Debate on orientalists and anglicists (in favour of orientalists and against anglicist
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After the acquisition of political power in India, the British East India Company officials wanted to maintain neutrality or non intervention in the sphere of religion and culture of the Indian society. The reason behind this policy was partly the fear of adverse reaction and opposition to their role by the indigenous people. However, due to certain constant pressure from different quarters, the Missionaries, the Liberals, the Orientalists, the Utalitarians compelled the company to give up its position of neutrality and to take up the responsibility of promotion of education. But, there was a conflict in the opinions which were divided on the issue that whether the company should promote western or oriental education, giving rise to the Orientalist-Anglicist controversy.
In the initial stage, the company officials patronised oriental learning. In this context, the establishment of the Calcutta Madrasa by Warren Hastings in 1781, the Benares Sanskrit College by Jonathan Duncan in 1791 and the Asiatic Society of Bengal by William Jones in 1784 are noteworthy. Those who were in favour of continuation of the existing institutions of oriental learning and promotion of Indian classical tradition were called Orientalists. Orientalists were guided by some practical considerations. They wanted to teach the British officials the local language and culture so that they would be better at their job. This was the prime objective behind the foundation of the Port William College at Calcutta in 1800. The other motive was to develop friendly relations with the elites of the indigenous society and to understand their culture. This was the main reason behind the establishment of the Calcutta Madrassa and the Benaras Sanskrit College.
Countering these Orientalists, there was a strong opposition led by different groups in England, namely, the Evangelicals, the Liberals and the Utilitarians. The Evangelicals had a firm conviction in the superiority of Christian ideas and western institutions. Two great exponents of the Evangelical view were Charles Grant and William Wilberforce. Also, others who did not share Evangelical faith also convinced of the superiority of western knowledge and one of the chief promoter of this idea was Macaulay. He recommended that western learning should be promoted in India through English language and this should be the objective of education policy in India. James Mill, the chief advocate of Utilitarianism in India, was highly critical of Indian religion and culture. Instead of support to oriental institutions, he had emphasised western education.
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