2. Kerala tops the list of
Indian states in the
matter of literacy and
education.
The history of
education in
Kerala goes back to
ancient times.
The introduction of
western education
acted as a catalytic
agent for modern
Kerala
3. The spread of Western education is an important
milestone in the history of Kerala, since it brought
about far reaching changes in the social, economic,
religious, political & cultural life of the land.
The Christian missionaries deserve the credit of the
introduction of the scientific, secular, rational
education of the west.
4. The introduction of Western education marks a great epoch in the
history of education in Kerala.
The credit for taking the first tangible step towards the
introduction of western education goes to the Christian
Missionaries.
The Catholic Missionaries who first landed in Kerala were more
interested in the propagation of their faith.
But, the Protestant missionaries who followed them took keen
interest in the spread of western education.
5.
6. JESUIT MISSIONARIES
Printing press started in Kerala only after the advent of Europeans.
The Jesuit missionaries arrived in Kerala during the period of the
Portuguese itself.
The Jesuit missionaries started several educational institutions which
inaugurated the beginning of Western education. Although their
principal objective was conversion of local people, printing &
education were considered as better means for achieving their
principal aim.
The first printing in Malayalam script was done at Goa by a
Spanish missionary, Jovannes Gonsalves.
7. Portuguese had started printing presses at Vaipin & Kochi.
The Dutch showed great interest in the life style & culture of the
Keralites.
The Horthus Malabaricus was the first encyclopedia of plants in
Kerala was prepared by the Dutch with the help of traditional
medicinal practioners of Kerala.
Jesuit missionaries prepared grammer books & dictionaries in
Malayalam.
The first grammar work in Malayalam was prepared by Dr.Anjelos
Francis, the Bishop of Varapuzha in the beginning of the 18th century.
8. Arnos Pathiri ,the Hungarian born Christian missionary prepared the
first Malayalam dictionary during the 18th century.
The first completed printed book in Malayalam language is the
Samshepa Vedartham, written by Father Clement, explain the
doctrines of Christianity.
Father Kariyattil Ousep printed another Malayalam book,
Vedatarkam about the internal differences within the Christian
church. The European style of prose writing was introduced in
Malayalam in this book.
In 1780,Paramekkal Thoma Kathanar published the first travelogue
in Malayalam, Varthamana Pusthakam. The book is about the
author’s personal experiences during his visit of the Pope.
9. THREE MAJOR PROTESTANT
MISSIONARIES IN KERALA
LMS –LONDON MISSION SOCIETY –TRAVANCORE
CMS – CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY –KOCHI &
TRAVANCORE
BEM – BASEL EVANGELICAL MISSION-MALABAR
10. Protestant missionaries like LMS,CMS & BEM played significant
role in missionary activities in Kerala.
Herman Gundert ,a Basel missionary showed interest in printing &
publishing of Malayalam books during 19th century.
The most important English-Malayalam dictionary was written &
published by Gundert in 1872.He had written books on various
subjects like grammar, history & theology etc. The first newspaper in
Malayalam ,Rajya Samacharam & Paschimodayam few published
from Thalassery.
The first western education school in Malabar was started at
Bernessery in Kannur by Rev.Habik,a member of BEM society.
13. Another school was opened at Kallai in 1848.Then it was shifted to
Calicut and raised to a high school that developed into the present
Malabar Christian College in 1907.
opened one school at Thalassery in 1856.
BEM opened the Brennen school at Thalassery in1862, later taken
over by the government & developed into present Brennen College.
Rev. Meed of LMS initiated the process of providing education to the
lower castes.& stablished first girls school at Nagercoil.
The CMS started a college at Kottayam in 1813 & Benjamin Baily
took charge as the first Principal.
Baily started CMS press in 1821& published English –Malayalam
dictionary in 1846.
14. CMS College Kottayam was founded by the Church Missionary Society
,the first College in Kerala. It was patronized by Col . John Munro, the
resident & diwan of Travancore.
15. The CMS Missionary established two English elementary
schools, one at Cochin and another at Cranganore in 1818.
They also started industrial and teachers training schools.
The CMS School had proper organisation, definite curriculum and
proper methods of teaching.
CMS missionaries who did pioneering work in Travancore
Norton, Bailey, Baker, Fenn and Peet deserve special mention.
The educational activities of the protestant missionaries gave
inspiration to other Christian Churches to establish schools in
the different parts of Kerala.
16. General John Munro (June 1778 – 25 January 1858) a
Scottish soldier and administrator who served as
Resident and Diwan of the States of Travancore
17.
18.
19.
20. Impact of western education
• The work of Christian Missionaries and the spread of Western
education helped to bring about a radical changes social change.
• The western education had its impact on the social economic ,
religious, political and cultural life of Kerala.
• The most significant contribution of western education to Kerala
society was that it provided education to all irrespective of
caste, religion & gender. As a powerful instrument of social
change, education helped in reducing the rigidity of cast system
and other evils.
21. • Owing to the education and the subsequent social changes
untouchability and unapproachability began to vanish from the land.
• The educated people were given employment in Company service &
the attraction of govt jobs made the locals to go for western education.
• The lower classes were liberated from the slavery and they also
got freedom of dress. The status of women rose in society and early
marriages became unpopular.
• The spread of education caused the decline of joint family system and
‘marumakkathayam’.
• The spread of English, western education and western culture
led to the growth of National Movement in Kerala.
22. CHANGES IN MATRILINEAL SYSTEM
As a result of the reforms introduced by colonial administration
,social superiority of the Brahmins & Nairs weakened.
Several legislations granted more freedom of mobility to lower
castes in social & economic realms.& Judicial protection was
made available to all ,irrespective of their caste affiliations.
The modern education opened up new job opportunities for
lower castes also in administration, although they had been
given lesser posts.
The educated young people tried to build up single family
units. This tendency was more manifested in Nair communities.
23. The younger generation of Nairs went for western education &
many of them got employed in the government service. As they
were salaried people & were able to make income individually, it was
no essential for them to rely any more on the Taravad Karanavar for
livelihood.
Salaried Nairs did not contribute their income to the common
fund of Taravad ,instead they began to spend it for their children
& wife. This transformed the existing Taravad system & joint
families. The educated Nairs insisted on monogamy & turned
against the general practice of Sambandam.
When the younger members were denied financial assistance for
English education by the Karanavar, they turned towards their
father for financial help. Gradually there took place a transition
from matriliny to patriliny in Kerala society.
24. The educated younger people began to file private petitions in the newly
formed judicial courts against their Karanavar for partitions of Taravad
property.
When the courts issued orders favoring the demands of the youth ,the
very foundations of matrilineal system & Taravad based joint family
system in Kerala began to crumble down.
The Madras High Court Judgement of 1869 declared that Sambandam
marriage is illegal.
The Govt appointed Malabar Marriage Commission to enquire into the
problems related with Nair marriages. The report of the commission was
accepted by the government & accordingly Malabar Marriage Act 1896
was & the act stated that children born of registered Sambandam
marriage would be eligible for half of the property of their father. This
was the first act which paved way for the decline of matrilineal system in
Kerala.
25. The Marumakkathayam Act (1933) declared that the Taravad
property of the joint family was to be divided whether the
Karanavar agreed to it or not. And individual shares were given to
each & every member of the family. This was the final blow to the
matrilineal system in Malabar & inaugurated Makkathayam system,
the inheritance of father’s property by his children.
The first & second Nair Acts of Thiruvithamkur & Nair
Regulation Act of Kochi ,allowed partition of Taravad property &
nullified claims of nephews to uncle’s property. The responsibility of
protecting wife & children was entrusted on the father.
