Dharampal (Hindi: धरमपाल) (19 February 1922 – 24 October 2006) was an Gandhian thinker. He authored The Beautiful Tree: Indigenous Indian Education in the Eighteenth Century (1983), Indian Science and Technology in the Eighteenth Century (1971) and Civil Disobedience and Indian Tradition (1971), among other seminal works, which have led to a radical reappraisal of conventional views of the cultural, scientific and technological achievements of Indian society at the eve of the establishment of Company rule in India.
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Dharampal
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| Born | 19 February 1922
Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
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| Died | 24 October 2006 |
| Nationality | Indian |
In 2001, he was named chairman of the National Commission on Cattle and Minister of State by the Government of India.
Dharampal was instrumental in changing the understanding of pre-colonial Indian education system.
Dharampal primary works are based on documentation by the colonial government on Indian education, agriculture, technology, and arts during the period of colonial rule in India.
Works
- The Beautiful Tree: Indigenous Indian Education in the Eighteenth Century (1983). Translated into Kannada by Madhava Peraje with the title Cheluva Taru
- The British Origin of Cow-slaughter in India With Some British Documents on the Anti-Kine-Killing Movement 1880-1894 (2003) By Dharampal, T. M. Mukundan.
- Understanding Gandhi (2003) Essays on Gandhi.
Relevance
Dharampal’s books highlighted the educational system in India before British Raj took over. In one of the reports conducted in Madras Presidency, the number of non-branhmin students were more than Brahmin students during 1820’s.
Translations
The book “The Beautiful Tree” is translated into Kannada as “Cheluva Taru”.