His work was to mediate on oriental literature and westernist disputes. On February 2, 1835, Lord Macaulay presented his famous Minute to the Governor-General’s Council for legal advice on this problem. Accepting which Governor William Bentinck passed the English Education Act, 1835. It laid the foundation of modern British education in India.
Excerpt from Macaulay’s brochure
– In this Minute, while supporting Western education, it was provided that the limited resources of the government should be used for teaching Western science and literature in English.
The government should make English the medium of instruction at school and college level and for its development some schools and colleges should be opened in place of many primary schools.
Macaulay gave ‘Downward Filtration Theory’ under this. Under which, a small section of the upper and middle class of India was to be educated. To create a class that is Indian in color and blood, but British in thought and morality. This class should act as a link between the government and the general public.
Macaulay believed that English is more useful and practical than Arabic and Sanskrit. Just as Latin and Greek had a resurgence in England and as the languages of Western Europe, so should it be in India from English.
India’s loss due to Macaulay’s statement
– Macaulay tried to impose western civilization on this country by English through his description sheet, so that we look at our Indian civilization and culture with contempt and we have inferiority complex.
Macaulay insulted the Indian languages by calling them undeveloped and useless, as a result the development of Indian languages stopped.
Macaulay criticized oriental literature and said that the capacity of Indian culture and literature is equal to a cupboard in a library in Europe. By accepting this, Macaulay has insulted the greatness and tolerance of Indian culture and religion.
Macaulay openly claimed a policy of religious neutrality, but his internal policy is revealed in a letter to his father in the year 1836. In which Macaulay wrote that, “I firmly believe that if this policy of our education succeeds, then within 30 years there will not be a single idolater left in the high house of Bengal.”
Also read: The war of Chillianwala, in which the British suffered heavy losses, know the full history
Impact of Macaulay’s brochure on Indian education
The foundation of today’s Indian education was laid under the influence of Macaulay’s 1835 Prospectus. The following was the impact on Indian education at that time:
English medium schools and colleges started opening in India. This education system became the basic system of our country. Even today our education is based on this medium.
English was declared the language of official work. Macaulay had made so many concrete suggestions in favor of the English language that the importance of the English language increased.
The government issued an order letter, in which it was instructed that, in government jobs, preference will be given to those who have knowledge of English.
While Macaulay’s policy is considered beneficial on the one hand, it had a very negative effect on the development of Indian languages. However, it can be said that Macaulay is the father of today’s Indian education.