2/n
The term derives from Thomas Babington Macaulay, a member of the Governor General’s Council in the 1830s. Earlier, the British Government of India had completed a survey of the indigenous system of education in the Presidencies of Bengal, Bombay and Madras.
The term derives from Thomas Babington Macaulay, a member of the Governor General’s Council in the 1830s. Earlier, the British Government of India had completed a survey of the indigenous system of education in the Presidencies of Bengal, Bombay and Madras.
3/n
A debate was going on whether the indigenous system should be retained or a new system introduced. Macaulay was the chief advocate of a new system. This, he, expected, will produce a class of Indians brown of skin but English in taste and temperament.
A debate was going on whether the indigenous system should be retained or a new system introduced. Macaulay was the chief advocate of a new system. This, he, expected, will produce a class of Indians brown of skin but English in taste and temperament.
4/n
There is a widespread impression among “educated” classes in India that this country had no worthwhile system of education before the advent of the British. The great universities like those at Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashala etc. had disappeared during Muslim invasions.
There is a widespread impression among “educated” classes in India that this country had no worthwhile system of education before the advent of the British. The great universities like those at Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashala etc. had disappeared during Muslim invasions.
5/n
What remained, we are told, were some pathashalas in which a rudimentary instruction was imparted by semi-educated teachers, mostly to the children of the upper castes, particularly the Brahmins. This impression is not supported by known and verifiable fact.
What remained, we are told, were some pathashalas in which a rudimentary instruction was imparted by semi-educated teachers, mostly to the children of the upper castes, particularly the Brahmins. This impression is not supported by known and verifiable fact.
6/n
Shri Dharampal who compiled 'The Beautiful tree, Indigenous Indian education in the 18th Century' documented from old British archives, particularly those in Madras, that the indigenous education system compared more than favorably with that in England at about the same time.
Shri Dharampal who compiled 'The Beautiful tree, Indigenous Indian education in the 18th Century' documented from old British archives, particularly those in Madras, that the indigenous education system compared more than favorably with that in England at about the same time.
7/n
The indigenous system was discarded by the British not because its educational capacity was inferior but because it was not thought fit for serving the purpose they had in mind. The purpose was
The indigenous system was discarded by the British not because its educational capacity was inferior but because it was not thought fit for serving the purpose they had in mind. The purpose was
8/n
First, to introduce a system of administration in India similar to that in England at the time- highly centralized, geared towards maximization of state revenues manned by ‘gentlemen’ who despised the ‘lower classes’ and was ruthless in suppression of any mass discontent.
First, to introduce a system of administration in India similar to that in England at the time- highly centralized, geared towards maximization of state revenues manned by ‘gentlemen’ who despised the ‘lower classes’ and was ruthless in suppression of any mass discontent.
9/n
Second, to introduce a new system of education aimed at producing a class of babus and wannabe sahibs who were- appreciative of all things English, diffident and apologetic about the ways of their forefathers & would willingly further the interests of the Raj in India.
Second, to introduce a new system of education aimed at producing a class of babus and wannabe sahibs who were- appreciative of all things English, diffident and apologetic about the ways of their forefathers & would willingly further the interests of the Raj in India.
10/n
The system of education performed more or less as Macaulay had anticipated. Hindus like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Swami Vivekananda et al were the notable few who escaped its magic spell and rediscovered their roots despite the heavy dose of a deliberate denationalisation.
The system of education performed more or less as Macaulay had anticipated. Hindus like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Swami Vivekananda et al were the notable few who escaped its magic spell and rediscovered their roots despite the heavy dose of a deliberate denationalisation.
11/n
For the rest, it has eminently succeeded in sweeping an ancient and highly cultured people off its feet. Macaulayism is not brutal and bloody like Islamism. It is not subtle and subversive like Christianism. It affects slowly and corrodes a culture & society from within.
For the rest, it has eminently succeeded in sweeping an ancient and highly cultured people off its feet. Macaulayism is not brutal and bloody like Islamism. It is not subtle and subversive like Christianism. It affects slowly and corrodes a culture & society from within.
