5.2 Orientalist Anglicist Controversy

Orientalist Anglicist Controversy

2020-04-27 15:06:18

  • Anglicists wanted gov spending on education exclusively for modern studies.
  • Orientalists emphasized on traditional Indian learning
  • Orientalists were led by Hayman Wilson and Princep Brothers and Anglicists by Sir Charles Trevelyan supported by liberals like RR Roy.
  • Macaulay was appointed as president of the Committee who set forth his views in his famous minute.

Lord Macaulay's Minute of 1835

  • favour of Anglicists.
  • Resources were to be devoted for teaching western Science and literature through English medium only.
  • Aim to create a class of Indians 'English in taste' who would further spread it to the masses aka downward filtration theory
  • He ridiculed Indian literature.
  • Since then English has remained the basis of higher education in India.

Orientalism

  • William Jones studied IN languages to restore Indians their forgotten legal system, linguistic connection b/w Sanskrit, Greek Latin was found -> this began the Orientalist tradition
  • They defined IN tradition which became the most authentic version or true knowledge

-   **Edward Said** : Orientalism was thrust from above

-   **Eugene Irshcick** : O was produced through process of dialogue where colonial officials, IN commentators and native informants participated
-   **Trautmann** : it gave idea of kinship b/w Br and IN dating to classical past binding their subjects through the rhetoric of love
  • Orientalism produced knowledge of past to meet present requirement. Ex people ruled by their own laws to legitimise their (British) rule aka reverse acculturation
  • Fort William College estd at Calcutta
  • Showed a Paternalistic attitude that subjects needed to be emancipated from corrupt feudal lords and despotism

Aisatic Society of Bengal

  • Formed on January 15, 1784 by William Jones to encourage Oriental studies. It was supported by Warren Hastings.
  • @ William Jones translated Kalidasa's Sakuntala 1789, Gitagovinda of Jayadeva 1789 and Manusamhita 1794 and edited Ritusamhara 1792. Jones also translated Laila Majnu from Persian to English.
  • Its emphasis was importance of Hindu culture and learning about vital role of Sanskrit in Aryan languages.
  • John Shore succeeded William Jones as President of Society in 1794 published a Persian version and English translation of Yoga Vasistha.
  • Sir Charlers Wilkins translated Bhagvadgita into English in 1785 and Hitopdesha in 1787.
  • Colebrooke was President of 1806 to 1815 who translated and Hindu laws on Contracts and Successions in 1789. And also published a critical edition of Sanskrit lexicon Amarakosha 1808.
  • HH Wilson who secy from 1811 to 1833 published Kalidasa's Meghadutam and got 18 Puranas translated into English. Also published Kalidasa's Amarakosha.

PYQs

  1. What was the Anglicisit-Orientalist controversy about? How was it resolved and with what results? [1990, 60m]
  1. "The educated middle class in the 19th century often found the domain of reason to be oppressive, as it implied the historical necessity of 'civilizing' colonial rule." Comment.
    [2010, 20m]
  1. Orientalism produced a knowledge of the past to service the needs of the Colonial States." Elucidate. [2011, 20m]
  1. What was the significance of Orientalist-Anglicist controversy in nineteenth century India? Analyze. [2018, 10 Marks]
  1. "The Government of India from Canning to Curzon was regarded‚ as a white man's burden rather than as a call to creative effort or the preparation for a new era." Comment.
    [1995, 20m]