organise themselves to fight for their rights.
Bengali intellectuals had already put forth the demand for Indianisation of the civil services and Indian representation in the British parliament. They had, by and large, accepted the fact of British rule and indeed, found merit in it.
So the great uprising of 1857 caught them unprepared and they were not at all inclined to support it. Three decades earlier Raja Rammohan Roy had said: "India requires many more years of English domination so that she might not have many things to lose while she is reclaiming her political independence."
What the Raja did not want India to lose were the ideals of liberty, patriotism and nationalism which were yet to take firm root in the Indian mind. Some people in 1857 might have felt the same way as the Raja did. Whatever the reason for the apathy of the educated class, it was one of the ironies of history that those who fought the British in 1857 had never heard of the principles of liberty and equality while those who were inspired by these lofty ideals were either not ready or willing to take on the British and watched disinterestedly from the sidelines.

Our Logo

Dimdima is the Sanskrit word for ‘drumbeat’. In olden days, victory in battle was heralded by the beat of drums or any important news to be conveyed to the people used to be accompanied with drumbeats.

Dimdima.com

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
K. M Munshi Marg,
Chowpatty, Mumbai - 400 007
email : editor@dimdima.com

Dimdima Magazine

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
505, Sane Guruji Marg,
Tardeo, Mumbai - 400 034
email : promo@dimdima.com

About

Dimdima.com, the Children's Website of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan launched in 2000 and came out with a Printed version of Dimdima Magazine in 2004. At present the Printed Version have more than 35,000 subscribers from India and Abroad.

Terms of Use | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Testimonials | Feedback | About Us | Link to Us | Links | Advertise with Us |
Copyright © 2021 dimdima.com. All Rights Reserved.