Get here the summary, questions, answers, textbook solutions, extras, and pdf of Chapter 5 “Alternative Ideas and Initiatives (From mid-19th Century to the Early 20th Century): Characteristics and Observations” of the West Bengal Board (WBBSE) Class 10 (Madhyamik) History (Social Science) textbook. However, the given notes/solutions should only be used for references and should be modified/changed according to needs.
Summary
The Indian press played a significant role in advancing the Indian nationalist cause. James Augustus Hicky established the first Indian newspaper. The first Bengali monthly, Digdarshan, was published by the Serampore Missionary. Samachar Darpan, edited by JC Marshman, first appeared in print in 1818. It was also a time when several other newspapers appeared. A few examples are “Sambad Kaumudi,” “Samachar Chandrika,” “Sambad Prabhakar,” “Jnananweshan,” “Sambad Bhaskar,” “Saptahik Bartabaha,” etc. Publication in these newspapers aided in the dissemination of information and awareness. The majority of Indians in the 18th and 19th centuries were unable to read or write.
The printing of books made it simple to share knowledge with others. Baptist Mission Press began publishing books in Bengali and other regional languages. Lord Wellesley established Fort William College in 1800 to educate and train young Indian civilian recruits. Forerunner of the printing industry, Upendrakishore Raychowdhury. His innovative approach to printing books and photographs in black and white in addition to colour has made him famous in India and beyond. He established one of the premier publishing houses in 1913 in the North Calcutta neighbourhood of Garpar. There are a number of halftone block-related methods he developed. During this time, scientists also conducted studies in a variety of disciplines.
Nationalists at the century’s end believed that the existing educational system was inadequate, so they created the “National Educational Institution” to better serve the populace’s academic requirements. With this end in mind, the “National Council of Education” was established to establish a comprehensive national educational system. The ‘Society for Promotion of Technical Education in Bengal’ was founded by a different group of educators with the aim of increasing access to technical training for the general public.
Rabindranath’s ashramic school in Santiniketan was the physical manifestation of his educational ideals. Because Rabindranath didn’t like having his students cooped up inside a building, classes at Santiniketan were held under the open sky. Students engaged in a range of artistic pursuits and community service projects to foster their personal and spiritual growth. At “Visva Bharati,” Rabindranath aimed to bring together and unite different cultural traditions from the East and West. For him, this is where “the foundation of the relationship in which awaits dissemination all over the world will be established here.” can be laid. While discussing the institution’s goals and objectives, he stated that he had been so moved by the pressing need and weighty responsibility of the situation that he had established the groundwork for an International University dedicated to fostering understanding between Asia and the Western world.
Textual (Oriental)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where was the first Printing Press invented ?
(a) Europe
(b) USA
(c) Asia
(d) Australia
Answer: (a) Europe
2. Which was the first Indian newspaper printed in a press ?
(a) Indian League
(B) Bengal Gazette
(c) Contemporary Kamalakar
(d) Englishman
Answer: (B) Bengal Gazette
3. When was the ‘Indian Association for the cultivation of Science’ established ?
(a) 1818 AD
(B) 1850 AD
(c) 1876 AD
(d) 1880 AD.
Answer: (c) 1876 AD
4. The number of research papers of Jagadish Chandra Basu was—
(a) 128
(b) 100
(c) 126
(d) 127
Answer: 128
5. The first principal of Bengal National School and College was
(a) Jagadish Chandra Bose
(b) Prafulla Chandra Ray
(c) Meghnad Saha
(d) Arabinda Ghosh
Answer: Arabinda Ghosh
Say ‘true’ or ‘false’
1. William Carey was the author of the book ‘Raja Pratapaditya’
Answer: False
2. The use of first Bengalee press was started in 1764.
Answer: False
3. The object of Visvabharati was to synthesise the culture of East and West.
Answer: True
4. The study of science in Bengalee was initiated by the ‘School of Theoretical Science’.
Answer: False
Assertion and Reason
Choose suitable explanations for the following statements given against each.
1. Statement: ‘With grief, it came upon my mind that in order to bring up the children, a machine has been made which is called ‘school’, human education cannot be achieved through this. (Rabindranath Tagore)
Explanation:
(i) Rabindranath started to think how the children could be freed from the clutches of colonial education system.
(ii) Rabindranath did not have any faith in the colonial educational system.
(iii) Rabindranath believed that within the boundaries of four walls, there could not be development of consciousness among the children.
Answer: (iii) Rabindranath believed that within the boundaries of four walls, there could not be development of consciousness among the children.
2. Statement: In the literary and cultural world of Bengal, nay, the whole of India, a land mark event was the establishment and development of Printing press.
Explanation:
(i) As a result of the development of printing press, a large number of books could be printed with a short time, thereby the literary works could reach a large number of common man.
(ii) As a result of the invention of printing press books in many languages could be printed.
(iii) As a result of the invention of printing press there was a resaissance in the literary world.
Answer: (i) As a result of the development of printing press, a large number of books could be printed with a short time, thereby the literary works could reach a large number of common man.
Fill up the Blanks
1. Fort William College was established by_____
Answer: Lord Wellesly
2. The National Educational Society (Jatiya Siksha Parishad) was established in_____
Answer: 1906
3. Rabindranath was influenced from his childhood in_____
Answer: Upanishad
4. In 1778 who was appointed the manager of the printing press of the company_____
Answer: Charles Wilkin
Match column A with column B
1.
