The foregoing analysis explodes the myth, lies and distortion perpetuated by the 19th century British Indologists about the education system and Indian civilization in general prior to the British rule. Analysis based on the British records of the early 19th century reveals that education was very widely diffused amongst all strata of the Indian society. It also establishes that the literacy rate in the pre-British India was probably high in the region of 70-80 percent. Besides, the quality of education, both in schools and colleges, was of very high standard. In comparison, most people in Britain were illiterate till the 18th century, considering the small number of schools in existence and the quality of education was far below the level of the Indian education.
Conclusion: Education, like food, is local need. It cannot be universalized, and cannot ignore local values and morals. Current education, be it in English or vernacular, severely lacks local method of imparting knowledge and mere feed information to naive minds at superficial level.
Solution: Revive local and private education. Free education from state’s control. Introduce law drafts for it.
Hi marut,
You didn’t attach reference to the “accounts” you are quoting from.