The British Colonial Invasion and Education in Madras: Innovation and Impact on Tamil Society, 1716-1941

This book seeks to understand the nature of British colonialism and nuances of education. It situates the schools, educational processes and Tamil culture between AD 500 and 1714 and significantly highlights the evolution of western education in Madras (1716-1828). It explores the functioning of the Tamil medium schools (1716-1846) and the textbooks in Tamil for schools which got printed in Madras, Palayamkottai and Nagercoil under the aegis of the English East India Company (1824-1857). The volume analyzes the growth of education under the British Crown through the primary schools and secondary schools (1858-1935) in Madras, compulsory school education introduced (1920-1941), opening up of the colleges at various places (1841-1937) besides aiming to providing higher education through universities created (1857-1940). The study also examines the steps taken by the British in educating the native zamindari minors (1894-1920) and lays emphasis on the establishment of the reformatory schools for delinquents (1887-1940) besides providing education to the deaf through founding schools (1895-1940). It reveals how illiteracy in Tamil country could not be constructively eradicated through modern and western education.

S. Jeyaseela Stephen is former directeur, Institut pour études Indo-Européennes (2013-2023). He was Professor of Maritime History (2001-2013) at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. He has authored numerous books on the maritime history of early modern India. His books have been translated into Chinese, Danish, German and Tamil. He is the recipient of the Best Book Prize of the Year 1999 from the Government of Tamil Nadu. He received the Thiru Vi. Ka Award of 2023 by the Government of Tamil Nadu.