Difficulties of Depressed Classes in Public Schools and Separate Schools in Madras Presidency during Colonial period

Dr.R.SUJITHA KUMARI

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2019

Difficulties of Depressed Classes in Public Schools and Separate Schools in Madras Presidency during Colonial period

Dr. R. Sujitha Kumari

Abstract :

A conventional term or a category, depressed classes which did not use to indicate any caste and creed, but commonly used in British records between 1920 and 1937 to denote the people of several oppressed castes, who comprised 1/5th of the total population. According to M.C Rajah, “Untouchable Classes those who are educationally, economically and socially backward are termed as “Depressed Classes”. Every measure taken by the British for the sake of depressed classes were enforced by means of these separate institutions. It was commenced from the establishment of separate department called Labour Department under the head of Commissioner of Labour especially for the upliftment of depressed classes. It provided much importance to the educational development of depressed classes. At first because of the educational backwardness of depressed classes and the difficulties in accessing public schools, the leaders welcomed the effort of the British government establishing separate schools.