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Fort William College | (i) In the beginning of 19th Century |
| (ii) Newspaper in English and Bengali | (ii) 1906 AD |
| (iii) Bengal Technical Institute | (iii) 1901 AD |
| (iv) Santiniketan Asram Vidyalay | (iv) 1800 AD |
Answer:
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Fort William College | (iv) 1800 AD |
| (ii) Newspaper in English and Bengali | (i) In the beginning of 19th Century |
| (iii) Bengal Technical Institute | (ii) 1906 AD |
| (iv) Santiniketan Asram Vidyalay | (iii) 1901 AD |
2.
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Inventor of Printing Press | (i) Indira Debi Choudhurani |
| (ii) James Augustus | (ii) William Carey |
| (iii) Professor of Fort William College | (iii) Gutenburg |
| (iv) Vice Chancellor of Visva Bharati | (iv) Bengal Gazette |
Answer:
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Inventor of Printing Press | (iii) Gutenburg |
| (ii) James Augustus | (iv) Bengal Gazette |
| (iii) Professor of Fort William College | (ii) William Carey |
| (iv) Vice Chancellor of Visva Bharati | (i) Indira Debi Choudhurani |
Very short answer-type questions
1. When was the first printing press come to use in India?
Answer: Hicky set up his printing press in 1780.
2. Why was Panchanan and Monohar become famous?
Answer: Under the supervision of English typographer Charles Wilkins, Panchanan Karmakar created the first Bengali typeface for printing. The provided document does not contain information about Monohar.
3. When was the first Bengali Grammar edited by Carey printed?
Answer: A Grammar of the Bengali Language, compiled by Carey, was published in 1801.
4. What was the name of first Bengali newspaper?
Answer: It is admitted on all hands now that the Bangal Gazette is the first weekly newspaper published in 1818 in Bengali language.
5. Name one of the most renowned Bengali Scientist.
Answer: Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose was one of the most renowned Bengali scientists.
6. Who was the first principal of Bengal Technical Institute?
Answer: The first principal of the Bengal Technical Institute was Pramatha Nath Bose.
7. Who was the first vice-chancellor of Visva Bharati University?
Answer: After Visva-Bharati was granted the status of a central university by an Act of Parliament in May 1951, Rathindranath Tagore, the son of Rabindranath Tagore, became its first Vice-Chancellor (Upacharya).
8. In which year was the fortnightly science journal first published and what was its name?
Answer: The fortnightly science journal first published was in 1926. It’s called the Indian Journal of Physics.
9. What was the result of Bengal, nay India, coming in contact with western education?
Answer: Coming in contact with Western education and culture facilitated the assimilation of Eastern and Western cultures in this country. It also led some educated enlightened Indians and a small number of professional people to feel the need for books; the introduction of printing text books catered to the needs of the people, and printed books became a medium for the dissemination of knowledge. Furthermore, the educated Bengalee middle class desired that they should also be at the forefront of scientific knowledge and discoveries. For some, like Rabindranath, Western education led him to discover the national heritage and appreciation of the cultural legacy of the country’s great past.
Short answer-type questions
1. According to Rabindranath, what was the objective of real education?
Answer: According to Rabindranath, the fundamental purpose of education was not merely to enrich ourselves through the fullness of knowledge, but also to establish bond of love and friendship between man and man. His objective was to strike harmony amongst man, nature and god. Rabindranath felt that for the students it is necessary to learn to live in harmony with environment. He used to say that true education consisted in knowing the use of any useful material that had been collected and to know its real nature. The goal of education was to synthesize knowledge and feeling.
2. What were the names of translaters of Bengali Mahabharata and Ramayana?
Answer: The most renowned translator of the Mahabharata into Bengali is Kashiram Das, who lived in the 17th century. For the Ramayana, the most famous Bengali translation is by Krittibas Ojha, dating back to the 15th century. These are considered classic works in Bengali literature, although other translations also exist.
3. In which year was the Baptist Mission Press of Serampore closed and why?
Answer: The Baptist Mission Press at Serampore did not have a single, abrupt closure date in the way a modern business might shut down. Its operations significantly declined, particularly after the deaths of the founding missionaries William Carey, Joshua Marshman, and William Ward. The formal partnership of the Serampore Mission dissolved around 1837 due to financial difficulties and disagreements with the Baptist Missionary Society in Britain.
4. In which languages were the Bible translated at the behest of Baptist Christian Missionaries?
Answer: At the behest of Baptist Christian Missionaries like William Carey, who translated almost the entire Bible in Bengali, the Serampore Mission Press printed and published the Bible translated into forty Indian languages. Christian scripture was translated into vernacular languages of India.
5. Who first started using printing press in South Asia and when?
Answer: The first use of the printing press in South Asia occurred in Goa, India, in 1556. A printing press, initially intended for missionary work in Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia), was diverted to Goa due to changing circumstances. There, it was installed at the Jesuit-run Saint Paul’s College in Old Goa. João de Bustamante, a Spanish printer, along with his Indian assistant, established and operated the press. The first known publication from this press was Conclusiones Philosophicas, printed in the same year.
6. When was the Science College in Calcutta established under calcutta University?
Answer: The Science College, also known as the University College of Science and Technology or the Rajabazar Science College, one of the four campuses of the University of Calcutta, was founded in 1914 by the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, Sri Asutosh Mukherjee.
