Evolution of the Discipline of Home Science

EVOLUTION OF THE DISCIPLINE OF HOME SCIENCE

In India, the study of Home Science can be traced back to the British rule between 1920 and 1940. The rulers in that period introduced Home Science in some schools and colleges. It was initially known as “domestic science” and was first introduced in Maharani Girl’s High School, Baroda. Later the Home Science subject was included in various other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and some southern states and thus the curriculum underwent changes over the years.

Home Science has now been claimed to be an important subject in the school curriculum because it includes all significant areas of art and science which is crucial for the development of the individual, family and society.

Although Home Science paved its ways into many schools all over India it was not offered at the college level for a very long time. Hence, many students were unable to pursue the study of Home Science at an advanced level. Lady Irwin College, Delhi was the first to introduce Home Science as a degree programme at college level in 1932.From 1938 onwards, Chennai University offered Home Science at the degree level. Queen Mary’s College and Women’s Christian College at Chennai started Home Science in 1942. Since 1950, a degree programme in Home Science was included at Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Ludhiana (Punjab), Mumbai (Maharashtra), New Delhi, Udaipur (Rajasthan) and Tirupathi (Andhra Pradesh).

Initially there were few students who enrolled for the course. With the regular reconstruction of the curricu-lum based on the reforms in science, technology and art, there was found to be a steady increase in the number of students who enrolled for a degree in Home Science. At present thousands of post graduates and Ph.D degree holders are in prominent positions in prestigious institutions all over the country. Home Science has now been claimed to be one of the important subjects in the school curriculum because it offers fundamen-tal opportunities to students to develop their potential for promoting the society and themselves.

Diploma Courses in Home Science

Diploma course in Home science was offered by the Agricultural Institute of Allahabad in 1935. In 1950, Baroda became a significant nucleus and epicen-tre of Home Science education. In the mid 1960’s and 1970’s more Agricultural Universities were established through-out the country and a diploma course in Home Science was included in most of the Agricultural Universities.

In 1951 the “Home Science Association of India” was formed. The constitution of the Home Science associa-tion was framed by Miss Dorothy Pearson of Women’s Christian College, Chennai. Later the association became affiliated to the “International Federation of Home Economics”.