Administration of Primary Education in West Bengal (An Old and Rare Book)

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Dr. Biswa Ranjan Purkait, M.A., LL.B. B.T., M.A. (Ed.), Ph. D., Reader in the Department of Education, Kalyani University, West Bengal is well-known in the world of Indian education. He has been intimately connected with the problems of Indian education for more than two decades. As a teacher he has first-hand knowledge and experience of the burning issues in the arena of elementary education. With deep historical insight and profound knowledge and scholarship Dr. Purkait has studied and analysed the cause of slow progress of primary education in Bengal during the period between the two world wars and suggested possible remedies for its improvement. Dr. Purkait possesses a brilliant academic career. His research oriented mental make-up and scholarly aptitude has greatly helped him to acquire wide reputation and success as a teacher. This work which is the result of his untiring zeal and tenacity for fundamental research will, it is hoped, be accepted as a valuable contribution in the field of Indian education.

The present inquiry envisages an analytical study of administrative and financial aspects of the expansion and improvement of elementary education in Bengal during the years under Mont-Ford Reforms and its bearing upon the same on the post-independence West Bengal, The study reveals the administrative drawbacks and financial clouds that impeded the expansion and improvement of primary education and how these lacuna stood as insurmountable hurdles in the way of introducing universal, free and compulsory primary education in the stormy days of our national struggle for freedom. The study covers the major socio-political and economic events of our national life in the early decades of the present century. A large number of national and international events clouded the horizon of our educational sky. These events directly or indirectly coloured and shaped the educational developments in this sub-continent, particularly Bengal, It has been observed in course of the study that inspite of several attempts through different legislative enactments primary education could not be made free, universal and compulsory. Mass illiteracy remained deeply rooted in this soil, the curse of which still falls on the millions of our country. The study also reveals how Government at the Centre as well as in the provinces had intentionally avoided to shoulder the financial responsibility for mass education. It always tried to shift the onus either on the local bodies or the helpless public at large.

In the thirties of this century attempts to universalise primary education became successful at least to some extent in different provinces of India particularly in Bombay, Madras and Punjab. But in Bengal, on the other hand, every attempt proved infructuous and futile. As a result, the province suffered tremendously, not only in educational advancement but also in social and economic betterment. Other provinces advanced speedily whereas Bengal lagged behind mainly due to educational backwardness caused by administrative and financial lapses.

This edition is a portion of the results of my continuous research on Administration of Primary Education in Bengal the thesis prepared in that connection had been reduced to a certain extent to make it suitable for publication. The original title of my research work was "An Enquiry into the Ad- ministration of Primary Education in Bengal under Montagu- Chelmsford Reforms and its bearing upon the same in the Post- Independence West Bengal." The present title is an abridged form of the original one, but the content of the thesis has been kept intact. This has been done to make it convenient for publication.

This book is essentially a historical study. It analyses and throws light on the developments of primary education in Bengal with particular reference to administration and finance. It specifically refers to the historical incidents which stood as insurmountable obstacles in the way of making primary education free, universal and compulsory which was a cherished goal in our educational arena for a long time. My object has been to give an accurate account of the state of primary education in Bengal in the beginning of this century and to throw light on the developments on this subject during the later period even after independence, indicating the most hostile attitude and policies followed by the imperialist Govt. Critical analysis has also been made with regard to the attitude and opinion of the national leaders expressed and published in different contemporary native journals and periodicals. Adequate light has been thrown from different original sources to give an accurate idea of the nature of developments relating to this important subject during a critical and eventful phase of our national history. Sincere attempt has also been made to show the impact of these developments in later days with particular reference to post-independence West Bengal. In this context the latest data have been used as far as practicable.