Anglo Vernacular Controversy (aug 16, 1823 – jan 1, 1850)
Description:
After Elphinstone's minute, disagreement with Francis Warden (for English education) led to Anglo-Vernacular controversy.
Support for Vernacular Education In Bombay:
Colonel Jervis and Jagannath Shankarset- critiqued E Perry’s for English education
“Surely it must be admitted, that general instruction cannot be afforded, except through the medium of a language with which the mind is familiar“
“In our endeavours to make the knowledge of English among the natives so prominent and essential a qualification, we are neglecting the benefit of three hundred years’ experience in Europe, and we are retrograding to the days, in which Latin was the sole language of Literature; and when, in consequence, knowledge, both spiritual and temporal, was confined to a few Monks —a few Divines—a few Men of Letters”
“If the people are to have a literature, it must be their own. The stuff may be, in a great degree, European, but it must be freely interwoven with homespun materials, and the fashion must be Asiatic”
Board of education replaced BNES 1840 observed: Vernaculars should be used as medium of communicating knowledge drawn from English language.
The controversy grew bitter by 1848 and hence the whole question was submitted to Government for orders.. These were passed on 5th April 1848, but were extremely indecisive.
This indecisiveness of the orders coupled with the repeated pressure from Bengal that throttled the growth of education in Bombay through the mother-tongue.
The one definite result of the controversy was, therefore, the adoption of English as the exclusive medium of instruction at the collegiate stage.
References:
1. Nurullah and Naik, “A Student history of education in India”, 1974
Added to timeline:
History of Education in India during Colonial Times- 1700-1947
Editors: Shivakumar Jolad, Susanna G and Pranjali Kulkarni ...
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