1/n
For all those clamoring at the immense value of English & sneering down at Indians who are not fluent in it, perhaps a refresher on the type of hatred that the British had towards our native languages especially Sanskrit will be illuminating. In Macaulay's words:
For all those clamoring at the immense value of English & sneering down at Indians who are not fluent in it, perhaps a refresher on the type of hatred that the British had towards our native languages especially Sanskrit will be illuminating. In Macaulay's words:
2/n
"To encourage the study of Sanskrit literature, admitted to be of small intrinsic value, only because that literature inculcated the most serious errors on the most important subjects, is a course hardly reconcilable with reason"
"To encourage the study of Sanskrit literature, admitted to be of small intrinsic value, only because that literature inculcated the most serious errors on the most important subjects, is a course hardly reconcilable with reason"
3/n
It is hardly reconcilable with morality, or even with that very neutrality which ought, as we all agree, to be sacredly preserved. It is confirmed that a language (Sanskrit) is barren of useful knowledge. We are to teach it because it is fruitful of monstrous superstitions?
It is hardly reconcilable with morality, or even with that very neutrality which ought, as we all agree, to be sacredly preserved. It is confirmed that a language (Sanskrit) is barren of useful knowledge. We are to teach it because it is fruitful of monstrous superstitions?
4/n
We are to teach false history, false astronomy, false medicine, because we find them in company with a false religion (Hinduism). And while we act thus, can we reasonably or decently bribe men, out of the revenues of the State?
We are to teach false history, false astronomy, false medicine, because we find them in company with a false religion (Hinduism). And while we act thus, can we reasonably or decently bribe men, out of the revenues of the State?
5/n
Can we bribe them to waste their youth in learning how they are to purify themselves after touching an ass or what texts of the Vedas they are to repeat to expiate the crime of killing a goat?"
Can we bribe them to waste their youth in learning how they are to purify themselves after touching an ass or what texts of the Vedas they are to repeat to expiate the crime of killing a goat?"
Excerpts taken from "Minute by the Honorable T. B. Macaulay" dated 2nd February 1835.
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