7. Where did Scientist C.V. Raman conducted his scientific research?
Answer: C.V. Raman conducted his scientific research primarily at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
8. Write notes on: National Education Council.
Answer: In 1904, Lord Curzon by the University Act of 1904 infringed upon the autonomy of the University of Calcutta, giving rise to tremendous dissatisfaction. The nationalists of contemporary Bengal thought of establishing an education system over which the Indians would have the full control. The idea of the National Education was mooted out in a meeting on 10 December 1905. A committee was set up to finalize the scheme for a National Council of Education. The objective in setting up the institution was to challenge the British rule over education and to offer education to the masses on ‘national lines and under national control’. The curriculum drawn up was for a three-year primary, seven-year secondary and four year collegiate course, including literary and scientific education with some amount of technical training. A split occurred in the National Council due to differing opinions on the method of instruction; the majority wanted a three-dimensional instruction (literary-scientific-technical), while a minority group favoured technical education with a sprinkling of science teaching.
9. In which year and who wrote Vidyakalpadruma?
Answer: Vidyakalpadruma, also known as Encyclopædia Bengalensis, was written by Krishna Mohan Banerjee and published in 1846-1851.
10. Who established ‘Basu Vigyan Mandir’ and why?
Answer: Basu Bigyan Mandir, also known as the Bose Institute, was founded in 1917 by Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose pioneered modern scientific research in India, and the Bose Institute was the first to introduce the concept of inter-disciplinary research in India.
11. When was established Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical works and Indian Chemical Society? Who set up these two institutions?
Answer: Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works was established on April 12, 1901 and the Indian Chemical Society was founded on May 9, 1924.
These two institutions were set up by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray.
Analytical type
1. Write about the role of printing press in journalism.
Answer: The printing press played a significant role in the development of journalism in Bengal. It first occurred in the mind of Mr. James Augustus Hicky that ‘great benefit might arise from setting on foot a public newspaper in the country, (Bengal)’. Hicky set up his printing press in 1780 and brought out the first English language newspaper of India, Hicky’s Bengal Gazette. This press was established when society’s state was low, and Hicky faced prosecutions as his paper exposed many scandals, leading to its closure in 1782. Despite this, Hicky is considered the pioneer of the Indian press. Following Hicky’s newspaper, a host of others like The India Gazette, The Calcutta Gazette, The Bengal Hurkaru, and The Calcutta Courier followed in quick succession. The first weekly newspaper published in 1818 in the Bengali language was the Bangal Gazette. The Samachar Darpan, under John Clark Marshman, and later the Sambad Prabhakar, edited by Iswarchandra Gupta (the first vernacular daily run by Indians, starting daily publication in 1839), marked the maturing of the Indian press. These independent papers published criticisms and exposures which aroused anger and fear among the rulers like Cornwallis, Wellesley, and Minto, leading to measures like Wellesley’s rigid press censorship in 1799 and the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, which deprived vernacular newspapers of the right to criticize the government. However, the publication of Bengali periodicals and newspapers also helped in the dissemination of general knowledge and information amongst the natives, which was seen to ‘must lead to beneficial effects’.
2. What was the contribution of Upendra Kishore Ray Chaudhury in the establishment of printing Industry in Bengal.
Answer: Upendrakishor Roy Choudhury, also known as Upendrakishor Roy, made significant contributions to the printing industry in Bengal. He was a famous writer, painter, technician, and composer. As a painter, he pioneered the art of engraving in the country and was the first to attempt colour printing when these techniques were still developing in the West. He introduced the art of modern block-making not only in India but in the whole region of South Asia. Finding illustrations in his book Chheleder Ramayana very poor, he was encouraged to learn modern technology in block-making, importing books, chemicals, and equipment from Britain. After mastering the technique, Upendrakishor successfully introduced modern block-making, including half-tone and colour blocks. In 1895, he started a business of block-making. Although he initially got his books printed by other printers, in 1913, Upendrakishor set up his own modern printing press named U. RAY & SONS in the Garpar area of North Calcutta. This press was suggested by one opinion to be probably the finest press in contemporary South Asia. His technical articles on block-making, published in the Penrose Annual Volumes from Britain, demonstrate the depth of knowledge he had acquired in printing technology.
3. Write about the introduction of Culture and study of science in Bengal.
Answer: The introduction and study of culture and science in Bengal saw significant developments, particularly from the 19th century onwards. The educated Bengalee middle class desired to be at the forefront of scientific knowledge and discoveries. This led to the establishment of India’s first non-official scientific research institution, the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), in 1876 by Dr. Mahendralal Sircar, encouraged by Father Eugene Lafont. IACS became a leading scientific research centre, hosting illustrious teachers like Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and C. V. Raman (Nobel Prize winner, 1930).
Systematic education in Western medicine began with the founding of Calcutta Medical College in 1835, the first institution of its kind in India, training native youths according to the European model. Madhusudan Gupta was the first person to dissect a corpse there.
Furthering scientific education, the University College of Science and Technology (Calcutta Science College or Rajabazar Science College), officially known as Rashbehari Siksha Prangan, was founded in 1914 by Sri Asutosh Mukherjee without aid from the colonial government, thanks to generous donations from Sri Rashbehari Ghosh and Sri Taraknath Palit. Its first teachers included Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy and C. V. Raman, and the legendary 1915 M.Sc. batch included Satyendranath Bose and Meghnad Saha.