12/n
Its impact on the Hindu intelligentsia can be summarized as follows
i. A skeptical and often negative attitude towards all things Hindu. Nothing in Hindu India, past or present, is to be approved unless recognized by an appropriate authority in the West.
Its impact on the Hindu intelligentsia can be summarized as follows
i. A skeptical and often negative attitude towards all things Hindu. Nothing in Hindu India, past or present, is to be approved unless recognized by an appropriate authority in the West.
13/n
ii.A positive and often worshipful attitude towards all things Western, in the name of progress, reason and science. Nothing from the West, past or present, is to be rejected unless questioned by an appropriate authority in the West.
ii.A positive and often worshipful attitude towards all things Western, in the name of progress, reason and science. Nothing from the West, past or present, is to be rejected unless questioned by an appropriate authority in the West.
14/n
iii. An inclination to compare Hindu ideals and institutions from the past not with their contemporaneous ideals and institutions in the West (India 700 AD vs UK 700 AD) but with the West of the 19th and the 20th Centuries.
iii. An inclination to compare Hindu ideals and institutions from the past not with their contemporaneous ideals and institutions in the West (India 700 AD vs UK 700 AD) but with the West of the 19th and the 20th Centuries.
15/n
iv.A mood to judge the West in terms of the ideals it proclaims, while judging Hindus by what prevails in Hindu society at the present time, without considering the fact that Hindu society has recently emerged after a long period of struggle against foreign invasions.
iv.A mood to judge the West in terms of the ideals it proclaims, while judging Hindus by what prevails in Hindu society at the present time, without considering the fact that Hindu society has recently emerged after a long period of struggle against foreign invasions.
16/n
v. A propensity to examine, interpret and evaluate all things Hindu using concepts and tools of analysis developed by Western scholars. That there are concepts and tools of analysis which have their foundations in Hindu philosophy, is ignored..
v. A propensity to examine, interpret and evaluate all things Hindu using concepts and tools of analysis developed by Western scholars. That there are concepts and tools of analysis which have their foundations in Hindu philosophy, is ignored..
17/n
.. It is also not acknowledged that using alien methods of evaluation may lead to an improper understanding & incorrect conclusions.
vi. If the Hindus use their own concepts and tools of analysis to evaluate Western heritage, then such exercises are termed unscientific.
//
.. It is also not acknowledged that using alien methods of evaluation may lead to an improper understanding & incorrect conclusions.
vi. If the Hindus use their own concepts and tools of analysis to evaluate Western heritage, then such exercises are termed unscientific.
//
18/n
Whatever is the trend of the day in the West (earlier UK & now US), almost immediately finds takers amongst the Macaulayists. One thing remains constant. The platform has to be developed in the West, before it finds an audience in India.
Whatever is the trend of the day in the West (earlier UK & now US), almost immediately finds takers amongst the Macaulayists. One thing remains constant. The platform has to be developed in the West, before it finds an audience in India.
19/n
The preferences of Macaulayists change whenever the intellectual & cultural climate in the West changes. Hindu mores & manners are almost indiscriminately rejected and what is deemed to be the latest & the best in the West, is almost immediately accepted.
The preferences of Macaulayists change whenever the intellectual & cultural climate in the West changes. Hindu mores & manners are almost indiscriminately rejected and what is deemed to be the latest & the best in the West, is almost immediately accepted.
20/n
The trends of the day imported from the West include
- Securalism, socialism, casteless society, scientific culture
- Education, entertainment, dress, food, table manners, social mannerisms et al; all have to be carbon copies of what is currently being done in the West
The trends of the day imported from the West include
- Securalism, socialism, casteless society, scientific culture
- Education, entertainment, dress, food, table manners, social mannerisms et al; all have to be carbon copies of what is currently being done in the West
21/n
The educated Hindu is permitted to take some pride in his cultural heritage, especially when he wants to overcome his sense of inferiority in the presence of visitors from the West.
If it is native literature, it should have already been lauded by a Western critic..
