Indian Renaissance and Education: From Rammohan to Vivekananda (An Old and Rare Book)

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This book is the result of my continuous teaching and research for about fifteen years at the postgraduate level in the University of Kalyani. During my studentship I was deeply impressed by the colourful events in the different facets of our national life in the 19th century-religious, social, political, cultural and educational. The unprecedented and tremendous explosion of knowledge and cultural affluence in different fields of our national life in the nineteenth century and in the beginning of the 20th century is commonly known as Renaissance. The term "Renaissance" is of Western origin and in its expression it has many common features with our Indian counterpart though the backgrounds were entirely different. As a result of this cultural movement the entire arena of our national life received a new momentum and direction. The impact of Western education and inspiration from our classical literature and ancient heritage filled with eternal values caused this change. Wes- tern liberal ideas flooded the Indian mind and created a new vista. The age-old tradition was at its crucial test. The Dark Age was followed by an Age of Illumination. This was possible because of the New Light of the age the Light of New Education which was both a cause and effect of the Renaissance movement. It was this education which produced far-reaching changes in other fields. That modern India evolved out of the awakening of the 19th century is a historical truth. The national achievements for which we now feel proud and our country is honoured in the comity of nations are the direct outcome of the 19th century Renaissance movement. The Indian Renaissance gave birth to a galaxy of eminent personalities like Raja Rammohan, Radhakanta Deb, Vidyasagar, Derozio, M. G. Ranade, Dayananda, Aurobinda, Vivekananda, Rabindranath and others who contributed immensely to the educational development in India during the Renaissance period. The Renaissance produced the greatest change, in my opinion, in the domain of education and naturally it attracted my attention most.