Grave Errors of the East
1. What was the main criticism of Orientalist education by many British officials?
a) It was too complex and difficult to understand
b) It was full of errors and unscientific thought
c) It promoted Indian languages over English
d) It encouraged Indians to oppose British rule
2. Which British official was a strong critic of Orientalist education?
a) Warren Hastings
b) William Jones
c) Thomas Babington Macaulay
d) Henry Colebrooke
3. What did James Mill argue about British education in India?
a) It should focus on practical and scientific knowledge
b) It should preserve Indian traditions and customs
c) It should encourage the study of Persian and Sanskrit
d) It should be based on Indian religious texts
4. What did the critics of Orientalism believe about the purpose of education?
a) To teach Indians what they respected and valued
b) To focus on teaching science and technical advancements
c) To encourage poetry and sacred literature
d) To integrate both European and Oriental knowledge
5. What was one of the main arguments for promoting English over Indian languages?
a) Indian languages were not considered suitable for scientific and literary knowledge
b) Indian students preferred English
c) The British needed more translators
d) The East India Company funded Oriental institutions
Answers & Explanations
1. b) It was full of errors and unscientific thought – British officials criticized Eastern knowledge as lacking scientific value .
2. c) Thomas Babington Macaulay – He was one of the strongest critics of Orientalism .
3. a) It should focus on practical and scientific knowledge – James Mill wanted Indian education to be useful for administration .
4. b) To focus on teaching science and technical advancements – Critics of Orientalism argued that Indian students needed modern education .
5. a) Indian languages were not considered suitable for scientific and literary knowledge – Macaulay and others believed English was superior .
Education for Commerce
1. What was the purpose of Wood’s Despatch of 1854?
a) To promote Oriental learning in India
b) To introduce European education for economic benefits
c) To establish traditional Sanskrit and Persian schools
d) To make education free for all Indians
2. What was one of the economic benefits of European education, according to the British?
a) It would help Indians understand trade and commerce
b) It would allow Indians to resist British rule
c) It would eliminate the need for British officials in India
d) It would reduce the British government’s expenses
3. How did the British believe European education would affect Indian tastes and desires?
a) It would make them more interested in traditional Indian goods
b) It would encourage them to buy British-made products
c) It would make them reject Western culture
d) It would lead to a decline in demand for British products
4. What was the role of universities set up after 1854?
a) To train Indians for high administrative positions
b) To provide education primarily for British officers
c) To teach only Sanskrit and Persian
d) To spread missionary education in India
5. What major educational change occurred in 1857?
a) The introduction of compulsory primary education
b) The establishment of universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay
c) The closure of all Orientalist institutions
d) The adoption of Persian as the medium of instruction
Answers & Explanations
1. b) To introduce European education for economic benefits – The British wanted Indians to learn about trade and commerce .
2. a) It would help Indians understand trade and commerce – The British saw education as a tool to support their economic policies .
3. b) It would encourage them to buy British-made products – The British believed Western education would increase demand for their goods .
4. a) To train Indians for high administrative positions – Universities aimed to create a class of educated Indians for government work .
5. b) The establishment of universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay – These universities were part of Wood’s Despatch reforms .
What Happened to the Local Schools?
1. Who was asked to report on vernacular education in Bengal and Bihar in the 1830s?
a) William Jones
b) Charles Wood
c) William Adam
d) Henry Colebrooke
2. What was a major characteristic of local pathshalas before British reforms?
a) They had a fixed curriculum and structured examinations
b) They were flexible and adapted to local needs
c) They followed a strict government syllabus
d) They were funded by the British government
3. What was one of the British measures to reform vernacular education after 1854?
a) Introducing government-inspected schools with fixed routines
b) Encouraging oral learning over written texts
c) Allowing pathshalas to function independently
d) Closing down all traditional village schools
4. What was a negative consequence of British educational reforms on local pathshalas?
a) It made education more accessible to poor students
b) Many independent gurus lost their schools due to lack of funding
c) It encouraged rural education to flourish
d) It completely eliminated vernacular education
5. How did the new education system affect children from peasant families?
a) They could no longer attend school during harvest seasons
b) They received free education funded by the government
c) They were required to attend military training
d) They were encouraged to become British officials
Answers & Explanations
1. c) William Adam – He conducted a survey on local education in Bengal and Bihar .
2. b) They were flexible and adapted to local needs – Traditional pathshalas followed informal teaching methods .
3. a) Introducing government-inspected schools with fixed routines – The British imposed strict rules on vernacular education .
4. b) Many independent gurus lost their schools due to lack of funding – British policies made it difficult for traditional schools to survive .
5. a) They could no longer attend school during harvest seasons – The new system required regular attendance, which affected children from farming families .