The educated Hindu is permitted to take some pride in his cultural heritage, especially when he wants to overcome his sense of inferiority in the presence of visitors from the West.
If it is native literature, it should have already been lauded by a Western critic..
22/n
If it is native art (music etc.), it should preferably already have Western patrons before a Western audience.
The Hindu cannot take pride in native literature, if it is read in the original native language. Thus, Kalidasa is admired as the Shakespeare of India.
If it is native art (music etc.), it should preferably already have Western patrons before a Western audience.
The Hindu cannot take pride in native literature, if it is read in the original native language. Thus, Kalidasa is admired as the Shakespeare of India.
23/n
The Macaulayist believes that India is today, where the West was yesterday. He looks forward to the day when India will become like a Western Society, where the only criteria of success is GDP. He tries to not have any contact with the traditional Hindu society.
The Macaulayist believes that India is today, where the West was yesterday. He looks forward to the day when India will become like a Western Society, where the only criteria of success is GDP. He tries to not have any contact with the traditional Hindu society.
24/n
He may tolerate certain religious rituals, as long as these are within the confines of one’s home and is uncomfortable with religion finding any public expression in polity & society.
He equates religion with primitive superstition and in the Indian context, with riots
He may tolerate certain religious rituals, as long as these are within the confines of one’s home and is uncomfortable with religion finding any public expression in polity & society.
He equates religion with primitive superstition and in the Indian context, with riots
25/n
He views the traditional Hindu, who is still attached to his spiritual tradition, with disdain.
He is usually indulgent towards all those who are hostile to the traditional Hindu, irrespective of their ideology. He may not share their fanaticism though.
He views the traditional Hindu, who is still attached to his spiritual tradition, with disdain.
He is usually indulgent towards all those who are hostile to the traditional Hindu, irrespective of their ideology. He may not share their fanaticism though.
26/n
The traditional Hindu, on the other hand, wants to live in peace and amity with all his compatriots.
He does not try to prevent anyone from freely discussing and even ridiculing his religion & culture.
He does not go out converting people of other faiths to his own.
The traditional Hindu, on the other hand, wants to live in peace and amity with all his compatriots.
He does not try to prevent anyone from freely discussing and even ridiculing his religion & culture.
He does not go out converting people of other faiths to his own.
27/n
The traditional Hindu does want to retain his majority in his only homeland against attempts by Christianity and Islam to reduce him to a minority by forced/fraudulent mass conversions.
He does believe that Hindu society & culture have a right to survive & self defense.
The traditional Hindu does want to retain his majority in his only homeland against attempts by Christianity and Islam to reduce him to a minority by forced/fraudulent mass conversions.
He does believe that Hindu society & culture have a right to survive & self defense.
28/n
The Macaulayist refuses to concede this right to Hindu society & culture. His attitude can be summarised as follows:
i. No matter what the facts, he refuses to recognize any danger to Hindu society and culture...
The Macaulayist refuses to concede this right to Hindu society & culture. His attitude can be summarised as follows:
i. No matter what the facts, he refuses to recognize any danger to Hindu society and culture...
29/n
..i. he explains away the aggression from other faiths as response to aggression which “Hindu communalism” has committed in the first instance.
ii. Macaulayist paints the aggressor as a poor deprived minority whom the Hindus refuse to recognize as equal citizens.
..i. he explains away the aggression from other faiths as response to aggression which “Hindu communalism” has committed in the first instance.
ii. Macaulayist paints the aggressor as a poor deprived minority whom the Hindus refuse to recognize as equal citizens.
30/n
iii. At a later stage, Macaulayist becomes preachy and says that Hindus need to behave like a generous older brother and excuse the younger brethren, even if the latter are slightly in the wrong.
iii. At a later stage, Macaulayist becomes preachy and says that Hindus need to behave like a generous older brother and excuse the younger brethren, even if the latter are slightly in the wrong.
31/n
iv. Macaulayist then posits that the real danger to Hindus is from their oppressive caste system that drives the less privileged to convert to other faiths.
iv. Macaulayist then posits that the real danger to Hindus is from their oppressive caste system that drives the less privileged to convert to other faiths.
