3.7 English Utilitarian and India

English Utilitarian and India

2020-04-27 15:01:15

  • British liberalism : Macaulays liberal vision that BR adm task was for emancipation of IN through active governance
  • Led to birth of Utilitarialism w/ authoritarian tendencies
  • Character of British Utilitarianism : Good laws, efficient adm
  • James Stuart Mill
    • tranformed it to a militant faith,
    • said that IN wanted effective schoolmaster,
    • law comm 1833, penal code 1835 estd based on Benthamite model
    • Mill favoured vernacular ed
  • Macaulays Education Minute 1835 to further Eng edu among masses
  • Bentick followed middle path abolished infanticide, sati but also retained faith in IN traditions
  • Post 1857 Victorian liberalism became dominant ideology - reform was pointless and dangerous
  • Authoritarian Liberalism of James Fitzjames Stephen
  • Rise of racial sciences, white civilised, natives savages

PYQs

  1. Assess the impact of the utilitarian ideas in molding the British attitude towards India. How did the utilitarian try to solve the problem of land revenue? [1992, 60m]
  1. "The British Indian State experienced the 'wind of change' with the arrival of Lord William Bentinck." Comment. [1999, 20m]
  1. "Sprung from paternalism, the English Utilitarian philosophy as introduced in India rejected its human warmth between rulers and the ruled." Comment. [2008, 20m]
  1. "James Mill, the apostle of utilitarian philosophy, proposed a revolution off Indian society through the 'weapon of law' solely. But in actual policy framing, other influences and considerations weighed much more than the colonial State." Elucidate. [2015, 20m]
  1. "Peace had her victories no less renowned than war." Examine this statement with reference to Lord William Bentinck. [2016, 20m]