Archive · 6 Sep 2026
British Empire Used Princes’ Schools to Rule India
The British ruled India partly by influencing the children of Indian princes.
They created special schools for the sons of chiefs and nobles.
Rajkumar College opened in Rajkot in 1868.
Mayo College opened in Ajmer in 1875.
The Punjab Chiefs’ College opened in Lahore in 1886 and was later called Aitchison College.
These schools copied parts of England’s elite public-school system.
Students learned subjects and activities such as Latin and cricket.
The schools were designed to make future rulers friendly and loyal to the British government.
The British created schools specifically for the sons and heirs of Indian chiefs and nobles.
Rajkumar College opened in Rajkot in 1868 for Kathiawar’s ruling families.
Mayo College opened in Ajmer in 1875 as an Indian version of England’s elite schools.
The Punjab Chiefs’ College, later Aitchison College, opened in Lahore in 1886.
The schools taught English elite traditions and aimed to bind future Indian rulers to British rule.
- Who
- The British authorities, Indian princes, chiefs, nobles, and their sons or heirs.
- What
- The British established elite schools to educate and influence the future rulers of India.
- When
- The institutions were founded in 1868, 1875, and 1886.
- Where
- Rajkumar College was founded in Rajkot, Mayo College in Ajmer, and the Punjab Chiefs’ College in Lahore.
- Why
- The schools aimed to educate Indian rulers in an English elite model and bind them to British rule.
- First institution
- Rajkumar College was founded in Rajkot in 1868.
- Major school
- Mayo College was founded in Ajmer in 1875.
- Later Aitchison College
- The Punjab Chiefs’ College opened in Lahore in 1886 and was later renamed Aitchison College.
- Intended students
- The schools served the sons and heirs of Indian chiefs, princes, and nobles.
- Educational model
- The institutions were modeled on England’s elite public schools.
- Teaching and culture
- The schools promoted cricket, Latin, and English elite traditions.
- Political purpose
- The institutions were intended to produce anglicized, loyal administrators and future rulers connected to the Raj.