32/n
v. If Hindus still want to organize some self-defense, he advises that immediate abolition of the caste system is the best defense. The Macaulayist ignores that social reform is a slow process and that in the meanwhile a society is entitled to self-defense to survive.
v. If Hindus still want to organize some self-defense, he advises that immediate abolition of the caste system is the best defense. The Macaulayist ignores that social reform is a slow process and that in the meanwhile a society is entitled to self-defense to survive.
33/n
vi. If the Hindus still remain adamant, he then lovingly appeals to them in the name of their long tradition of religious tolerance. How can the followers of Gautama and Gandhi descend to the same level as Islam and Christianity which have never known religious tolerance?..
vi. If the Hindus still remain adamant, he then lovingly appeals to them in the name of their long tradition of religious tolerance. How can the followers of Gautama and Gandhi descend to the same level as Islam and Christianity which have never known religious tolerance?..
34/n
..vi.The Hindus would cease to be Hindus if they also start behaving like followers of the Semitic faiths which have been conditioned differently due to historical circumstances. But Macaualyist never dares..
..vi.The Hindus would cease to be Hindus if they also start behaving like followers of the Semitic faiths which have been conditioned differently due to historical circumstances. But Macaualyist never dares..
35/n
..vi. to ask the followers of Islamism and Christianism to desist from always having it their own way. The Macaulayist cannot risk his reputation of being secular which Islamism and Christianism confer upon him only so long as he defends their tirades against the Hindus.
//
..vi. to ask the followers of Islamism and Christianism to desist from always having it their own way. The Macaulayist cannot risk his reputation of being secular which Islamism and Christianism confer upon him only so long as he defends their tirades against the Hindus.
//
36/n
The Macaulayist prefers to sit on the fence and call both sides to maintain calm even if he knows deep down as to who is the aggressor and who the victim of aggression.He can afford to take this supposedly lofty stance, because he no more regards the Hindu society as his own
The Macaulayist prefers to sit on the fence and call both sides to maintain calm even if he knows deep down as to who is the aggressor and who the victim of aggression.He can afford to take this supposedly lofty stance, because he no more regards the Hindu society as his own
37/n
The Macaulayist has a near monopolistic representation in media, academia, intelligentsia, civil society, bureaucracy and the corporate sector.
The neo-rich & the political upstarts try to mould their sons & daughters in his image.
The Macaulayist has a near monopolistic representation in media, academia, intelligentsia, civil society, bureaucracy and the corporate sector.
The neo-rich & the political upstarts try to mould their sons & daughters in his image.
38/n
What matters to the Macaulayist the most is the continuing support of his patrons and pay-masters in the West, particularly the US.
He often goes on all expenses paid lecture tours to enlighten Western audiences about the true state of things in this “unfortunate” country.
What matters to the Macaulayist the most is the continuing support of his patrons and pay-masters in the West, particularly the US.
He often goes on all expenses paid lecture tours to enlighten Western audiences about the true state of things in this “unfortunate” country.
39/n
The Macaulayist pontificates about India’s socio-cultural malaise and prescribes occidental cures, winning the applaud of progressive Western scholars.
The Macaulayist pontificates about India’s socio-cultural malaise and prescribes occidental cures, winning the applaud of progressive Western scholars.
40/n
God forbid, if things really go bad, the Macaulayist can always find safe refuge in some Western country.
His contacts in all those UN agencies, the fabulous foundations, the business corporations, the universities and research institutions; could always be reached out to.
God forbid, if things really go bad, the Macaulayist can always find safe refuge in some Western country.
His contacts in all those UN agencies, the fabulous foundations, the business corporations, the universities and research institutions; could always be reached out to.
41/41
So, Hindu society with all its hullabaloo of religion and culture be damned. This society, and not the Macaulayist, stands to lose if he is not permitted to work out his plans for progress in peace.
END
So, Hindu society with all its hullabaloo of religion and culture be damned. This society, and not the Macaulayist, stands to lose if he is not permitted to work out his plans for progress in peace.
END
