Disparate Educational Mores

The empirical work for Religion, Community and Education was conducted in two locations of rural Bihar namely Phulwari and Kasba blocks of Patna and Purnea districts, and highlights the historical trajectories and how it has shaped the educational development and disparities in educational attainment of the two communities. The first two chapters focus on the extent of the backwardness of Muslims as compared to other communities on various indicators of educational attainment. The discussion revolves around the socio-political structure and process that has reinforced the inequity in education throughout history. During the colonial period, the inequity was reinforced mainly for two reasons for introducing its own education system: first it would serve its political and economic interests and second alliance of colonial power with the higher castes and feudal classes who had their vested interest in education and were against the education of the masses.