Who is to Benefit from Missionary Education? Travancore in the 1930s *

In the summer of 1991 the Indian state of Kerala proudly announced one of its most successful developmental achievements: its efforts in the field of education had resulted in a situation that was officially described as “total literacy”. This achievement did not come about completely unexpectedly. Already, at the beginning of this century, the Princely States of Cochin and Travancore, which after Independence merged into the new Kerala state, were famous for their enlightened educational policies. Both states invested large sums in schoolbuildings and teachers’ salaries and in turn headed the list of the most literate states and provinces of British India. In the 1930s especially, remarkable progress was made and a solid groundwork was laid on which, after Independence, “total literacy” could be attained.