AN ANALYSIS OF THE 19TH CENTURY EDUCATIONAL REFORMS OF THE SUBCONTINENT THROUGH THE POSTCOLONIAL LENS

Abstract

The paper has re-examined development in the context of the 19th century India. The 19th century is the era denoted by the establishment of the British Empire, and the decline of the Mughal Empire in the Subcontinent.  Moreover, during the 19th century various educational reforms, such as Macaulay Minutes were implemented, for the progression of the Indian Society. However several studies noted that the educational reforms were a colonial tool to maintain the domination of the British colonial regime. And the notions such as developed/civilized English and underdevelopment/uncivilized Subcontinent facilitated the implementation of reforms on one hand and on the other it helped to sustain the British rule. Moreover, during British Raj, large number of Muslim communities showed concerns regarding the modern educational reforms. And since modern education became a prerequisite for development; consequently various surveys and reports showed that Muslims are behind; both economically and intellectually. In addition the study has provided various lessons from the 19th development vision for the post-colonial nations, through the post-colonial ideas of Homi K Bhabh including mimicry, ambivalence and hybridity.

Keywords: Mimicry, Ambivalence, Hybridity, Development, Homi. K. Bhabha, Educational Reforms.