Born: October 25, 1800 (Leicestershire, England) — Died December 28, 1859 (London)

July 10, 1833 — Thomas Babington Macaulay addressed the English Parliament about Indian Education

  • Thomas Babington Macaulay pointed out that the native Indian dialects contain no literary or scientific information and/or not easily translated into any valuable works. Thomas Babington Macaulay claimed that none of the native written texts were equal to one shelf in a European library.
  • Thomas Babington Macaulay felt that English should be the only taught language and Arabic/Sanskrit should not be taught, although they are the native languages of India.
  • They all admitted that those pursuing higher education/studies during this time can be effected by a language not known to them.
  • Thomas Babington Macaulay reported that all historical information written in Arabic/Sanskrit is less valuable than what is found in secondhand books used in England’s preparatory schools.
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  • The English believed that the natives of India could be educated with their native languages.
  • The English language is already spoken across South Africa and Australia; it is also spoken across the trade routes.
  • The English language is spoken by the ruling class; and by the higher class of the native Indians, who have seats in government.
  • The British believed in linking all of their empires with an English tongue, as they felt that would be most useful.
  • The British thought they could teach European science and then change what was taught in philosophy and history to suit their needs
  • Most of the Readings from the 15th and 16th century were written by the Greeks and Romans in their native languages; the ancestors of England translated those works into the English language. Had their ancestors not done this, they their civilization would not have advanced.
  • Thomas Babington Macaulay opinion in the end was that it may be too difficult to educate millions of people with their limited means, through the use of interpreters. His idea was to create a class of persons Indian in blood and color, but English in taste opinions, moral, and intellect. He suggested that the classes of people should refine their dialects of their based upon Western sciences and to change things to fit the people, for conveying knowledge.