Education and Social Change in Maharashtra with Special Reference to Women and Dalits 1848 A D to 1956 A D

Abstract

The pre-colonial Indian society was a caste-based society which is newlinecharacterized by endogamy, rigid and closed hierarchical structure and newlineBrahmanical patriarchy. The upper castes had exercised a pure control over the newlineHindu society by enjoying all kinds of privileges. At the same time the lower newlinecastes, untouchables and women were exploited and made to serve for the newlineupper castes and the Brahmanical supremacy was maintained. According to Dr. newlineBabasaheb Ambedkar, the caste system is not only division of the labour but it newlineis also a division of labourers. In the Hindu society the inequality is regarded as newlinethe religious doctrine which is preached very consciously and purposely and so newlineinequality is the soul of Hinduism. Thus the Brahmanical supremacy was newlinemaintained by denying right to education to the lower castes, Dalits and newlineWomen. newlineIn Maharashtra, the Brahmanical supremacy reached its zenith under the newlinerule of the Peshwas (Brahmans). The British East India Company established newlineBritish rule in Maharashtra by defeating Peshwa Bajirao II in 1818. Mount newlineStuart Elphinstone took over as the first Governor of the Bombay Presidency. newlineThe British occupation of Maharashtra marked a new era in the history of newlineMaharashtra. The far reaching measures were introduced in social, political and newlineeconomic spheres by the British rulers accordingly to strengthen their colonial newlineinterests. newlineEducation is regarded as an important instrument in the overall progress newlineof any society. It has a potential of generating a spirit of enquiry and newlinequestioning to the accepted truths in the society and rebel against the injustice. newlineSo it is considered as an important factor in the process of transformation of newlinesociety and all its other aspects from one stage to other. The English Education, newlineiv newlineintroduced by the British, is very important in the history of Modern India and newlineits role in bringing social change is an important aspect of social history. It was newlineintroduced due to the need of new rulers to educate local people to conduct newlineday-to-day administration. In the view