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose founded the Basu Bigyan Mandir (Bose Institute) in 1917, a research institute pioneering modern scientific and inter-disciplinary research in India.
Culturally, the Baptist Mission Press, founded in Serampore in 1800, printed and published textbooks, religious books, and other works in vernacular languages and English, including translations from English to Bengali, facilitating the assimilation of Eastern and Western cultures. The development of printing, including Battala publications using wood-cuts and lithographs, contributed to the literary and cultural world. Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva-Bharati, founded in 1921, was developed as a centre of Indian culture, aiming to promote mutual understanding between East and West by studying Indian philosophy, literature, art, and music.
4. How did Rabindranath Tagore criticized against Colonial education.
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore critiqued colonial education on several points. He observed that in the colonial system, the emphasis was on imparting education through the medium of English. Since English is very different from Bengali, he felt that English words could hardly evoke any impression in the mind of the learner. Consequently, the child found no joy in learning, could not think for himself, and simply used to memorize a lifeless vocabulary. Tagore believed that under the colonial system, education was delinked from the child’s living world and did not touch the core of his life. He realized that the quality of life did not change under this system of learning. He criticized the lack of focus on feeling, stating that “neither the education of the senses nor the education of the intellect, but the education of the feeling should receive the place of honor in our schools”. He lamented the mechanical nature of schooling, expressing grief that “in order to bring up the children, a machine has been made which is called ‘school’, human education cannot be achieved through this.” He insisted on the need for simultaneous learning of ideas as well as linguistic skill, which he felt was missing in the colonial approach.
5. Write notes on: Bengal Technical Institute.
Answer: The Bengal Technical Institute emerged from a split within the National Council of Education regarding the method of instruction. A minority group, favouring technical education with a sprinkling of science teaching over a broader literary-scientific-technical curriculum, set up a separate institution. This rival institute was named the Society for Promotion of Technical Education in Bengal (SPTE), established in the house of Taraknath Palit with his financial support. It was the SPTE that founded The Bengal Technical Institute on 25 July 1906. The objective of the institute was to spread technical education among the masses in West Bengal. However, by 1910, there was a merger of the two rival institutes, and The Bengal Technical Institute came under the National Council of Education. Later, in the post-Independence period, the National Council of Education was converted into Jadavpur University with full autonomy through the Jadavpur University Act (1955).
6. Write about the role of Journals and newspapers in the study of science.
Answer: The provided text indicates a specific instance where journals played a role related to scientific knowledge dissemination. Upendrakishor Roy Choudhury’s technical articles about block-making were published in the Penrose Annual Volumes, which were published from Britain. These articles serve as ample proof of the depth of knowledge he had acquired in printing technology, a technical field. While the text mentions various newspapers and periodicals contributing to the spread of general knowledge and political discourse, and highlights institutions dedicated to scientific education and research, it does not elaborate broadly on the role of journals and newspapers specifically in the study of science beyond this example concerning Upendrakishor’s technical articles.
Explanatory questions
1. How did the printing press flourish in Bengal?
Answer: The printing press began to flourish in Bengal starting with Mr. James Augustus Hicky, who set up his press in 1780 and published the first English language newspaper of India, Hicky’s Bengal Gazette. Before this, A Grammar of the Bengali Language by Halhed was printed and published in 1778, becoming the first ever printed book in Bengali. Following Hicky’s initiative, a host of other newspapers like The India Gazette, The Calcutta Gazette, The Bengal Hurkaru, and The Calcutta Courier emerged in the last two decades of the eighteenth century.
Christian missionaries played a significant role; Andrews established a printing press at Hughli. To print Halhed’s grammar, a Bangla type was needed, leading Panchanan Karmakar, under the supervision of English typographer Charles Wilkins, to create the first Bengali typeface. Ganga Kishore Bhattacharya, a versatile writer, editor, printer, and publisher, is credited with publishing the first Bengali newspaper, Bengal Gazetti (also referred to as Bangal Gazette), which was the first weekly newspaper published in 1818 in the Bengali language, although there is some disagreement, with others crediting the Samachar Darpan under John Clark Marshman. The missionaries of Serampore, through the Serampore Mission Press founded in 1800, significantly contributed by publishing both English and Bengali journals and books, including the first New Testament in Bengali (1801) and the Bible translated into forty Indian languages. William Carey, associated with this mission, also compiled A Grammar of the Bengali Language (1801). The Baptist Mission Press, also founded in 1800 in Serampore, printed and published textbooks, religious books, and other works in vernacular languages and English, including translations, facilitating cultural assimilation. This press also supplied books to the students of Fort William College, founded in the same year.
The Battala area in North Calcutta became a hub for printing and publication in the 19th century. Battala printers enriched printing by imitating European technology of wood-cuts and lithographs to decorate books. The press also became a commercial venture. The first Bengalee to establish a press in Calcutta was Baboo-Ram, followed by Gangakishore Bhattacharya, who saw printing as a means of acquiring wealth. Technological advancements like the Linotype Bengali typeface, designed by Dr. Fiona Ross in 1982, made composing and printing Bengali text faster. Upendrakishor Roy Choudhury further advanced the industry by introducing modern block-making, including half-tone and colour blocks, starting a business in 1895, and establishing his own modern printing press, U. RAY & SONS, in 1913. The publication of Bengali periodicals and newspapers like Bangal Gazetti was recognized early on for its potential to diffuse general knowledge and information, leading to beneficial effects and helping the spread of education by providing needed study materials for the educated middle class.
