Teaching For The Workforce: Industrial Schools And Educational Methods In Colonial India (1850s-1940s)

Abstract

This research paper delves into the dynamics of technical and industrial education during colonial India, analyzing the pivotal role of imperial objectives as the driving force behind its implementation. The primary aims, including the expansion of British capital and the reinforcement of support for Britain's wartime endeavors, underpin the strategic focus on industrial education within the colonial educational framework. The paper scrutinizes how these imperial ambitions shaped the curricular emphasis and institutional priorities, leading to the proliferation of technical education programs. Additionally, the paper examines the complex socio-cultural landscape, unraveling the caste-based anxieties sparked by the introduction of industrial education in India. It explores how the infusion of technical education disrupted existing societal hierarchies, eliciting concerns and tensions within caste-based communities. The intersection of colonial objectives and local anxieties is investigated, shedding light on the multifaceted implications of industrial education on both imperial agendas and indigenous social structures. This comprehensive analysis aims to offer a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between imperial motivations, socio-cultural anxieties, and the evolution of technical and industrial education in colonial India.