THE EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENTS IN KHYBER PAKTHUNKHWA: 1901-1947; A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17309593

Abstract

This historical paper is about the Educational movements in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before independence of Pakistan. The province was established in 1901after bifurcation of the Punjab province. Both primary (Archival records, personal diaries etc.) and secondary sources (Books, documents, newspapers) were used to analyse the conclusion through internal and external criticism, content analysis and document analysis. The Muslims populated province of N.W.F.P now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was the most backward province in education in the entire India. The inhabitants of the province, mostly Pashtuns, were ignored in education by the Britishers, due to their geo- strategic location. It was the gateway of the invasions, so there must be no or low resistance in the strategic way of it, which needed illiterate subordinates. Their energies were diverted towards other social multiplicities, detached them from trade, commerce, business and decision-making stakeholder ship. Several primary schools in the province were offered to be established after successful participation of the villagers in the World War .1 The Pakhtuns, as a nation, is very passive in combating with collective efforts, did not materialize the situation, as was deemed, as far as education was concerned in the early decades of the twentieth century. The other three communities, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, individually and collectively, generously participated in establishing schools of their own desires. The education lovers Muslims, too, benefited from those schools. The mode of education at the time, offered to produce servants to the government. For the purpose, most of them were picked during the education, either in 5th grade or above. Education was forcibly, as a discontinuation, did not sparkle the self-esteem and self- realization, hence the purpose was dipped.