Published Paper Details:

Abstract Education is an indispensable need of mankind. It aims at educating the masses to become better citizens and more useful members of society. The district of Sambalpur had played an important role in the field of education and social consciousness during the British rule. Prior to the beginning of first half of the Nineteenth Century, Sambalpur became a main centre for learning in Western Odisha. The primary education was introduced in the district very early. Many of the indigenous school were opened in various placed of Sambalpur. The Secondary and Western education in the district was introduced after the foundation of Zilla School in 1852 at the town of Sambalpur. It is the oldest school in the district. There has been a steady advanced in the education of girls in the Sambalpur district. The Government paid very little attention to backward classes before 1905. After the National Movement for freedom, education of the backward classes received some considerable from the government. First time in Sambalpur district, the untouchable caste pupils were allowed to all general schools. Muhammdans form a very small minority in Sambalpur and Urdu School of Sambalpur is the oldest school in Western Odisha. The present work is the first historical study, strictly speaking of the "Growth of Education and Social Consciousness in Sambalpur during British Rule: - A Retrospect."