## The tradition of orientalism 1. **Orientalism** means knowledge or study about the laws, culture, history, societies, languages, etc. of a place, particularly of an eastern country like India. ### William Jones 1. Appointed as a junior judge in the Supreme Court (Calcutta) in 1783. 2. Expert in law & a Linguist (Greek, Latin, French, English, Arabic and Persian) 3. Learn Sanskrit language grammar and poetry from Pandits. 4. Studied the ancient Indian texts on Law, Philosophy, religion, politics, morality, arithmetic, medicine, etc. 5. Together with **H.T. Colebrook and N. Halhed, Jones** set up the “**Asiatic Society of Bengal**” and started a journal “**Asiatic Researches”** **ATTITUDE OF JONES & COLEBROOKE TOWARD INDIA** - A deep respect for both ancient cultures- India and the West. - Indian civilization attained glory in the past but declined subsequently - Necessary to know about the sacred & legal texts of the ancient period (Vedas, Manusmriti, etc.)- to understand India in a better way and for future development. - In the process, the British would become not only the guardians of Indian culture but masters as well. ### Influence on Company Officials To win the hearts of Indians & get respect to the alien rulers➖ 1. British ought to promote Indian Learning rather than Western learning. 2. Encourage the study of ancient Indian texts and teach Sanskrit & Persian literature and poetry. 3. Hindus and Muslims ought to be taught what they are already familiar with, what they value and treasure, and not the subjects alien to them. ### Educational Institutions Established 1. A Madarsa was set up by Governor General Warren Hastings (**1781**) **at Calcutta** to promote the study of Arabic, Persian, and Islamic law 2. Established a Hindu college in Benares in 1791 to encourage the study of ancient Sanskrit texts. ### Grave Errors of the East: Orientalists were criticized 1. Criticized the Orientalist vision of learning 2. They pleaded that knowledge of the East was full of errors and unscientific thought. 3. Eastern literature was non-serious and light-hearted. 4. No use in encouraging the study of Arabic and Sanskrit language & literature. **JAMES MILL: ATTACKED ORIENTALISTS** - Concepts like “win the hearts” and ‘rulers respect’ are vague and not at all important - The aim of education ought to be - to give useful and practical education - Indians should be taught about the Scientific and Technical advancements that the West had made ### Thomas Babington Macaulay 1. Sharper attack on Orientalists. 2. Regarded India as an uncivilized country. 3. No match, no comparison between Eastern knowledge and Western knowledge - “A single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of Indian and Arabic” - Urged the British govt. to stop wasting money in promoting oriental learning ### English Education Act 1935 1. Following Macaulay’s approach, this act was passed. 2. English- made the medium of instruction fo