Everybody reminisces about their college days. Most of the time, it’s about that one trainer who improved their lives and whose influence transcended the classroom partitions. Whether or not they made you stronger, gave you a stage to showcase your skills, or believed in you when nobody else did, they left a dent in your reminiscence.
Likewise, historical past has seen many Indian educationists who’ve introduced revolutionary change within the system by way of their work and formed the nice Indians we all know at the moment.
Right here’s a glimpse of 9 such educationists.
1. Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule
Trailblazers in advocating the correct to schooling for ladies, this husband-wife duo went on to open the primary college for ladies in India in 1848. Savitribai is credited with being the primary feminine trainer in India. The varsity made headlines when, on the very first day, 9 women from totally different social backgrounds enrolled, setting a precedent for the exceptional work the couple would go on to do.
Not taking a minute to relaxation on these laurels, the duo opened extra colleges in and round Pune between 1848 and 1852. They have been intent on making certain that youngsters from Dalit communities be given desire at these colleges. Ultimately, evening colleges have been additionally established.
Together with schooling, the duo set their sights on marginalised communities in India and the welfare of pregnant widows. The latter have been cared for at a centre that Jyotirao opened in his own residence.
2. Fatima Sheikh
Whereas Jyotirao and Savitribai’s contributions to Indian schooling are extensively acclaimed, right here’s the story of the lady who performed a big function within the trigger. Fatima Sheikh was the primary Muslim girl trainer within the Indian subcontinent. Her function as a social reformer revolved round offering schooling to ladies and youngsters uncared for by society.
She served as Savitribai’s proper hand, in response to biographer Reeta Ramamoorthy Gupta.
Fatima was Savitri’s adjutant and took over as headmistress of the varsity when Savitri was unwell or needed to go canvassing for extra women to attend college.
3. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi
An fascinating anecdote that always accompanies the point out of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi — the final ruling queen of Travancore — is how she would invite college-going women to hitch her at her palace for tea. This incentive labored nicely and pushed many younger women to pursue larger research, it’s mentioned.
Her endeavours to see ladies attain the pinnacles of success didn’t cease there. Throughout her reign, she ensured that girls serving in native positions have been promoted to be a part of the federal government equipment. This enabled them to have a say within the coverage framework.
Intent on ladies having a various curriculum to discover, in 1927, the monarch opened up the examine of regulation to feminine college students and even ordered the Girls’s School in Trivandrum to start out lessons on historical past, pure science, languages, and arithmetic.
4. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s function because the second President of India (1962-1967) is well-known, however it’s his distinguished profession as an Indian educationist that we’re celebrating at the moment. His work has undoubtedly left an indelible influence on the nation’s academic and political panorama. The truth is, Trainer’s Day commemorates his birthday and honours the contributions of lecturers to society.
He was a agency believer in the correct to schooling in India and in the concept the rules of schooling are transformative instruments for society. Throughout his lifetime, Radhakrishnan served on numerous educational boards — the division of philosophy at Madras Presidency School (1909), as a professor of philosophy on the College of Mysore (1918) and as a professor of philosophy on the College of Calcutta (1921).
His lectures reached the daises of Harvard College, Oxford College, and Manchester School. In 1931, he was knighted by George V for his providers to schooling.
5. A P J Abdul Kalam
It’s not possible to recall the best educators of our occasions with out an ode to former President A P J Abdul Kalam, who left such an imprint on the Indian schooling panorama that his birthday, 15 October, is commemorated as World College students’ Day.
The multi-hyphenate’s profession noticed him play the function of a scientist, a frontrunner, a trainer, and an engineer. However his love for educating shone by way of all the opposite professions. He was so keen about it that he returned to educating after concluding his time period because the eleventh President of India.
Whether or not it was answering college students’ questions with wit and honesty, encouraging them to pursue their goals, or emphasising the significance of being grounded, Kalam was a trainer at his core.
He at all times emphasised, “If you happen to fail, by no means surrender as a result of F A I L means ‘First Try In Studying’. Finish just isn’t the tip; in reality, E N D means ‘Effort By no means Dies.’”
6. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gokhale’s accomplishment as the primary Indian to finish commencement is well-known. The liberty fighter just isn’t applauded only for his educational prowess but in addition for imparting knowledge to others.
Following commencement, Gokhale moved to Pune, the place he labored at a college, adopted by a stint at Fergusson School, the place he taught historical past and political financial system.
He’s lauded for his diction and mastery of English at a time when not many have been fluent within the language. He introduced his ideologies in opposition to the British reign by way of public speeches and articles. Gokhale’s iconic profession was constructed upon serving Indians, regardless of background by way of the faculties, libraries and lessons began underneath his ‘Servants of India Society’ based in 1905.
He was a robust advocate for the correct to schooling and obligatory schooling. On 16 March, 1911, he ready a invoice suggesting to the federal government that main schooling ought to be made accessible to each women and boys aged 6 to 10.
7. Sarla Devi Chaudhurani
Some of the well-known educationists, Chaudhurani was associated to the Tagore Household; her dad and mom have been prolific writers. She is described by historical past as a feminist, an advocate for feminine schooling, a political activist, and a pioneer of the organisation ‘Bharat Stree Mahamandal’, which promoted feminine schooling.
Membership was open to any girl, no matter caste, race, or class, with an entry price of only one rupee! Chaudhurani additionally began ‘Bharat Stree Shiksa Sadan’ – a college for ladies in Calcutta.
Pursuing larger research was inspired within the household and Chaudhurani was one of many few ladies graduates of her time. She acquired the Padmavati Gold Medal for her excellence. Nonetheless, her prowess wasn’t restricted to educational topics. She was additionally fluent in Persian, French, and Sanskrit and excelled in literature, music, and humanities from a really early stage.
8. Madan Mohan Malviya
A outstanding educationist and social reformer, Madan Mohan Malaviya believed that schooling is the important thing to financial progress. He exemplified this by way of his work in the direction of propagating schooling and establishing institutes.
Malviya was instrumental in establishing the Banaras Hindu College (BHU), which prided itself on conventional Indian information programs, the place college students, regardless of caste and background, might come collectively and be taught.
Following the establishing of Banaras Hindu College, Malviya introduced the institution of the ladies’s faculty of the College in 1929. He was agency in his resolve to empower ladies utilizing schooling as a instrument and noticed ladies as influencers of future generations. His efforts caused revolutionary modifications in schooling.
9. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
Hossain was born at a time when the view round ladies in schooling was conservative. Whereas Hossain’s brothers have been inspired to check, Hossain and her sister weren’t. However regardless of these setbacks, she wasn’t prepared to surrender simply but.
Believing that Muslim ladies — who have been being uncared for on the time — may very well be empowered by way of schooling and financial independence, Hossain began a college for Muslim women at Bhagalpur with solely 5 college students in 1909.
When she moved to Calcutta she arrange Sakhawat Memorial Women’ College in a home in 1911 with eight college students. In 1931, the varsity was upgraded to Excessive English Women’ College. Although conscious of the backlash that awaited her, Hossain wasn’t one to be deterred.
She fought the chances to encourage Muslim women to attend college, persuading dad and mom that schooling was good for ladies and even arranging horse carriages for them to be ferried to and from college whereas they noticed purdah (a spiritual observe of screening ladies from strangers).
Edited by Khushi Arora
Sources
The forgotten story of Fatima Sheikh, Savitribai Phule’s good friend who helped arrange India’s first women’ college in Pune by Devanshi Srivastava, Printed on 11 January 2024.
Sarala Devi Chaudhurani: Founder Of India’s First Girls’s Organisation by Nazo Shinwari, Printed on 7 November 2017.
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