Forging Hybrid Cultural Identity: Transformation of Curriculum in Colonial Malabar
Keywords:
Colonialism, hybrid identity, cultural conquest, curriculum change, language dominance, Literature, Missionary activityAbstract
The study explores the impact of British colonial education in Malabar, Kerala. It investigates how the imposition of foreign values disrupted traditional practices, leading to hybrid identities among the educated elite. The emergence of a new middle class with British education created intermediaries in the colonial administration. English education influenced Malayalam literature, blending Western and native themes. Economic disparities persisted, as skilled positions remained reserved for Europeans. Postcolonial challenges involve reconciling hybrid identities and preserving cultural heritage amidst modernity. Understanding the legacy of colonial education is vital for comprehending the intricate relationship between education, culture and power dynamics in post colonial societies.
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Vijay Agnew is a social scientist and Director of the centre for Feminist Research at York University, Toronto. After studying history and law at the University of Bombay in India, she did graduate work at the University of Waterloo and Toronto, Canada.
Mukherjee, Alok, K., (2009), This Gift of English: English Education and the Formation of Alternative Hegemonies in India. New Delhi, Orient Black Swan
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