5.2 Orientalist Anglicist Controversy
- 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
Views
- 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
- What was the Anglicisit-Orientalist controversy about? How was it resolved and with what results? [1990, 60m]
- Orientalist Anglicist Controversy
- "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]
- Orientalist philosophy - Sanskrit college, 2 oriental coll Agra
- William jones studies IN languages to restore IN their forgotten
- Orientalism produced a knowledge of the past to service the needs of the Colonial States." Elucidate. [2011, 20m]
- Orientalist philosophy - Sanskrit college, 2 oriental coll Agra
- William jones studies IN languages to restore IN their forgotten
- What was the significance of Orientalist-Anglicist controversy in nineteenth century India? Analyze. [2018, 10 Marks]
- Orientalist philosophy - Sanskrit college, 2 oriental coll Agra
- "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]