Introduction of English Education in India : Macaulay Minutes of 1835

Introduction of English/Western/European Education in India

• English education was introduced in India during 18th Century in the charity schools at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.
• The real beginning of western education in India introduced through the Charter Act of 1813. The Charter Act of 1813 allowed;

            (a) Missionaries travel to India;

            (b) Allocation of 100 thousand rupees for two specific purpose;

                  (1) The encouragement of learned natives of India and revival of and 

                        improvement of literature.

                   (2) Promotion of Knowledge of the sciences amongst the inhabitants.

• But the nature of the education was yet to be decided. The Orientalist vs Anglicists debate culminated in favour of Anglicists when William Bentinck, a Utilitarian reformist became Governor General in 1828 and Thomas Babington Macaulay was appointed the law member in his council in 1834.

• On 2nd Feb, 1835, the Macaulay issued his famous Minute known as “Macaulay Minutes on Indian Education”. He vehemently opposed oriental learning and strongly favoured the European education of literature and science in English medium.

• William Bentick immediately endorsed the Macaulay minute on 7th March, 1835 despite loud protest from orientalists.

• Macaulay wanted to create a class of persons Indian in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and intellect.

• Thus, new English education policy was the theory of downward filtration i.e. it was not meant for the masses but for the rich, the learned, the men of business. Once these people were trained then they could act as teacher and through them elementary education would percolate downward through regional languages.

Thereafter, major education reforms were taken through Wood's Dispatch of 1854 in the Colonial British India.