2. How did William Carey play a vital role in setting up printing press in Bengal?
Answer: William Carey played a vital role in the field of printing in Bengal primarily through his association with the Serampore Mission. In his mission to translate Christian scripture into vernacular languages, Carey translated almost the entire Bible into Bengali. He brought with him an old press machinery and set up the Serampore Mission Press, which was in operation in 1801. This press published the first New Testament in Bengali in 1801 and went on to print and publish the Bible translated into forty Indian languages, contributing significantly to the growth of numerous Indian languages. Carey also compiled A Grammar of the Bengali Language, which was published by the Serampore Mission Press in 1801 and was a most significant contribution to the development of the Bengali language. The Baptist Mission Press, founded in Serampore in 1800, with which Carey was associated, also printed and published textbooks, religious books, and other works, and supplied books to Fort William College.
3. How did Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy played important parts in the development of Scientific Study in Bengal?
Answer: Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy played important parts in the development of scientific study in Bengal. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose was an illustrious teacher at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), India’s first non-official scientific research institution. He pioneered modern scientific research in India and, in 1917, founded the Bose Institute (Basu Bigyan Mandir), a research institute providing facilities for research in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Physiology, and Environmental Science. The Bose Institute was the first to introduce the concept of inter-disciplinary research in India. Jagadish Chandra Bose was also the first principal of the Bengal National School and College.
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy was a notable teacher included in the first batch of teachers at the Calcutta Science College (officially Rashbehari Siksha Prangan, also known as Rajabazar Science College), which was founded in 1914. This institution played a key role in advancing scientific education and research in Bengal. Both figures contributed significantly to fostering a scientific environment and nurturing future generations of scientists in Bengal.
4. Write notes on: Institutional Scientific Study and Bose Science Institute.
Answer: Institutional Scientific Study in Bengal: In Bengal, the British government experimented with various technologies they had imported. The educated Bengalee middle class also desired that they should be at the forefront of scientific knowledge and discoveries. It was in this background that the first non-official (non-government) scientific research institution, the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), came to be established in 1876. It was Mahendralal Sircar, a doctor, who thought of doing something about the future of the country, feeling that teaching institutions like Calcutta Medical College and Presidency College could hardly offer facilities for original investigations. Dr Sircar was encouraged by Father Eugene Lafont and helped by leading educationists and prominent citizens of Calcutta with counsel and financial aid. With the foundation of the IACS began the scientific movement in the country under Indian initiative. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and C. V. Raman were two illustrious teachers of the IACS, which today is one of the leading scientific research centres of the country.
The University College of Science and Technology, also known as the Rajabazar Science College or officially as the Rashbehari Siksha Prangan, was founded in 1914 by the legendary Sri Asutosh Mukherjee, the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. The Science College was founded without any aid from the colonial British government in India, made possible due to the generous donation of about thirty-seven and half lacs of rupees made by Sri Rashbehari Ghosh and Sri Taraknath Palit together. The Rajabazar Science College has been officially named Rashbehari Siksha Prangan in memory of Sri Rashbehari Ghosh. The first batch of teachers included Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy and Sir Chandra Sekhar Venkata Raman (C. V. Raman). These institutions were crucial for imparting scientific education and fostering research.
Bose Science Institute: Basu Bigyan Mandir, also known as the Bose Institute, is a research institute. The institute provides facilities for researches in various subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Physiology, Environmental Science and many others. In 1917 the institute was founded by Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose who pioneered the modern scientific research in India. Also, the Bose Institute was the first to introduce the concept of inter-disciplinary research in India. Presently the Institute has three campuses. The main campus, however, is situated at the former residence of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, near the Science College, Kolkata.
5. How did Rabindranath Tagore protest against colonial education?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore criticized colonial education primarily because of its medium and methods. In the colonial system, the emphasis was on imparting education through the medium of English. English is very different from Bengali, and to Rabindranath, the English words could hardly evoke any impression in the mind of the learner. He felt that the child found no joy in learning under this system, could not think for himself, and simply used to memorize a lifeless vocabulary.
Furthermore, he believed that under the colonial system, education was delinked from the child’s living world and did not touch the core of his life. It was the realization of Rabindranath Tagore that the quality of life did not change under the colonial system of learning through the medium of English. He insisted on the simultaneous learning of ideas as well as linguistic skill.
Tagore elaborated that the fundamental purpose of education was not “…merely to enrich ourselves through the fullness of knowledge…” but also to establish a bond of love and friendship between man and man. He felt that true education, specifically “the education of the feeling,” should receive the place of honor in schools and that this true education is possible only “in the forest, through intimate contact with nature and purifying austere pursuits.” He expressed his grief, stating, ‘With grief, it came upon my mind that in order to bring up the children, a machine has been made which is called ‘school’, human education cannot be achieved through this.’ He believed that within the boundaries of four walls, there could not be development of consciousness among the children, indicating his lack of faith in the colonial educational system and his desire to free children from its clutches.
6. What was the role of Santiniketan in the spread of education?
Answer: Santiniketan, founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901 initially as Brahmacharyasram, played a significant role in the spread of education by offering an alternative model based on ancient Indian traditions and Tagore’s own educational philosophy. The school was established following the model of the ancient (Vedic period) forest schools in India.
