OBJECTIVES OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY EDUCATION IN THE COLONIAL PUNJAB - A CRITICAL APPRAISAL

Abstract

Advent of the Protestant missionaries in India, during eighteenth century, introduced a major tactical change in the existing strategy of the missionaries of this region. Instead of direct preaching they decided to act through their social service activities. They involved themselves in the fields of health and education and rendered valuable services for the benefit of the native community. They were involved in the field of education so much so that, it became a compulsory part of their activities. Their extensive involvement in education aroused apprehensions in the minds of the native community as well as in those of the missionary administration. Some very strong voices from missionary circles were raised against their educational activities as it was considered as diversion from their original aim of preaching the word of God to the heathens. This study focuses on exploring the aims and objectives of missionary education for which they faced a lot of criticism from within themselves and also from the host nation.