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An Analytical Study on the Education System in Murshidabad District (India) during Colonial Rule (1787-1947)

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of History, Nagar College, Murshidabad, WB, India

Res. J. Language and Literature Sci., Volume 12, Issue (3), Pages 16-24, June,19 (2025)

Abstract

This study explores how the education system took shape in Murshidabad district during British colonial rule, spanning from 1787 to 1947. It follows the unfolding story of how schools and institutions were established, how colonial policies influenced local practices, and how education became a field of both control and opportunity. At the centre of this story are the local elites—Zamindars, Philanthropists, and social reformers—who played a key role in expanding access to education. They often had to walk a fine line, working within the framework of colonial policies while also trying to serve the needs of their communities. This study also uncovers the persistent inequalities of the time, especially those tied to religion and gender, which shaped who had access to learning and who was left out. Seen through this perspective, the history of colonial education in rural Bengal emerges as a complex mix of advancement and exclusion—a legacy marked by both meaningful progress and enduring barriers.

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