Its aims were central to its educational role:
(i) To ensure that the students are taught the importance of Indian heritage.
(ii) To give it a universal humanist outlook.
(iii) To provide all round development of the students.
Santiniketan promoted a unique approach where students had no fixed curriculum and were expected to grow through their own experiences. The goal of education was to ‘synthesize knowledge and feeling’. It emphasized creative learning encouraged only within a natural environment, where living in harmony with nature would enable children to cultivate their natural creativity.
Santiniketan eventually grew into Visva-Bharati, ‘a widely branching tree’, an international university aimed at promoting mutual understanding between the East and the West. It invited students from different parts of the world to study Indian philosophy, literature, art, and music. In essence, Santiniketan, and later Visva-Bharati, served as a centre for holistic education rooted in Indian culture while fostering a universal outlook, thereby contributing significantly to the spread and redefinition of education.
7. Write about the contributions of Visva Bharati and Rabindranath Tagore.
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore made significant contributions to education by founding his own school at Santiniketan in 1901. This school, initially called Brahmacharyasram, was established following the model of ancient Vedic period forest schools. Tagore’s idea was to create an environment where education was in harmony with nature, moving away from the rigid colonial system. The aims were to teach the importance of Indian heritage, foster a universal humanist outlook, and provide all-round development by synthesizing knowledge and feeling through experience. He believed education should establish a bond of love and friendship between man and man, and strike harmony amongst man, nature, and god.
Santiniketan was envisioned by Rabindranath as a ‘sapling’ which was to grow into Visva-Bharati, ‘a widely branching tree’. Rabindranath travelled widely and felt strongly that harmony and mutual understanding between the East and West were essential. With this end in view, Rabindranath built up Visva-Bharati, founded in 1921. He explained that its aim and function was to form the nucleus of an international university for promoting mutual understanding between the East and the West.
Visva-Bharati’s contribution was to invite students from the West and the East to study the different systems of Indian philosophy, literature, art, and music. Rabindranath made it clear that the objective was ‘not merely to enrich ourselves through the fullness of knowledge’, but to establish bond of love and friendship between man and man. The object of Visvabharati was to synthesise the culture of East and West. Thus, Visva-Bharati, under Tagore’s vision, developed as a centre of Indian culture and international understanding. Until independence, it was a college, and soon after independence, Visva-Bharati was given the status of a university and renamed Visva-Bharati University.
8. Very briefly write about the development of printing press in Bengal. What were the results of development of Printing Press? Write about the Bengal Gazette. The Revolt of 1857 gave a stunning blow to the Indian Press-How?
Answer: Development of Printing Press in Bengal: The development of the printing press in Bengal began in the late 18th century. It first occurred in the mind of Mr. James Augustus Hicky, who set up his printing press in 1780 and, in the same year, brought out the first English language newspaper of India, known as Hicky’s Bengal Gazette. Prior to this, A Grammar of the Bengali Language, written by Nathaniel Brassey Halhed, was printed and published in 1778, marking the first ever printed book in Bengali. To print this grammar, a Bangla type was needed, and under the supervision of English typographer Charles Wilkins, Panchanan Karmakar created the first Bengali typeface.
Ganga Kishore Bhattacharya, a versatile writer, editor, printer, and publisher, is credited with publishing the first Bengali newspaper, the Bangal Gazette (a weekly), in 1818. The missionaries of Serampore also played a significant role, establishing a press in 1800 and publishing journals and books in both English and Bengali, including William Carey’s Grammar of the Bengali Language (1801) and Bible translations into forty Indian languages. The Serampore Mission Press developed into the biggest type-foundry in contemporary Asia.
The first Bengalee to establish a press in Calcutta was Baboo-Ram, followed by Gangakishore Bhattacharya. In the 19th century, Battala publications in North Calcutta enriched printing by imitating European wood-cuts and lithographs. The Sambad Prabhakar, edited by Iswarchandra Gupta, became the first vernacular daily run by Indians in 1839. Later, Upendrakishor Roy Choudhury spearheaded further advancements by introducing modern block-making, including half-tone and colour blocks, and establishing the U. RAY & SONS press in 1913.
Results of Development of Printing Press: The development of the printing press had several significant results. It greatly helped the spread of education, as the middle class who were being educated needed study materials, and the printing press fulfilled this demand by producing books much faster than manual copying. Previously, a copyist could produce at best two books a year. Printing, along with constant proofreading and correction, helped produce exact copies of manuscripts, making fuller knowledge possible, whereas hand-copied manuscripts were sometimes unreadable.
The publication of Bengali periodicals and newspapers, like the Bangal Gazetti, helped the dissemination of general knowledge and information amongst the natives, which was seen as leading to ‘beneficial effects’. Printed textbooks of all sorts, including English and vernacular grammars and elementary books, catered to the needs of the people and became a medium for the dissemination of knowledge. The press facilitated a renaissance in the literary and cultural world of Bengal and India, as a large number of books could be printed quickly, allowing literary works to reach a large number of common people. The press also played a role in journalism and was utilized by some, like Gangakishore Bhattacharya, for social reform and as a commercial venture for acquiring wealth.
