NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 8:Civilising the "Native," Educating the Nation

This chapter focuses on civilisation, which is quite associated with the language and the mannerism one adopted. How the British saw education and why were certain changes introduced in the medium of education. The following points are a brief overview of the chapter:

• With the territorial expansion, there was a need to raise a class of people who could do the British's ground-level work. This required them to have adequate knowledge of English.
• Languages of everyday use and English – the language of the imperial masters gained prominence.
• Thomas Babington Macaulay proposed that teaching English could be a way of civilising people and changing their tastes, values, and culture.
• Wood's Despatch was of the opinion that European learning would improve the moral character of Indians, making them truthful and honest, and thus supply the Company with civil servants who could be trusted and depended upon.
• Mahatma Gandhi argues that literacy in itself is not education. He argued that education ought to develop a person's mind and soul.
• Rabindranath Tagore established the institution of education, which he called Shantiniketan, meaning an abode of peace, in 1901.
• Rabindranath Tagore wanted to combine modern Western civilisation elements with what he saw as the best within the Indian tradition. Tagore emphasised on the knowledge of science and technology at Santiniketan. He taught these, along with art, music, and dance.