Macauley’s Minute

Why is in news? Colonialism and its discontents today

British education policy in colonial India was almost non-existent at first because their sole goal was to make a profit through trade and other means.

Gradually, the value of education was recognized, and the company began to construct a few institutes of higher learning.

These learning centers provided instruction in Indian subjects in languages such as Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian. Persian was also the court language.

The Charter Act of 1813 was the country's first concrete step toward modern education. This act allotted an annual sum of Rs.1 lakh for the purpose of educating the subjects.'

Following the Charter Act, there was a schism (division) among the British over the mode of education to be provided to Indians.

While the orientalists believed that Indians should be educated in their own languages and taught their own scriptures and texts, the other group the anglicists decided that English education was the best kind to be imparted.

On 2 February 1835, British historian and politician Thomas Babington Macaulay presented his 'Minute on Indian Education' that sought to establish the need to impart English education to Indian 'natives'.

The main goal of the British government should be to promote European literature and science among Indians, and that "all funds appropriated for the purpose of education would be best spent on English education alone."

The passing of Charter Act of 1833, was led by appointment of Lord Macaulay as India’s First Law member of the Governor General in Council. He served from 1834 to 1838, and ensured that English flourishes in India.