The Bengal Gazette: There is some disagreement among scholars regarding the first Bengali newspaper. While some credit Samachar Darpan (edited by John Clark Marshman), it is now generally admitted that the Bangal Gazette was the first weekly newspaper published in 1818 in the Bengali language. It was published by Gangakishore Bhattacharya. The appearance of this Bengali periodical was noted by the contemporary English newspaper, the Oriental Star (16 May 1818), which commented that the diffusion of general knowledge and information amongst the natives through such publications ‘must lead to beneficial effects’. (Note: This refers to the Bengali newspaper Bangal Gazette of 1818, not Hicky’s English Bengal Gazette of 1780).
The Revolt of 1857 and the Indian Press: The Revolt of 1857 gave a stunning blow to the Indian press in general. Following the revolt, the government introduced the repressive Act of 1857. Lord Canning, in implementing this act, made no distinction between publications in Indian vernacular languages and English. As a result, many Indian papers, such as the Samachar Sudhabarshan, were charged before the Supreme Court with publishing seditious articles, indicating a period of increased censorship and pressure on the press.
9. Describe how the publication of Bengali Periodicals and Newspapers helped discrimination of knowledge. What were the initiatives taken by Upendrakishore Roy chowdhury?
Answer: How the publication of Bengali periodicals and newspapers helped dissemination of knowledge may be understood from the comment made in the Oriental Star (16 May 1818) on the occasion of the appearance of the Bengali periodical Bangal Gazetti. It was said that the diffusion of general knowledge and information amongst the natives ‘must lead to beneficial effects’.
Upendrakishor Roy Choudhury alias Upendrakishor Roy was a famous writer, painter, technician and a composer at the one and the same time. As a painter Upendrakishor pioneered the art of engraving in the country. Also he was the first to attempt colour printing. He began all this at a time when engraving and colour printing had been developing in the Western countries. Upendrakishor was the man who first introduced the art of modern block-making not only in India but in the whole region of South Asia. Upendrakishor learnt the process of block making in stages. While reproducing some illustrations using woodcut line blocks in his book Chheleder Ramayana Upendrakishor found that these were very poor. This encouraged him to learn modern technology in block-making. In his endeavour to learn the modern technique Upendrakishor imported books, chemicals and other equipments necessary in block-making from Britain. After attaining mastery over the technique Upendrakishor successfully introduced modern block-making, including half-tone and colour blocks. In 1895 he started a business of block-making. Simultaneously, Upendrakishor went on publishing books though he did not personally have any printing machine. He used to get the books printed from other printers. In 1913, however, Upendrakishor was able to set up a modern printing press. The press was named U. RAY & SONS, and was located at Garpar area of North Calcutta (near present Manicktola). One opinion suggested that the printing press set up by Upendrakishor was probably the finest press in the contemporary South Asia. His technical articles about block-making were published in the Penrose Annual Volumes published from Britain.
10. 19th Century was a turning part in the history of cultivation of Science how ? Write about the contribution of Mahendralal Sircar, a doctor, and Acharya J.C. Bose and C.V. Raman.
Answer: Nineteenth century was a turning point in the history of the cultivation of scientific knowledge in Bengal. Bengal being the seat of the British government in India various sorts of activities of the British had its beginning in Bengal. In Bengal the British experimented with various technologies that they had imported. The educated Bengalee middle class also desired that they should also be at the forefront of scientific knowledge and discoveries. It was in this background that the first non-official scientific research institution, the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science came to be established in 1876.
It was Mahendralal Sircar who was a doctor, thought of doing something about the future of the country. The Calcutta Medical College and the Presidency College were basically teaching institutions. These could hardly offer facilities for conducting original investigations in science by the advanced students. Dr Sircar thought that for the country to make progress it was necessary for the students to take up science in a big way. Dr. Sircar was encouraged in this idea by Father Eugene Lafont who was also in favour of promoting research and instructions in science in the country. Leading educationists and prominent citizens of Calcutta also came forward in this venture. These people not only helped Dr. Sircar with counsel but offered financial help so that an institution could be set up. It was in this manner that India’s first non-official (non-government) scientific research institution, the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) came into being. With the foundation of the IACS began the scientific movement in the country under Indian initiative.
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and C. V. Raman were two illustrious teachers of the IACS. Today IACS is one of the leading scientific research centres of the country. C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. In 1917 the Bose Institute was founded by Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose who pioneered the modern scientific research in India. Also the Bose Institute was the first to introduce the concept of inter-disciplinary research in India.
11. Write about the development of Technical Education in Bengal. Write about the National Council of Education. Write about the establishment of The Bengal Technical Institute
Answer: Towards the end of the nineteenth century the educationists of Bengal became conscious about the defects of the education system introduced by the colonial government in India. Amongst other things it was felt that for the progress of the country it was necessary to inculcate technical-scientific knowledge. In this context the role of the National Council of Education and the Bengal Technical Institute may be studied.
National Council of Education: In 1904, immediate before the beginning of the anti-Partition agitation in full swing, Lord Curzon by the University Act of 1904 infringed upon the autonomy of the University of Calcutta. This gave rise to tremendous dissatisfaction in the literary circle of Bengal. The nationalists of contemporary Bengal thought of establishing an education system over which the Indians would have the full control. Indeed, with the development of national consciousness the demand was raised for a national control over country’s own education. The idea behind was that a people’s education must be in the hands of the people concerned. The idea of the National Education was mooted out in a meeting on 10 December 1905 held at Park Street attended by the luminaries of Bengal including Rabindranath Tagore. To finalize the scheme for a National Council of Education a committee was set up. The objective in setting up the institution was to challenge the British rule over education. Besides, the institution was to offer education to the masses on ‘national lines and under national control’. The curriculum drawn up for a three-year primary, seven-year secondary and four year collegiate course. Literary and scientific education was with some amount of technical training. A split in the National Council became inevitable when there developed two different opinions regarding the method of instruction. The majority members wanted a three-dimensional instruction – literary-scientific-technical. The minority group thought that this was too ambitious a scheme. They were in favour of technical education with a sprinkling of science teaching.
