Everybody reminisces about their college days. Most of the time, it’s about that one instructor who improved their lives and whose impression transcended the classroom partitions. Whether or not they made you stronger, gave you a stage to showcase your skills, or believed in you when nobody else did, they left a dent in your reminiscence.
Likewise, historical past has seen many Indian educationists who’ve introduced revolutionary change within the system by their work and formed the good Indians we all know at the moment.
Right here’s a glimpse of 9 such Indian educationists.
1. Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule
Trailblazers in woman baby proper to training, this husband-wife duo went on to open the primary college for women in India in 1848. Savitribai is credited with being the primary feminine instructor in India. The varsity made headlines when, on the very first day, 9 ladies from totally different social backgrounds enrolled, setting a precedent for the outstanding work the couple would go on to do.
Not taking a minute to relaxation on these laurels, the duo opened extra faculties in and round Pune between 1848 and 1852. They have been intent on guaranteeing that youngsters from Dalit communities be given desire at these faculties. Finally, evening faculties have been additionally established.
Together with training, the duo set their sights on marginalised communities in India and the welfare of pregnant widows. The latter have been cared for at a centre that Jyotirao opened in his own residence.
2. Fatima Sheikh
Whereas Jyotirao and Savitribai’s contributions to Indian training are broadly acclaimed, right here’s the story of the lady who performed a big position within the trigger. Fatima Sheikh was the primary Muslim lady instructor within the Indian subcontinent. Her position as a social reformer revolved round offering training to girls and kids uncared for by society.
She served as Savitribai’s proper hand, in keeping with biographer Reeta Ramamoorthy Gupta.
Fatima was Savitri’s adjutant and took over as headmistress of the college when Savitri was unwell or needed to go canvassing for extra ladies to attend college.
3. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi
An attention-grabbing anecdote that always accompanies the point out of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi — the final ruling queen of Travancore — is how she would invite college-going ladies to hitch her at her palace for tea. This incentive labored properly and pushed many younger ladies to pursue larger research, it’s mentioned.
Her endeavours to see girls attain the pinnacles of success didn’t cease there. Throughout her reign, she ensured that girls serving in native positions have been promoted to be a part of the federal government equipment. This enabled them to have a say within the coverage framework.
Intent on girls having a various curriculum to discover, in 1927, the monarch opened up the research of regulation to feminine college students and even ordered the Ladies’s School in Trivandrum to begin courses on historical past, pure science, languages, and arithmetic.
4. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s position because the second President of India (1962-1967) is well-known, however it’s his distinguished profession as an Indian educationist that we’re celebrating at the moment. His work has undoubtedly left an indelible impression on the nation’s academic and political panorama. In truth, Trainer’s Day commemorates his birthday and honours the contributions of academics to society.
He was a agency believer in the correct to training in India and that the rules of training are transformative instruments for society. Throughout his lifetime, Radhakrishnan served on numerous educational boards — the division of philosophy at Madras Presidency School (1909), as a professor of philosophy on the College of Mysore (1918) and as a professor of philosophy on the College of Calcutta (1921).
His lectures reached the daises of Harvard College, Oxford College, and Manchester School. In 1931, he was knighted by George V for his providers to training.
5. A P J Abdul Kalam
It’s not possible to recall the best educators of our occasions with out an ode to former President A P J Abdul Kalam, who left such an imprint on the Indian training panorama that his birthday, 15 October, is commemorated as World College students’ Day.
The multi-hyphenate’s profession noticed him play the position of a scientist, a frontrunner, a instructor, and an engineer. However his love for educating shone by all the opposite professions. He was so enthusiastic about it that he returned to educating after concluding his time period because the eleventh President of India.
Whether or not it was answering college students’ questions with wit and honesty, encouraging them to pursue their goals, or emphasising the significance of being grounded, Kalam was a instructor at his core.
He at all times emphasised, “For those who fail, by no means hand over as a result of F A I L means ‘First Try In Studying’. Finish isn’t the top; in truth, E N D means ‘Effort By no means Dies.’”
6. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gokhale’s accomplishment as the primary Indian to finish commencement is well-known. The liberty fighter isn’t applauded only for his educational prowess but in addition for imparting knowledge to others.
Following commencement, Gokhale moved to Pune, the place he labored at a college, adopted by a stint at Fergusson School, the place he taught historical past and political economic system.
He’s lauded for his diction and mastery of English at a time when not many have been fluent within the language. He introduced his ideologies in opposition to the British reign by public speeches and articles. Gokhale’s iconic profession was constructed upon serving Indians, no matter background by the faculties, libraries and courses began below his ‘Servants of India Society’ based in 1905.
He was a robust advocate for the correct to training and obligatory training and ready a invoice on 16 March, 1911, suggesting to the federal government that main training ought to be supplied to women and boys as much as the age group of 6 to 10.
7. Sarla Devi Chaudhurani
One of the vital well-known educationists, Chaudhurani was associated to the Tagore Household; her mother and father have been prolific writers. She is described by historical past as a feminist, an advocate for feminine training, a political activist, and a pioneer of the organisation ‘Bharat Stree Mahamandal’, which promoted feminine training.
Membership was open to any lady, no matter caste, race, or class, with an entry payment of only one rupee! Chaudhurani additionally began ‘Bharat Stree Shiksa Sadan’ – a college for women in Calcutta.
Pursuing larger research was inspired within the household and Chaudhurani was one of many few girls graduates of her time. She obtained the Padmavati Gold Medal for her excellence. Nevertheless, her prowess wasn’t restricted to educational topics. She was additionally fluent in Persian, French, and Sanskrit and excelled in literature, music, and humanities from a really early stage.
8. Madan Mohan Malviya
A outstanding educationist and social reformer, Madan Mohan Malaviya believed that training is the important thing to financial progress. He exemplified this by his work in the direction of propagating training and establishing institutes.
Malviya was instrumental in establishing the Banaras Hindu College (BHU), which prided itself on conventional Indian information methods, the place college students, no matter caste and background, may come collectively and be taught.
Following the establishing of Banaras Hindu College, Malviya introduced the institution of the ladies’s faculty of the College in 1929. He was agency in his resolve to empower girls utilizing training as a instrument and noticed girls as influencers of future generations. His efforts led to revolutionary adjustments in training.
9. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
Hossain was born at a time when the view round girls in training was conservative. Whereas Hossain’s brothers have been inspired to review, Hossain and her sister weren’t. However regardless of these setbacks, she wasn’t prepared to surrender simply but.
Believing that Muslim girls — who have been being uncared for on the time — may very well be empowered by training and financial independence, Hossain began a college for Muslim ladies at Bhagalpur with solely 5 college students in 1909.
When she moved to Calcutta she arrange Sakhawat Memorial Ladies’ College in a home in 1911 with eight college students. In 1931, the college was upgraded to Excessive English Ladies’ College. Although conscious of the backlash that awaited her, Hossain wasn’t one to be deterred.
She fought the percentages to encourage Muslim ladies to attend college, persuading mother and father that training was good for women and even arranging horse carriages for them to be ferried to and from college whereas they noticed purdah (a non secular observe of screening girls from strangers).
Edited by Khushi Arora
Sources
The forgotten story of Fatima Sheikh, Savitribai Phule’s buddy who helped arrange India’s first ladies’ college in Pune by Devanshi Srivastava, Revealed on 11 January 2024.
Sarala Devi Chaudhurani: Founder Of India’s First Ladies’s Organisation by Nazo Shinwari, Revealed on 7 November 2017.
