Question

The Western education policies were adopted under the leadership of:

• A. Henry Lawrence
• B. Canning
• C. William Bentinck
• D. Wellesley

Hint:

Pay attention to the reforms introduced by British administrators to understand their impact on Indian society, particularly in education and governance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

William Bentinck, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835, was instrumental in introducing Western education policies in India. His administration saw the rise of educational reforms that aimed at modernizing the Indian education system, based on Western principles. One of the key steps taken by Bentinck was the promotion of English as the medium of instruction. This was a significant shift from the traditional education system, which was primarily based on vernacular languages and religious texts. Bentinck’s policies were heavily influenced by Lord Macaulay’s Minutes on Education, which advocated for the education of the Indian population in Western subjects, particularly science, mathematics, and literature, through the English language. In 1835, Bentinck passed the resolution that English would be the medium of instruction in schools and colleges, replacing Persian, which had been the official language of education until then. This led to the establishment of schools that taught English and Western subjects, laying the foundation for the spread of Western education in India. Bentinck’s education policies were not just about introducing a new language but were also part of a broader effort to modernize and reform Indian society. He believed that the knowledge of Western literature and sciences would enable Indians to take part in the global intellectual community and promote a new form of governance. However, the shift towards English-medium education had both positive and negative impacts. On one hand, it led to the development of a class of educated Indians who could participate in administrative and intellectual discourses. On the other hand, it marginalized traditional forms of education and led to the decline of indigenous knowledge systems.