Vol II Issue XI Dec 2012 Impact Factor : 0.2105 ISSN No : 2230-7850 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Monthly Multidisciplinary Research Journal Indian Streams Research Journal Executive Editor Editor-in-chief Ashok Yakkaldevi H.N.Jagtap IMPACT FACTOR : 0.2105 Welcome to ISRJ RNI MAHMUL/2011/38595 ISSN No.2230-7850 Indian Streams Research Journal is a multidisciplinary research journal, published monthly in English, Hindi & Marathi Language. All research papers submitted to the journal will be double - blind peer reviewed referred by members of the editorial Board readers will include investigator in universities, research institutes government and industry with research interest in the general subjects. 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Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore Arts, Science & Commerce College, Indapur, Pune S.Parvathi Devi S.KANNAN Ph.D.-University of Allahabad Ph.D , Annamalai University,TN Awadhesh Kumar Shirotriya Secretary, Play India Play (Trust),Meerut Sonal Singh Satish Kumar Kalhotra Address:-Ashok Yakkaldevi 258/34, Raviwar Peth, Solapur - 413 005 Maharashtra, India Cell : 9595 359 435, Ph No: 02172372010 Email: [email protected] Website: www.isrj.net Indian Streams Research Journal Volume 2, Issue.11,Dec. 2012 ISSN:-2230-7850 Available online at www.isrj.net ORIGINAL ARTICLE EDUCATION UNDER THE BRITISH RULE IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT – A STUDY C.LAWRANCE AND C.SELVARAJ Asst. Prof. of History, Alagappa Govt. Arts College, Karaikudi. Abstract: This paper attempts to examine the various reforms taken by the British during the time of their administration. The Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian Missionaries did meritorious service to Tirunelveli region in the field of education. Through education Socio-economic and political conditions of the people changed. These missionaries opened primary schools, Colleges, Schools for the blind, deaf, dumb and handicapped. Because of these effort most of the people were literate. The Christian missionaries helped to bringout a radical change in the field of Education which ultimately helped for the upliftment of rural and downtrodden people of this region. KEYWORDS : Tirunelveli, british rule, Tamilnadu, education INTRODUCTION:- The British took over the administration of Tirunelveli district in 1801. It marked an important transformation in the socio, economic, political and administration of the district through the education. The Roman Catholic, Protestant, Society for the Promoting Christian knowledge, the Society for the Propagation of Gospel, the Christian Missionary Society, the Brother Mission, Baptist Mission, missionaries established primary schools, primary health centre, colleges, schools for the blind, deaf and dumb, Industrial schools, orphanages in the rural areas of the district. Therefore the district could get higher status in the Society by their education. The district owes much to the Christian Missions for the overall upliftment of the people. The missionaries dedicated their lives for the welfare of the people. Father Beschi, Rev.James Hough, Rev.C.E.Rhenius, Miss.Giberne encouraged the female education. The Jesuit Fathers learned Tamil and wrote many books in Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit. Moreover they composed many dictionaries and Tamil vocabulary work were also produced. Rev.Caldwell, G.U.Pope, Rev.C.M.Thomas,Rev.Surgent had a perfect knowledge of Tamil and spoke it like a native. Since then the missions did their valuable services for the upliftment of the downtrodden people. TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT:- The district is an abode of different religions such as Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is the religion of the majority. The depressed people of the Hindu religion suffered many social restrictions imposed on them by the landlords and the people of upper caste. Hence they tended to convert to other religion preferably to Christianity. The christian missionaries helped to bring about a radical change and created an atmosphere in favour of religious and social reforms. In the mean time, the British established primary schools, and primary health centres in the rural areas of the district. From 1600 A.D onwards the Roman Catholic missions, Protestant missions, Church missionary society, London missionary society, Madurai missions and the society for the promotion of Christian knowledge missionaries established their Title:EDUCATION UNDER THE BRITISH RULE IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT – A STUDY Source:Indian Streams Research Journal [2230-7850] C.LAWRANCE AND C.SELVARAJ yr:2012 vol:2 iss:11 EDUCATION UNDER THE BRITISH RULE IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT – A STUDY missionary work through the missions. This congregational work stretched to Palayamkottai, Viravanallur, Kadayanallur, Kayathar, Tenkasi, Surandai, Pannikulam, Kamanayakkanpatti, Vadakkankulam, Kayalpattinam, Pettai, Sivalapperi, Tirukkalur and Kalakad. Certain communities like the Pallars, Paravtavas, Parayars and Nadars enjoyed no social equality. Hence they were easily converted to Christianity by the Christian missionaries. The missionaries not only converted them but also looked after them by providing education and other social welfare measures. The converts could get higher status in the society by their education. EDUCATION :- The western education in Tirunelveli District can be traced from the days of the Portuguese. The Roman Catholic Missionaries led by the Portuguese had influenced among the Paratava community people in Tirunelveli coastal area at the beginning of the 16th century. The most important Catholic Missionary was St. Francis Xavier. He served in the District towards the close of 1542. He was a native of Spain, going with a bell in hand, he succeeded in collecting in every village a large concourse of people among whom he spread the Christian faith. In each village he visited, and he left a copy of the Christian instruction for the people to understand the rudiments of Christianity. In the beginning of the 17th century, the Catholic Mission established a Theological college to impart training to Jesuit Fathers and Brothers at Thoothukkudi for propagating Christian tenets in the District and thereby to pave the way for the educational development in the region. A galaxy of foreign Catholic Missionaries dedicated their lives for the cause of education in the District. Father Beschi, was the most celebrated. He is remembered ever for his contribution to the Tamil literature. He was a native of Italy and arrived in Tirunelveli in 1711. He taught the people both in Tamil and in English. Among the Protestant Missionaries who came from England to this District, Rev. James Hough and Rev. C.E. Rhenius were the key figures. Rev. James Hough from the date of his arrival in 1816 as a Missionary, devoted his whole energy to educational development in the District. He started a number of schools in this region and distributed Bibles and prayer books to the people. Rev. C.E. Rhenius who arrived in this District in 1820, generally followed Hough's policy of educational work and founded a number of educational societies. The most important among the societies established by him was the Dharma Sangam. It was admired both by the Christians and non-Christians for its studies on Geography, Astronomy and French Grammar. In his work he was assisted by Rev. Schmid, another Protestant Missionary in the District and his wife who took keen interest in the development