Christian Missionaries and education- early years (apr 12, 1713 – oct 7, 1813)

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Missionaries were the pioneers in private enterprise in education in India. Spread christianity in India dates back to 2nd century AD. Biblical study was done in the Churches they set up. Their involvement in education of native Indians started in the 1700s. We focus on the era after the Warren Hastings period when the missionaries zeal to enter India for proselytisation reached its peak.

Missionaries primary motive was proselytising, but the practical experience of the early missionaries soon convinced them that they had to start schools as an important means of proselytization. They focused on educating lowest rungs of Hindu society in native languages, as they were generally illiterate and as reading the Bible was held to be essential for salvation. For this reason they started printing bible in Indian languages. In the words of Rev. Dr. D. O. Allen, an eminent missionary, " In commencing their operations, missionaries have generally seen the propriety and importance of establishing schools. One reason for them is to educate the minds of the people, so that they may be more capable of understanding and appreciating the facts and evidences, the doctrines and duties of the Scrip- tures. Another reason for them is to increase the influence of the missionaries with the people, by communicating some advantage which they can appreciate, and by showing that Christianity rests on an intelligent perception of its doctrines, and contains reason for the performance of all its duties. And another reason for such an education, is in its procuring means and opening ways of access to the people, and opportunities of preaching to them.


The Danish missionaries, with the support of East India Company set up schools in Madras and Bengal. Set up first printing press in Tamil 1713.
Between 1793-1813, the famous Serampore trio - composed of Dr. Carey- (Baptist missionary society), William Wad- a Printer and missionary and Joshua Marshman, a school teacher- set up printing press to publish Bible in 30 Indian languages !

M A Sherring in "History of protestant missions in India" writes.

“In no country in the world, and in no period in the history of Christianity, was there ever displayed such an amount of energy in the translation of the Sacred Scriptures from their originals into other tongues, as was exhibited by a handful of earnest men in Calcutta and Serampore in the first ten years of the present century. …during this short period, portions of the Bible, chiefly of the New Testament, had been translated, and actually printed, in thirty-one Indian languages and dialects. One is amazed, and almost overwhelmed, at the stupendousness of this undertaking. that these first attempts are to be ’ compared with the versions which have been subsequently made in these languages…the Serampore press alone issuing them in twenty languages, and, in addition, books for schools and colleges.

References:

1. Richter, J. (1908). A history of missions in India.
2. Wilder, R. R. (1861). Mission Schools in India.
3. Sherring, M. A. (1875). The History of Protestant Missions in India: From Their Commencement in 1706 to 1871. Religious tract society.
4.Naik, J. P., & Nurullah, S. (1974). Students' history of education in India 1800-1973. (6th Edition) MacMillan company of India limited. Introduction and Chapter II.

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