Pre-Independence Educational Scenario

Chapter Summary

Before independence, education in Rajasthan evolved from the traditional religious-based system to a modern system influenced by the British. The indigenous system comprised Pathshalas, Maktabs, and Upasaras. Modern education began in 1819 in Ajmer and gradually spread to princely states like Alwar, Bharatpur, and Jaipur. Key developments included the establishment of Mayo College for the nobility and the rise of women's education institutions.

Indigenous Education (Deshi Shiksha)

• Institutions:
  • Hindus: Pathshala and Chatshala (Primary); Math and Sthal (Higher). Teachers were called Guru or Joshi.
  • Jains: Upasara (strongest centers of learning). Teachers were called Yati or Bhattarak.
  • Muslims: Maktab (Primary); Madrasa (Higher). Teachers were called Maulvi or Ulema.
• Curriculum: Focused on arithmetic (Pahade, accounting/Bahi-khata) and languages (Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian). Arithmetic used the Mahajani (Vaniyawati) script.

Development of Modern Education

• 1819: First modern schools opened in Ajmer, Pushkar, Bhinay, and Kekri (closed in 1831 due to local opposition).
• 1835: English was declared the official language.
• 1836: First Government School opened in Ajmer.
• Princely States:
  • Alwar (1842): First state to open a modern school under Maharaja Bannay Singh.
  • Bharatpur (1844): Maharaja Balwant Singh opened a school; it was the first to adopt a modern examination system.
  • Jaipur (1844): A school was started in the Madan Mohan Temple.
• Mayo College (1875): Established in Ajmer for the education of the royal and noble families, based on the plan of AGG Walter and Lord Mayo.

Women's Education

• 1861: First Girls' Vernacular School established in Nasirabad by missionaries.
• 1866: First Government Girls' School opened in Pushkar (Ajmer-Merwara).
• 1866 (Jaipur): Maharaja Ram Singh opened a girls' school on the advice of Kanti Chandra Mukherjee.
• Banasthali Vidyapith (1935): Founded by Hiralal Shastri, famous for its "Panchmukhi Shiksha" (Five-fold education: Physical, Practical, Aesthetic, Moral, Intellectual).

Administrative Milestones

• 1929: Establishment of the Board of High School and Intermediate Education in Ajmer.
• 1947 (January): Establishment of the University of Rajputana (now University of Rajasthan) in Jaipur.