Macaulay's Minute (1835)

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Macaulay's Minute on Indian Education (1835) is a very important document in the history of Indian education during British rule. It was written by Thomas Babington Macaulay on 2nd February 1835, when he was the Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council under Lord William Bentinck.

🔍 Key Points of Macaulay’s Minute:

1. Promotion of English Education:

Macaulay strongly advocated for the promotion of English language over traditional Indian languages (like Sanskrit and Persian).

He believed English education would create a class of Indians who would be:

> "Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect."

2. Criticism of Traditional Indian Knowledge:

He criticized Indian literature and sciences, saying that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia.

3. Western Curriculum:

Macaulay recommended introducing Western sciences and literature through the medium of English.

4. Anglicist vs. Orientalist Debate:

The Minute ended the long debate between Anglicists (who supported English education) and Orientalists (who supported traditional Indian learning).

The Anglicist view won, largely due to Macaulay’s influence.

5. Result – English Education Act 1835:

After this Minute, the British passed the English Education Act of 1835, which:

Allocated funds only for English education.

Stopped funding for Sanskrit and Persian institutions.

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📚 Impact of Macaulay’s Minute:

Created a class of English-educated Indians.

Introduced a Western-style education system in India.

Contributed to the rise of modern Indian nationalism later (since English-educated Indians could access Western liberal ideas).

However, it also devalued traditional Indian education systems.