The Bengal Technical Institute: The two groups fell apart with the minority group setting up a separate institution of its own. The rival institute was named Society for Promotion of Technical Education in Bengal (SPTE). The SPTE was set up in the house of Taraknath Palit with financial support from him. It was the SPTE that founded The Bengal Technical Institute on 25 July 1906. The objective was to spread technical education among the masses in West Bengal. However, by 1910 the there was a merger of the two rival institutes. The Bengal Technical Institute came under the National Council of Education. In the post-Independence period by the enactment of the Jadavpur University Act (1955) the National Council of Education was converted into Jadavpur University with full autonomy.
12. How was the education of Santiniketan under Rabindranath ?
Answer: Rabindranath founded his own school based on his ideas of education at Santiniketan in 1901. The school was established following the model of the ancient (Vedic period) forest schools in India. The idea that impelled him to start the school has been wonderfully expressed in a letter written by Rabindranath to Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose. He wrote that the school that he was trying to start would be conducted just on the lines of residential institutions of ancient times. Further, he expressed that “There shall not be the least trace of luxury. We shall not be able to become true Hindu if we do not learn rigid Brahmacharya (italics mine). Frivolity and luxury are degenerating to us. Wants of all descriptions are over-powering as only because we are failing to accept poverty with equanimity” (Sabuj Patra Vol. II : p30). Santiniketan school, called Brahmacharyasram was inaugurated on 22 December 1901. It was started on a small scale. The aims were : To ensure that the students are taught the importance of Indian heritage. To give it a universal humanist outlook. To provide all round development of the students. The students had no fixed curriculum. They were expected to grow through their own experiences. The goal of education was to ‘synthesize knowledge and feeling’. Tagore felt that for the students it is necessary to learn to live in harmony with environment. He used to say that true education consisted in knowing the use of any useful material that had been collected and to know its real nature. Elaborating the concept of education Tagore said: “…..neither the education of the senses nor the education of the intellect, but the education of the feeling should receive the place of honor in our schools…..our true education is possible only in the forest, through intimate contact with nature and purifying austere pursuits”. In Rabindranath’s idea of education teachers had to be imaginative. The teachers should understand the child, and help the child to develop curiosity in them. Tagore further felt that the creative learning could be encouraged only within natural environment. Living in harmony with nature, children would be able to cultivate their natural creativity.
In the words of Rabindranath Santiniketan was a ‘sapling’ which was to grow into Visva Bharati, ‘a widely branching tree’. Rabindranath travelled widely in Europe and met different people. He strongly felt that harmony and mutual understanding between the two cultures – East and West was essential for mutual benefit. With this end in view Rabindranath built up an educational institution in the form of Visva-Bharati. By way of explaining the aim and function of the Visva-Bharati Rabindranath said that being strongly impressed by the need and responsibility he had formed the nucleus of an international university for promoting mutual understanding between the East and the West. The institution, he said, would invite students from the West and the East to study the different systems of Indian philosophy, literature, art and music. Besides, Rabindranath made it clear that the objective of the institution was ‘not merely to enrich ourselves through the fullness of knowledge’, but to establish bond of love and friendship between man and man. In a word, Rabindranath’s objective was to strike harmony amongst man, nature and god. It is evident from what had been said by Rabindranath that the Visva-Bharati was developed as a centre of Indian culture. Visva-Bharati was founded in 1921. Until independence it was a college. Soon after independence Visva-Bharati was given the status of a university and renamed Visva-Bharati University.
Extras
Multiple choice questions (MCQs)
1. Who conceived the idea of establishing a printing press in Bengal?
A. James Augustus Hicky
B. Gangakishore Bhattacharyya
C. Charles Wilkins
D. Baboo-Ram
Answer: A. James Augustus Hicky
49. What was the ultimate objective of Visva Bharati as envisioned by Rabindranath Tagore?
A. Cultural wealth
B. Mutual understanding
C. Industrial growth
D. Political power
Answer: B. Mutual understanding
Questions and Answer
1. When was Hicky’s printing press set up in Bengal?
Answer: Hicky set up his printing press in 1780.
27. Describe the role played by the printing press as a commercial venture in Bengal, focusing on technological advancements.
Answer: The first Bengalee who established press in Calcutta was Baboo-Ram. He was followed by Gangakishore Bhattacharya who was an employee (compositor) of the Srerampore Mission Press. Gangakishore Bhattacharya was the first who conceived the idea of printing in the current language as a means of acquiring wealth; that is to say, he used the printing machine as a means of acquiring wealth.
Technological advancements significantly impacted printing. The typeface – Linotype Bengali was designed by Dr. Fiona Ross in 1982. The use of linotype made printing of Bengali matters, be it newspaper or book, faster. With the help of the linotype machine, a complete line could be composed in one go. This was a definite improvement in printing technology because, instead of composing a line by joining separate fonts together to form a line, now a complete line could be composed in one go.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
Get notes of other boards, classes, and subjects