Colonial Education System in Jammu and Kashmir (1880-1947): A Historical Analysis

Abstract

The present research entitled covers the period from 1880–1947. The year 1880 has an important place in the history of Kashmir for it was the time when Christian missionaries systematically started their educational operation, heralding the dawn of modern education in Kashmir. Moreover, the British were also able to appoint their Resident in Kashmir, which changed the politics of Kashmir. Later, in 1889, the State Council took direct control over the state administration under the guidance of Resident. Thus, the British virtually took control with strong bearings on the educational system. During the heydays of colonial period, the princely state underwent significant changes, marked by the introduction of a colonial education system by British authorities. This educational transformation was emblematic of the broader colonial project aimed at reshaping societies and cultures under imperial interests. However, the impact and implications of this colonial education system in Jammu and Kashmir remain a subject of limited historical analysis and understanding. The problem at hand pertains to the need for a comprehensive historical study that investigates the multifaceted dimensions of the colonial education system in Jammu and Kashmir from 1880 to 1947. This period, covered in the study in hand, encompasses the late 19th-century colonial incursion into the region and extends up to the eve of India’s independence, during which time the educational landscape of Jammu and Kashmir underwent substantial evolution.