Political and Social Mobilisation for Eduction for All: The Indian Experience Country Papers

Abstract

From Historical Perspective: Colonial education was highly elitist and was therefore irrelevant to the needs of the masses. Educational efforts were more often directed towards developing an educated aristocracy that would provide a strong support base for sustaining the British rule in India. Ironically, it was because some, amongst these same ‘enlightened’ Indians, noticed that the British had introduced free and compulsory education in their country, that the demand for the same arose in India. This demand was later articulated by the nationalists who realised the political importance of educating the masses in order to overthrow the colonial regime. Gopal Krishan Gokhale, noted freedom fighter, was one of the first to emphasise the need for mass education.