INDIA,April 16, 2022 (Swarajyamag by Aravindan Neelakandan): Prior to the British, education in India was decentralized, localized and, through the network of rural communities, democratic. It was also cost-effective. The British government, instead of upgrading this system, introduced a more centrally-controlled, capital-intensive education. This created disparities in the literacy of communities, a disparity which was blamed on Hindu society. Yet, the Hindus fought for democratized education and upgrading of their traditional institutions, even in the colonial settings.
Sri la Sri Siva Shanmuga Meijnana Sivacharya Swamigal (1873-1942) fought missionary propaganda and bureaucratic harassment to provide holistic, Dharmic education to children in Tamil Nadu. Known as Jnaniyar Swamigal, he was concerned about the spread of cultural and spiritual illiteracy that came with the British mode of education. He also painfully saw how social stagnation was creating its own malaise in the society. In order to change that, he went on extensive tours providing wonderful discourses, showing the richness of Tamil language and Saiva spirituality. At the same time, he took special care to create Saiva-Vaishnava harmony.
Much more at source.
https://swarajyamag.com/culture/pages-from-history-an-attempt-at-atmanirbharta-in-education-in-colonial-tamil-nadu