Agents of Change: Christian Missionaries and Educational Reform in Princely Kashmir
Umar Bashir
Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of History, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
Kashmir was once renowned as a prominent center of Sanskrit scholarship. However, with the arrival of Muslims in the region, Persian gradually became dominant and was eventually adopted as the official language. Over time, under successive rulers, the importance of education declined. Compared to other parts of the Indian subcontinent, Kashmir remained behind in embracing modern education. It was only with the arrival of Christian missionaries that modern educational practices were introduced in the valley. This paper aims to explore the historical trajectory of education in Kashmir, with particular emphasis on the role played by Christian missionaries during the latter half of the nineteenth century. It will examine both the initiatives undertaken by the missionaries to develop education and the reactions of the princely state and its people to these efforts. This period is significant in Kashmir's history due to a range of social, economic, and political transformations. Despite facing challenges, the missionaries succeeded in laying the foundations of a modern education system in Kashmir. However, access to mission schools was largely limited to the upper classes, especially the Kashmiri Pandits. Interestingly, very few individuals chose to convert to Christianity as a result of missionary activities.
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