Q. Match the following:
1. William Jones
2. Rabindranath Tagore
3. Thomas Macaulay
4. Mahatma Gandhi
5. Pathshalas
A. promotion of English education
B. respect for ancient cultures
C. gurus
D. learning in a natural environment
E. critical of English education
Options:
A). 1–C, 2–B, 3–D, 4–A, 5–E
B). 1–B, 2–D, 3–A, 4–E, 5–C
C). 1–D, 2–B, 3–E, 4–C, 5–A
D). 1–C, 2–E, 3–B, 4–A, 5–D
Answer: B). 1–B, 2–D, 3–A, 4–E, 5–C
Q. Match the following correctly:
1. Linguist
2. Orientalists
3. Munshi
4. Vernacular
A. Scholars who studied Asian culture, languages, and texts
B. A person who knows and studies several languages
C. Local or regional language spoken by common people
D. A person who can read, write and teach Persian
Options:
A). 1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C
B). 1–A, 2–B, 3–C, 4–D
C). 1–C, 2–D, 3–A, 4–B
D). 1–D, 2–C, 3–B, 4–A
Answer: A). 1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C
Q. Orientalists believed that the best way to understand Indian society was through the study of
A). English literature
B). Ancient Indian texts
C). Western science
D). Modern law codes
Answer: B). Ancient Indian texts
Explanation: Orientalists emphasized Sanskrit, Persian, and ancient Indian scriptures as the key to understanding Indian culture.
Q. Which of the following is NOT an Orientalist?
A). William Jones
B). Henry Thomas Colebrooke
C). Nathaniel Halhed
D). James Mill
Answer: D). James Mill
Explanation: James Mill was not an Orientalist; he criticized Indian culture and supported the Anglicist view, unlike Orientalists who promoted the study of Indian classical texts.
Q. Who is the founder of the Asiatic Society?
A). James Mill
B). William Jones
C). Charles Wood
D). Thomas Macaulay
Answer: B). William Jones
Explanation: The Asiatic Society was founded by William Jones in 1784 to promote the study of Indian languages, history, and culture.
Q. Match the following institutions with the year they were set up:
1. Madrasa a). 1791 (Calcutta)
2. Hindu College b). 1972 (Benaras)
Options:
A). 1–b, 2–a
B). 1–a, 2–b
Answer: B). 1–a, 2–b
Q. Who among the following strongly attacked the Orientalists and their ideas?
A). William Jones
B). Warren Hastings
C). Thomas Babington Macaulay
D). Nathaniel Halhed
Answer: C). Thomas Babington Macaulay
Explanation: Thomas Macaulay criticized Orientalist education and argued for English-based education through his 1835 Minute.
Q. Macaulay’s Minute (1835) proposed
A). Promotion of Sanskrit colleges
B). Expansion of Persian education
C). Promotion of English education
D). Revival of traditional Indian schools
Answer: C). Promotion of English education
Explanation: Macaulay insisted that government resources should be used to promote English-based education.
Q. Macaulay stated that the books of Indian and Arabic learning were
A). Better than European books
B). Equal to Western science
C). Inferior to even a single shelf of European books
D). Unmatched in the world
Answer: C). Inferior to even a single shelf of European book
Explanation: Macaulay famously claimed that a single shelf of European literature outweighed the entire native literature of India and Arabia.
Q. Wood’s Despatch was sent to India in
A). 1813
B). 1835
C). 1854
D). 1882
Answer: C). 1854
Explanation: In 1854, the Charles Wood, Court of Directors of the East India Company in London sent an educational despatch to the governor-General of India.
Q. Wood’s Despatch recommended the establishment of
A). One university in India
B). Three universities at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras
C). Only a Sanskrit university
D). Only technical colleges
Answer: B). Three universities at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras
Explanation: It led to the opening of three universities in 1857 at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
Q. Wood’s Despatch recommended
A). Promotion of only Persian education
B). English as the medium of instruction
C). A departmental system of education
D). Closing all government schools
Answer: C). English as the medium of instruction
Q. William Adam’s report of the 1830s on local schools in Bengal and Bihar revealed that
A). There were almost no functioning village schools
B). A large number of indigenous schools were operating effectively
C). Only English-medium schools existed in rural areas
D). Education was fully funded by the British government
Answer: B). A large number of indigenous schools were operating effectively
Explanation: Adam found that over 1 lakh pathshalas in Bengal and Bihar.
Q. According to William Adam’s findings, teaching in indigenous schools was
A). Strictly based on fixed timetables and textbooks
B). Highly organized by the British administration
C). Flexible and adapted to local needs
D). Conducted only in English
Answer: C). Flexible and adapted to local needs
Explanation: Indigenous schools adjusted teaching methods according to the needs of students and agricultural seasons.
Q. A key insight from William Adam’s report was that indigenous schools
A). Were funded by the British
B). Charged high fees from students
C). Relied on community support and local patronage
D). Only taught religious scriptures
Answer: C). Flexible and adapted to local needs
Explanation: Many pathshalas survived through small community contributions and local support systems.
Q. How did the British improve the system of vernacular education in India?
A). By closing all local schools
B). By imposing routines, establishing rules ensuring regular inspections
C). By banning the use of Indian languages
D). By replacing all teachers with British officials
Answer: B). By imposing routines, establishing rules ensuring regular inspections
Q. Mahatma Gandhi viewed English education as
A). Essential for moral development
B). A means to strengthen Indian culture
C). A system that created a sense of inferiority among Indians
D). The best way to promote village industries
Answer: C). A system that created a sense of inferiority among Indians
Explanation: Gandhi believed English education made Indians feel inferior to Western culture and distanced them from their own traditions.
Q. Mahatma Gandhi believed true education should be
A). Completely English-based
B). Focused on rote learning
C). Rooted in Indian languages and crafts
D). Limited to the urban elite
Answer: C). Rooted in Indian languages and crafts
Explanation: Gandhi advocated for basic education in Indian languages and learning through productive crafts.
Q. According to Tagore, English-style schools
A). Encouraged outdoor learning
B). Restricted freedom and natural growth of children
C). Promoted Indian culture fully
D). Focused on holistic development
Answer: B). Restricted freedom and natural growth of children
Explanation: Tagore felt such schools confined children in classrooms and did not allow learning in natural surroundings.
Q. Rabindranath Tagore favoured an education system that
A). Emphasized strict discipline and exams
B). Followed colonial methods
C). Combined modern ideas with Indian traditions
D). Focused only on science and technology
Answer: C). Combined modern ideas with Indian traditions
Explanation: Tagore wanted a blend of modernity and Indian culture that encouraged free thinking.
Q. Tagore established Santiniketan to
A). Promote colonial education
B). Practice free, creative, and open learning
C). Prepare students only for government jobs
D). Train students in European military drills
Answer: B). Practice free, creative, and open learning
Explanation: Santiniketan was designed to allow children to learn freely in a natural environment.
Q. Shantiniketan was started by
A). Mahatma Gandhi
B). William Jones
C). Rabindranath Tagore
D). Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: C). Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Shantiniketan was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901, 100 km away from kolkata.