Analysis of Position of Educational Status in Haryana before Independence

INTRODUCTION

By Manu, the lawgiver in Indian mythology designated Haryana as Brahmavart from where the Brahmanical religion and social system grew up and spread outwards to the rest of the country. In a sense, therefore, one can say that much of the Hindu religion and society was formed on the flat, dry plains of the present-day Haryana. Haryana takes the pride of place in the evolution of Indian history. Right from the time of Mahabharata, where a large part of the epic took place in what is now called Haryana. Kurukshetra was the land where the greatest battle between right and wrong took place. And it is interesting that right through history, Haryana has been a battleground for many battles. Haryana though among the younger states of India has a glorious past. It has been a land of profound mythological and historical significance where the Hindu civilization flowered through the ages. Though modern Haryana came into existence about forty eight years ago, its history and culture go back to the ancient times, the time when civilization developed in this country. It stands for the cradle of Vedic culture in the true sense of the word. The region inspired one of the greatest of philosophical thoughts in the form of the Bhagwadgita. After the great uprising of 1857, the administrative division of Delhi and Hissar (Haryana region) were detached from North- Western provinces and incorporated into Punjab, adding six more districts. Thanesar and Sirsa districts were however, broken up in 1862 and 1884 respectively. The position remained so up to 1947, the year of the partition of Punjab. In 1956, The Patiala and East Punjab states union (Pepsu) was merged with the Punjab. The state of Punjab had 20 administrative districts and a population of 203,06812 before its reorganization on Nov. 1, 1966.The state (latitude 270 39‘ to 30055‘5‖ North and longitude74027‘8‖ to 77.36.5‖ East) comprises a part of the Indo Gangetic plain. It is one of the North-Western states of India adjoining Delhi, the capital of the country. The total area of the state is 4421km (represents provisional geographical area figures) which is inhabited by 12,922,618 persons as per 1981 census.On November 1, 1966 the state of Haryana came into existence as a result of the reorganization of the bilingual state of Punjab on linguistic basis. Hindi speaking district of Hissar, Rohtak, Gurugram, Karnal , Mohindergarh, Narwana and Jind tehsils of Sangrur district, Ambala, Jagadhri and Narayangarh Tehsils of Ambala district and the Pinjore Kanungo circle of Kharar tehsil of Ambala district were included in the newlycreated state.

Education is the most potent tool for socio economic and political transformation. Education

the ancient times, but unfortunately, owing to its typical location, it could not retain the tradition. When the British came to Haryana in 1803 the position of education was far from satisfactory even in towns. The history of education of this period is divided into three sub-periods. i. 1800 - 1857 (under the East India Company rule ) ii. 1858 - 1900 (under the Crown)

It can be said that the slow development in education greatly affected the progress of the region in various fields. Even the total expenditure on education was very low. The condition of education in Haryana by 1901 was far from satisfactory. The major factors responsible for the backwardness were as follows. Haryana was economically poor which witnessed drought or famine every three third or fourth year. The government had administrative apathy towards the people of Haryana. The private institutions also did not play any effective role here in this field and there was social in difference towards education.

Source: Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provisional Series 1908

1903 04.

The condition of education in Haryana by 1901 was far from satisfactory. The major factors responsible for the backwardness were as follows. Haryana was economically poor which witnessed drought or famine every three third or fourth year. The government had administrative apathy towards the people of Haryana. The private institutions also did not play any effective role here in this field and there was social in difference towards education. By the end of the First World War (1914-18) the government became serious regarding primary education by passing the Punjab Primary Education Act, 1919. In the district Rohtak alone there came up 271 schools for boys and one for girls. 92 Many primary schools were raised to the middle standard and one to the high school standard. Two dozen high schools were started in the region. To satisfy the needs of the people in the field of higher education the government started an intermediate college at Rohtak in May 1927. After the Second World War (1939-45) the government opened some more primary and middle schools and almost every big village of note was given a high school. Besides, a number ofreligious and cast organizations also played quite a good role in providing the people with educational facilities of these all, Arya Samaj did the most useful work by founding a number of schools and Gurukulas, and it also opened one college each at Ambala and Hissar. The Sanatan Dharm Sabha followed it and started a number of high schools and a college at Ambala. The Jat Mahasabha started a high school and a college at Rohtak, theYadav Mahasabha similarly founded a high school and a college at Rewari, the Vaishyas opened schools and colleges at Bhiwani and Rohtak. At Bohar (district Rohtak) an Ayurvedic institute was started by the Head of the Asthal at that place Yet the percentage of illiteracy was very high, the quality of education in the primary middle and high schools was very poor, the facile ties for colleges and higher education wereinadequate, and the study of medical science, engineering, agriculture, and other professional subjects was

Haryana is one of the fastest growing States of India and has become a hub of education. Before independence, it was a part of Punjab state. In ancient times, education was provided in Gurukulas which are also exists even long after the independence of India. There was a time in the beginning of 19th century when education facilities were far from satisfactory. In Haryana where peasants lived in a great majority, the number of schools was very less. There were many reasons for the educational backwardness of Haryana. It can be said that partly the Government and partly the people, especially the villagers were responsible for such a dismal situation regarding education. It was only the preaching of social reform movements like Arya Samaj, Indian National Congress, Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Jat Mahasabha, the Vaishyas Smaj which made a number of middle class persons especially in towns to send their wards to schools. The schools were found only in big towns and there too, the position was not good. It was not in a better position before independence. It played a unique role in social upliftment and national movement. But it has certainly laid the foundation for the upcoming generation after the Independent India.

Anupam Arya: Religion and Politics in India. Ranjit Singh: Haryana ke Arya Samajka Itihas. K. C. Yadav (1968). Haryana Studies in History and Culture, Kurukshetra, pp. 103-104. K.C. Yadav and K.S. Arya: Arya Samaj and Freedom movement (1875-1918). K.C. Yadav Modern Haryana: History and Culture (1803-1966). Dharamdev Vidarthi: Arya Samajka Itihas Vishesh Sandarbh Haryana. S.C. Sharma: Punjab the Crucial Decade. Punjab Administrative Report (1917-1918). Nonica Dutta: Forming And Identity- A social History of the Jat. Suresh Kumar Sharma: Haryana Past and Present. G.S. Chhabra: Advanced History of Punjab.

M.A History (NET), Rohtak, Haryana