Evaluate how changes in education influenced the emergence of Indian nationalism

Before the advent of the British, India had Gurukul, Pathshalas, Maqtabs and Madrasas as the educational institutes. English education was introduced in India with the aim that Indian people would work as obedient subjects of the British.

Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan, Aurobindo Ghosh was convinced that knowledge of western education would enable the countrymen to get rid of the social evils and religious superstitions. Gradually, the middle-class people attained education on western lines and understood that in order to bring a feeling of nationalism and unity among the people they would have to imbibe the western ideas of democracy, freedom , liberty. Being influenced by the ideas and methods of the political work of the western leaders and reformers some of the English- educated middle class integrated the Indian people into a modern nation. The modern education system helped the nationalist leader from different linguistic regions to come to the same page linguistically. They used English as a common language for communicating with reformers of the other parts of the country. They were able to isolate the Brahmanical culture and rise above it in order to bring the common masses together.

Although for their own gains the British introduced various reforms in education as Woods dispatch, Hunter commission, Saddler’s commission etc, but they all proved to spread education among the Indian youth who were driven by the feeling of nationalism. So these educational reforms helped more in the spreading of nationalism rather than helping the British in retaining their rule for a longer time.