Question

How did English education play an important role in the rise of Indian nationalism?

Hint:

English education acted as both a unifying factor and a source of revolutionary political thought, helping Indians develop a modern outlook and demand freedom.

Answer 1

English education introduced by the British in the 19th century was initially meant to produce clerks and administrators loyal to the colonial regime. However, it unintentionally became a key factor in the rise of Indian nationalism. Through English education, Indians came into contact with the works of European philosophers, revolutionaries, and political thinkers such as Rousseau, Voltaire, and John Stuart Mill. These writings inspired Indians with ideas of democracy, nationalism, and freedom. It also enabled educated Indians from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds to communicate in a common language, fostering unity. Newspapers, journals, and political pamphlets in English and vernacular languages spread nationalist awareness further. English education created a generation of leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and later Gandhi and Nehru, who used these ideas to mobilize the masses. Thus, while intended for colonial purposes, English education laid the foundation for the national awakening of India.